LA Motor Show preview

The Los Angeles Motor Show is traditionally the last big blow-out of the year for the motor industry, marking the point where the global automotive industry winds down for the festive season, before crawling out of its brief hibernation with the Detroit show in the second week of January.

Being American, there’s usually a fondness for SUVs and US-only models, but what can we expect to see at the last major car show of the year?

Mazda CX-5

The first CX-5 was a big hit, critically and commercially, so its successor has plenty to live up to.

The popular compact SUV will have a refined look, enhanced technology, a revised ride and even stronger fuel economy when it arrives in 2017.

Jaguar I-Pace

Do you like the idea of a fully electric big-cat? Well, you won’t have to wait much longer to drive one.

Jaguar is understandably keen to cut a slice of the luxury EV market, in light of the success of the F-Pace – its first SUV and fastest selling model ever – and the growing appeal of electric vehicles.

Hence this, the I-Pace concept car, which combines all the plus-points of a five-seat sports car, a performance SUV and an EV.

It has an all-electric range of more than 310 miles and can produce the equivalent of 394bhp, giving it a 0-62mph sprint of around four seconds.

The final production car will be revealed some time in 2017, reaching UK roads the year after.

Mini Countryman

You’re probably all clued-up on the ins-and-outs of the second generation Mini Countryman after reading our in-depth article from a few weeks ago.

But just in case you missed it, the new Countryman is the biggest and most versatile model in Mini’s 57-year history, stretching for 20cm more than the previous Countryman. It is also 3cm wider.

These larger dimensions make for a roomier interior and more boot space than before.

It will be the first Mini to be offered as a plug-in hybrid with the Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL4, returning 134.5mpg with a 6.9 second 0-62mph sprint. It will also be the first Mini to come with a central touchscreen.

You can already order one, with prices starting from £22,465. Initial deliveries commence in February 2017.

Mercedes-AMG E 63

This will be the most potent E-Class ever, with a power output that makes it as quick as Jaguar’s 568bhp F-Type SVR.

This 563bhp beast doesn’t muck about, hitting 62mph in 3.5 seconds, and Mercedes reckons it’ll set a new standard for performance saloons when it hits UK roads halfway through 2017.

Find out more on the E 63 here.

Jeep Compass

Jeep has already revealed the new Compass, whipping off the wraps at its new Brazilian car plant late September. But the LA Motor Show will be the first chance to see it on native US soil.

Hailed as ‘the most capable compact SUV ever’ (by Jeep obviously), the new Compass will boast ‘best-in-class 4×4 off-road capability, advanced fuel-efficient powertrains, superior on-road driving dynamics, open-air freedom, and a host of safety and advanced technology offerings’.

We’ll find out when it goes on sale here some time in the second half of 2017.

Porsche Panamera LWB

We’ve already covered how Porsche has extended its four-door four-seat luxury saloon, but again, for those who haven’t heard: Porsche has stretched the space between the front and rear wheels by 150mm for its Executive (that’s Porsche speak for ‘long wheelbase’) models.

This longer exterior means more goodies like a large panoramic roof, heated seats with multi-way powered adjustment in the front and rear, a roll-up sunblind behind the rear seat headrests and adaptive air suspension with an electronically-controlled damper system.

A new, more powerful, three-litre 325bhp V6 engine will also be available in both the standard and Executive Panameras from April 2017.

Volkswagen Atlas

At more than five metres long and almost two metres wide, the seven-seater Atlas will be the largest vehicle ever to wear a VW badge on American roads, but don’t expect to be driving it any time soon.

It will launch initially in North America – eventually rolling out to Russia and the Middle East – but VW says that’s it and they have no plans to launch the car in Western Europe.

So yeah, forget about it.