2018 L.A. Auto Show: What To Expect

With a sharper look and up to 612 horsepower on tap, the new Audi R8 will make its in-vehicle debut at the L.A. Auto Show. Wielding a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 (rather than downsizing to a turbocharged V6), the new R8 will go on sale in Europe in the first quarter of 2019, and shortly thereafter in the U.S.

Audi could show the new S7 Sportback in Los Angeles. The prototype pictured here shows the car already completely undisguised. Under the hood, there is either a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 with 446 horsepower, borrowed from the Panamera 4S, or a 4.0-liter V8 with 466 hp. We'll have to wait until L.A. to see.

The RS7 is on the way, too:

⠀New Audi RS7 Sportback Spotted With Roll Cage And Massive Wheels

⠀New Audi RS7 Spied Going Fast Through The Nürburgring Corners

The first SQ8 prototype was spotted in June 2018. The sporty model will be sold – depending on the region – with two completely different engines: In Europe, it will get a  4.0-liter V8 diesel from the SQ7, and in the U.S. and other gas markets, it will get a 3.0 TFSI. The SQ8 will be unveiled in 2018 – that would mean at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

More On The Audi SQ8:

⠀Audi SQ8 Looks Like A Sports Car On Stilts During Nurburgring Test

The BMW 8 Series Convertible will also make its debut live in Los Angeles for the first time. It has practically the same dimensions as the coupe and also gets the same two six-cylinder engines – a gas and a diesel. It also gets both all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic. 

The textile soft top is available in black and anthracite and can be opened or closed in just 15 seconds at the touch of a button, up to a speed of 31 miles per hour. Market launch is – in line with the beginning of the convertible season – March 2019.

More On The BMW 8 Series Convertible:

2019 BMW 8 Series Convertible Loses Its Roof, Still Looks Lovely

The most powerful version of the new 3 Series (at least until the new M3 arrives) will make its debut in L.A. With a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine producing 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, the M340i needs just 4.4 seconds to hit 62 miles per hour. Details on price haven’t been released, but BMW said it will price the M340i and M340i xDrive when it goes on display November 28.

The 16.8-foot-long BMW X7 is modest by U.S. standards. At the seven-seat SUV's debut in L.A., it will show off features like an air suspension system, as well as a leather-trimmed cabin, and two 12.3-inch displays.

And then there's the space; if you fold the seats flat, the X7 swallows up to 74.9 cubic feet. Even with just the third row flat, there's 26.5 cubic feet of room. Under the hood is either a six-cylinder gasoline engine or two diesel options. 

Get all the details about the X7:

⠀BMW X7 Walkaround Video Shows The Luxobarge In Detail

BMW X7 Vs. BMW X5: See The Changes Side-By-Side

Hyundai wants to bring a large, three-row SUV to market in 2018. And it's doing so with the new Palisade. Outside of a single teaser, we don't have images of the SUV yet – so here's our rendering instead.

The Palisade is the sister model of Kia Telluride. Both get front- or four-wheel drive and a 3.3-liter V6, which we know from Stinger, where it delivers 370 horsepower. As attractive as that model may be in the states, it probably won't be available in Europe.

The Palisade is the biggest Hyundai yet:

Hyundai's New Three-Row SUV Has A Name: Palisade

Jeep has already confirmed the Scrambler's debut in L.A. – finally. The car (our picture shows a prototype) is based on the Wrangler Unlimited and will be significantly smaller than the Ram 1500 from the same group. 

Under the hood should come a 3.6-liter V6 with 290 horsepower, a 2.0-liter turbo with 273 hp, and maybe diesel and plug-in options later on. Market launch in the U.S. should be in the spring of 2019.

More On The Scrambler:

2019 Jeep Scrambler: Everything We Know

According to The Korean Cars Blog, the next-gen Soul will debut in Los Angeles. The new version is now based on the Kona platform but gets its usual box-like body – as pictured on this prototype. 

