Some talked-about vehicles made their debut Friday at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Here is some capsule information:
• MAZDA6 DIESEL: Mazda will offer a diesel version of its new, sportier Mazda6 sedan in the second half of next year. It’s not releasing full details yet, but says diesels can get 30 percent better fuel economy than gasoline-powered cars. Mazda says it will be the first Asian automaker to offer a clean diesel engine in a non-commercial vehicle in North America.
• SUBARU FORESTER: The new Subaru Forester, which will go on sale this spring, has more leg room and cargo space (74.7 cubic feet) than the previous model of the small SUV. The base 2.5-liter, 170 horsepower engine remains the same, but buyers can also upgrade to a new, 250-horsepower turbocharged 2-liter. The design is less boxy and more aerodynamic, with a new mesh grille and sporty front bumper.
• TOYOTA RAV4: The fourth-generation of Toyota’s RAV4, which practically invented the crossover segment when it first went on sale nearly 20 years ago. The latest RAV4 has sharper, more aggressive styling, better fuel economy (up to 31 mpg on the highway), a new six-speed transmission and other features to help it compete against its archrival, the Honda CR-V. The V6 engine option, side-hinged liftgate and optional third-row seat will no longer be offered.
• HONDA CIVIC: Honda is showing off a new Civic compact car, revamped just 19 months after the company introduced the last one. Honda did a lightning-quick revision of the popular car after realizing that compacts from other automakers had caught and passed the top-selling Civic. Honda is expected to address criticism that the 2012 model was noisy, cheap looking and didn’t handle or perform as well as older Civics.
• FIAT 500e: The Fiat 500 mini-car is bulking up and going electric. The Italian automaker is showing two new versions of the 500 at the show.
• BMW i3: The battery-powered concept car, which swaps the traditional steel body for lighter carbon fiber, gives some clues about where BMW is going with its first electric car.
• ACURA RLX: It’s a new version of the aging big Acura, the RL. The 2014 RLX will have an all-wheel steering system that controls the steering angles for better handling, a new communications setup and LED headlamps. It’s also 275 pounds lighter and has a new 310-horsepower V6 that gets 31 miles per gallon on the highway.
• CHEVROLET SPARK EV: An all-electric mini-car that will go on sale in California, Oregon, Canada and South Korea next summer. Other markets are expected to follow. General Motors won’t release many details, but says the Spark EV will cost less than $25,000 with a federal tax credit and will go at least as far on a charge as rivals like the Nissan Leaf and Ford Focus EV, which can go more than 70 miles.
• FORD TRANSIT CONNECT WAGON: After a six-year hiatus, Ford gets back into the minivan business with the Transit Connect Wagon. It seats up to seven, has dual sliding doors and will be instantly recognizable thanks to its short size and high roofline. It will get 30-plus mpg and start around $20,000. The Transit Connect Wagon goes on sale in the fall.
