Hot Rides Dominate The L.A. Auto Show

By Michael Lopez

So Cal residents are getting treated to a ton of four-wheeled goodies this month with the opening of the 2011 L.A. Auto Show. Now in its 94th year, the massive two-week event showcases hundreds of cars, from futuristic concept models to classic high-speed roadsters. This year, over 40 new rides will make their debut.

The luxury vehicles making the most noise belong to BMW and Porsche. BMW, in particular, has a very hot item its unveiling for the first time to Auto Show visitors.

Looking like something from a futuristic James Bond film, the BMW i8 has pop-up doors, sleek purple headlights, and the ability to hit 155 miles per hour almost instantaneously. It also happens to be quite eco-friendly, getting 78 miles per gallon. Though it won't hit the market until 2013, you can see it in action in next month's new Mission: Impossible movie.

Porsche attracted some big headlines at the event too, with their highly-anticipated Panamera GTS. Shown in a glowing cherry red color, the four-door monster features 430 horsepower from a V-8 engine. It'll have the ability to do 0-60 mph in less than four seconds and be priced at roughly $110,000 (ouch!) when it hits the market next spring.

In the "Green" department, Honda's new Civic Natural Gas model was all the rage. It earned the event's Green Car of the Year award and rightly so. The Environmental Protection Agency certified it as the cleanest-running internal combustion vehicle available, with a 48 miles-per-gallon highway fuel economy rating. But beyond that, it's now got a roomier design and a price tag that's less than $27,000.

But don't think the L.A. Auto Show is all about serious gearheads. There are plenty of entertaining rides for the younger set too. Nintendo, for instance, debuted life-sized versions of their Mario Karts which are being used to promote their newest 3DS title. And Hot Wheels fans get to pose with a real version of their classic green Camaro (set up on a life-sized loop-de-loop track).

It's also interesting to note that Nissan unveiled a line of suped-up food trucks to capitalize on the mobile eatery craze. Officially titled NV Vans, the models include chrome bumpers, cooking facilities, and enhanced audio systems to alert hungry customers. Popular L.A. lunch companies CoolHaus and The Grilled Cheese Truck were put on display (and fed goodies to fans passing by).

If you happen to live in the Los Angeles area, you can enjoy the Auto Show up until November 27. Make sure to visit their official site for more details on all of the hot models!

Which 2012 cars are you most excited about? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, BMW, BMW i8, Cars, Food Trucks, Honda, Hot Stuff, Hot Wheels, L.A. Auto Show, Mario Kart, Nintendo, NV Vans, Porsche, Porsche Panamera GTS