In terms of performance, the same three- and four-cylinder gasoline engines in the Kona should carry over, as well as a fully electric model. The Soul will also be offered for the first time with all-wheel drive.

It has soul but it's not a soldier:

⠀New Kia Soul Spied Leaning Through Turns At The Nürburgring

New Kia Soul And Soul EV To Be Revealed In Los Angeles Next Month

Lexus will dress the LX SUV in a black suit with the launch of the Inspiration Series edition in L.A. It'll feature Black Onyx exterior paint and matching 21-inch wheels. The body trim will be similarly dark.

On the inside, the SUV will feature Moonlight White semi-aniline leather upholstery. The headliner, center console, carpets, and cargo mats are black. The Inspiration Series even comes with a matching black key glove.

More Lexus models to look forward to:

Lexus RC F GT Caught At The Nurburgring With Carbon Fiber Hood

The bigger, bolder Mercedes-Benz GLS will make its debut at this year's L.A. Auto Show. Spy photos have hinted at a fully updated look, and a range of new trim levels, including AMG 63 and even a Maybach model. Following its debut in L.A., the new GLS should go on sale mid-2019 as a 2020 model.

At the Nissan booth, you'll be able to see the newest version of Maxima. The full-size sedan gets a modified fascia with a new front apron and sharper headlights. The 3.5-liter V6, borrowed from its predecessor, will carry over with more horsepower. 

In addition, the updated Maxima gets a "Nissan Safety Shield 360" package with six driver assistance systems. In the U.S., the 2019 Maxima will go on sale in December, but it won't be available in markets like Germany.

Check out these Nissans, too:

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At the L.A. Auto Show, Porsche will show the eighth-generation 911, which will be launched at the beginning of 2019. Stuttgart has already shown camouflaged photos of the car (pictured here), and we know that it will get all new options. 

These new options include things like an instrument display, borrowed from the Panamera and Cayenne. The same 3.0-liter six-cylinder will carry over from is predecessor, but it's bound to get more power. Currently, the unit makes 370 horsepower in the Carrera, 420 hp in the Carrera S, and 450 hp in the Carrera GTS. Later in the model cycle, a plug-in hybrid is planned for the first time.

More 911 variants are on the way:

See The New Porsche 911 GT3 From Every Angle In 31 Spy Photos

⠀2020 Porsche 911 GT3 Spied Going Full Attack At The Nürburgring

Toyota's TRD division will give the Camry and Avalon a more aggressive appearance at the L.A. Auto Show.

Toyota is only teasing them for now (even though it's technically showed both of them in full), but the obvious upgrades include a new body kit and Y-spoke wheels. Mechanical upgrades would include a firmer suspension and a revised exhaust. The 3.5-liter V6 might also receive a slight increase in output above the current 301 horsepower.

Toyota will also add style to the Camry and Highlander by introducing its Nightshade Edition to the pair.

They'll add lots of dark trim to the exterior, including the mirror caps, radio antenna, door handles, and badges. Both vehicles also have matching black wheels.

The latest Toyota news:

Toyota Evaluating Whether To Axe Models From Lineup

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Toyota is teasing the 2019 Prius' debut in L.A. The image showing the hybrid blasting through the snow suggests the possibility of a more rugged variant of the model. Could it even have all-wheel drive to provide better traction in poor conditions?

We doubt Toyota is putting a V8 in the Prius:

⠀Toyota PriuSRT8 Swaps Hybrid For Hellcat Engine

The beloved Volkswagen Beetle will say farewell at the L.A. Auto Show. The Final Edition model, which the company has already released online, will make its debut at the Los Angeles Convention Center later this month. Available in both coupe and convertible, and SE and SEL trims, the Final Edition Beetle will send off the bug in style.

While not confirmed, Volkswagen could also bring the I.D. Buzz Cargo van to L.A. The latest addition to the automaker’s quirky electric lineup, the I.D. Buzz Cargo is a riff on the original I.D. Buzz concept, that was shown in 2017 at the Detroit Auto Show, and includes new features like a solar roof, three front-row seats, and a third row that folds into a workstation.