Post and Podcast by Kasey Kagawa

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what we call that. Welcome to the second half, well, more like the last third of Dubspeed Radio’s coverage of the Los Angeles International Auto Show. After a few little news bits at the beginning, we get the US debut of the Lancer Evolution X and the Subaru Impreza STI, and Lotus debuts two cars, some model updates, and reveals the future of the brand. Well, at least for the next five years. Also, your humble broadcaster passes judgment on the whole beautiful mess that is the Los Angeles International Auto Show. Pull up a chair next to the wireless, pour yourself a glass of scotch, light up a nice cigar, and enjoy.

 

 Dubspeed Radio 11/15/07 [5:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Post and Podcast by Kasey Kagawa

Yes, we’re at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, and we will be bringing you decidedly not-live coverage both nights of the press days. Today is the big one, with most of the manufacturers doing their presentations today. I’m tired. I might put more up here, but I might not. Still, this is a quality episode filled with real, Honest-To-God EXCLUSIVE INFO on the Nissan GT-R. Listen and learn!

 

 Dubspeed Radio 11/14/07 [9:33m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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With alternative fuel and going green being a big focus of this year’s LA Auto Show, Chevrolet has unvieled the latest in their strong line of Hybrid vehicles, the Silverado Hybrid. Chevrolet says the truck will go on sale in North America in late 2008, and uses GM’s 2-Mode Hybrid technology that is found in the new Tahoe Hybrid that goes on sale very soon.

The Silverado Hybrid gets it’s gasoline power from a 6.0L V-8 and a new Electrically Variable Transmission (EVT). On the electric side of things, the Silverado Hybrid utilizes GM’s EVT and 300-volt nickle-metal hydride battery. This system allows the Silverado to drive up to 30 mph on electric power alone.

GM has not released any economy numbers yet, but the Tahoe Hybrid shows a 50-percent improvement in city fuel economy over the gasoline powered Tahoe. Anything that produces real world results like this is great in our book, as long as the cost of the hybrid system doesn’t negate the fuel savings.

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If you are like us here at Dubspeed Driven, you are looking at the photos of this concept and thinking to yourself… “WTF?” Yes, Audi has teased us for weeks that a concept of the upcoming Audi Q5 SUV would be shown at the LA Show this week, and this is what they give us. Audi says that the Audi Cross Cabriolet quattro Concept introduces a completely new vehicle segment, and that it contains all the genes of a soft-top with all the capabilities of a fully fledged SUV. The concept is powered by a 3.0-liter 240hp TDI engine, and is mated to Audi’s signature quattro all-wheel-drive system.

We’re not exactly sure what a convertible has to do with the Q5, but we do know that much of the design language visible in this concept will carry over to the production model Q5.

Full press release after the jump.

Continue reading 2007 LA Auto Show – Audi Cross Cabriolet quattro Concept