2021 Los Angeles motor show highlights

You know nature is beginning to heal when a major international motor show gets the green light.

November 2021 has seen the return of the Los Angeles Auto Show that, like most major events around the world, had taken a COVID-19 gap year and it promises several important debuts including a couple of concepts.

While the show will be open to the public from November 19-28, the covers came off the exhibits for media and industry types from November 17.

Highlights include:

2022 Chevrolet Silverado

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Revealed in September, the facelifted Silverado range made its debut in LA with a new ZR2 off-road variant ahead of its US launch in 2022.

Like its stablemates, it will be powered by the stonking 313kW/624Nm 6.2-litre naturally-aspirated petrol V8, which will send power to all four wheels through a 10-speed torque-converter automatic.

As well as having a more rugged appearance, the ZR2 will ride on Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve (DSSV) dampers from Canadian company Multimatic – which are said to improve the pick-up’s rock-crawling capabilities for high-speed desert driving capability.

2022 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 revealed.

Fisker Ocean

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With a name that sounds more like an outboard motor than a sleek battery-electric crossover, the Fisker Ocean, by fledgling US EV was revealed with prices ranging from US$37,499 (AU$51,600) to US$68,999 (AU$95,000) before on-road costs.

It will be available in four spec grades, including the entry-level Sport powered by a single 205kW motor on the front axle and a lithium-ion phosphate battery cell providing a driving range of up to 400 kilometres.

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The three higher-spec variants, Ultra, Extreme and the limited edition One, will benefit from dual motors – increasing the Ocean's power output to 403kW with a 550km driving range in Ultra trim, or 410kW/562km in Extreme and Limited One guise.

Electrons in the pricier variants come from a nickel manganese cobalt cell battery pack.

Why should we care about the Fisker Ocean? In June this year, a Fisker spokesman told WhichCar it is accepting reservations from Australia where it’s expected to land in 2023.

2023 Fisker Ocean revealed: set for Australian launch.

2022 Honda Civic Si

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The Civic Si is so far only being offered in North American as a sporty and fun gateway model to the Civic Type R hot hatch.

It’s powered by a relatively timid 149kW/260Nm four-cylinder engine and is curiously only available with a six-speed manual transmission.

While it doesn’t have the Type-R’s grunt, it does share its rev-matching gearing and stiffer front suspension components.

2022 Honda Civic Si revealed for the US

Hyundai Seven Concept

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Hyundai's SEVEN large crossover concept will eventually make its way into production as the three-row Ioniq 7 in 2024, joining the recently launched Ioniq 5 and yet-to-be-released Ioniq 6.

With a look that's similar to the Staria people-mover, the Ioniq 7 is set to become an EV equivalent to the Hyundai Palisade SUV, with the potential for both six- and seven-seat configurations for families.

Hyundai says the SEVEN can offer more than 480 kilometres of driving on a single charge and can be topped up from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 20 minutes using a 350kW unit.

Its 3200mm-long wheelbase would allow the Ioniq 7 to accommodate three rows of seating when it reaches production.

2023 Ioniq 7: Electric SUV previewed as concept.

Kia Concept EV9

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The Kia Concept EV9 provides our best look at what we can expect when the production version joins Kia’s line-up next year, adopting the brand’s new ‘Opposites United’ design language.

The production version of the EV9 will be underpinned by the E-GMP electric architecture, shared with the Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and forthcoming Ioniq 7 large SUV.

While exact details of the car’s battery-electric powertrain have not been outlined, Kia says the Concept EV9 offers a driving range of up to 482 kilometres on a single charge, suggesting it could be using the larger 77.4kWh battery pack found in the EV6.

Kia Concept EV9 revealed ahead of late-2022 market debut.

2022 Lexus LX

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With a grille that can be seen from space, the Toyota LandCruiser 300-based Lexus LX large SUV made its public debut in LA ahead of its Australian launch in 2022.

Revealed in October, the luxury barge introduces new powerful six-cylinder twin-turbo petrol and diesel engines to replace the outgoing model’s 5.7-litre petrol and 4.5-litre V8s.

2022 Lexus LX revealed ahead of Australian debut.

Mazda CX-50

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The new 2022 Mazda CX-50 reveal surprised everyone who was expecting a sleek, road-focused and coupe-like design, instead coming with a more rugged and muscular look.

With a choice of naturally-aspirated and turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engines and i-Activ all-wheel-drive and ‘Intelligent Drive Select’ systems (the latter referred to as Mi-Drive), the you'd think the CX-50 would do very well in Australia against the likes of the Subaru Forester and Nissan X-Trail.

However, it won't be coming to Australia, due to it having been designed for and built in North America.

2022 Mazda CX-50 revealed.

2022 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS

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Porsche already showed off its new halo version of the Porsche 718 Cayman in a video of it going through its paces at the Nürburgring with a lap time of 7:04.511 – 23.6 seconds quicker than the 718 Cayman GT4.

Now we know it comes with 368kW and 450Nm of grunt thanks to the naturally-aspirated 4.0-litre lifted from the 911 GT3.

Combine all that with the PDK transmission (no manuals for RS models) and you end up with a weapon that’ll lap the Green Hell quicker than a McLaren 720S.

Appearance-wise, it features a GT3-style swan-neck rear wing, air intakes instead of rear quarter windows, and the Cayman GT4's signature side intakes remain.

2022 Porsche Cayman GT4 RS revealed.

Race ready: 2022 Porsche Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport debuts.

Porche Taycan GTS

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The latest addition to the Taycan family is coming to Australia where it will bridge the gap between the Taycan 4S and Turbo, in terms of performance and price.

Retailing for $237,000 before-on road costs, the GTS commands a $42,300 premium over the cost of the 4S, but drops $39,300 from the Turbo's list price – although it will only be available in sedan guise rather than as a Cross Turismo.

Packing a 440kW punch on overboost from its dual electric motors, the GTS gives away a 20kW deficit to the Turbo, but provides an 80kW gain over the 4S, launching it from 0-100km/h in 3.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 250km/h.

2022 Porsche Taycan GTS Australian pricing and features

Subaru Solterra EV

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Subaru's first dedicated electric vehicle, the Solterra EV, has been developed as part of a joint venture with Toyota's BZ4X – with features shared with its cross-engineered cousin.

It’s available with a choice of front- and all-wheel drive traction, making it the first Subaru model with FWD since the late-1990s' Liberty.

Both drivetrains come with a 71.4kWh battery with the lighter, front-wheel-drive providing around 530 kilometres of driving range – around 40 kilometres more than the AWD version.

Subaru Australia is yet to confirm if it will be available here.

2022 Subaru Solterra EV features revealed.

2022 Subaru WRX sedan

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Subaru unveiled the all-new WRX in September and while the car is all-new, it follows a recipe that’s nearly 30 years old.

The WRX is powered by a 2.4-litre horizontally-opposed four-cylinder turbo engine, producing 202kW and 350Nm – a turbocharged version of the FA24 engine found under the bonnet of the new Subaru BRZ, utilising a new electronic wastegate to improve responsiveness.

2022 Subaru WRX: All-new performance sedan revealed.

Vinfast VF e35 and VF e36

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Vinfast VF 35

Vietnamese carmaker VinFast will debut two new electric vehicles in LA, marking its global premiere.

The VF e35 medium- and VF e36 large-SUV are both larger than the previously launched VF 33 SUV, which has already been touted for a North American debut.