At L.A. Show, Hybrids Are Big

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American companies weren't the only ones showing off new SUVs. Toyota unveiled an unabashed behemoth at this year's show, the 2008 Sequoia, a massive, full-sized SUV based on a redesigned version of the company's existing Tundra pickup truck platform (BusinessWeek.com, 1/30/07). The truck will be available with either a 4.7-liter or 5.7-liter V-8 engine.

To get the U.S.-sized vehicle right, the car's chief engineer, Motoharu Araya, lived with a large family with a full-sized SUV to better understand the particular needs of Toyota's U.S. customers. Toyota says the large vehicle will produce fewer emissions than the outgoing vehicle.

The horsepower war that has sent performance figures through the roof in recent years was also on full display. The show marks the North American debut of several notable monster vehicles, which were unveiled at previous auto shows around the world. The debut of vehicles like the $1.4 million Lamborghini Reventón and the 480-horsepower Nissan GT-R is significant considering Southern California is the world's largest market for exotic and so-called super cars.

"Clean Technologies" Are Key

But, that's not to say some manufacturers weren't focused on fuel economy. Volkswagen (VOWG) showed a gas-thrifty small SUV, the 2008 Tiguan, and said its 2008 Jetta clean-diesel model should go on sale in all 50 states next summer. "Clean technologies like diesel will be key to reaching our goal of selling 800,000 vehicles annually in the U.S.," said Stefan Jacoby, CEO of Volkswagen of America. The company also showed off an innovation concept, the Space Up Blue featuring a plug-in hydrogen fuel-cell and roof-mounted solar panels.

Even Chevrolet executives committed to building a minicar based on the Beat concept shown earlier this year at the New York Auto Show, with production set to start for Asian and Latin American markets in 2009. The little vehicles that could reap up to 50 miles per gallon could eventually come to the U.S. "Online consumer surveys [told] us the Beat resonated with customers all around the world," said Chevrolet General Manager Ed Peper.

And yet, the most advanced technology on display in LA may be a long ways off. During the staged unveiling of VW's plug-in fuel cell vehicle, former NBA star John "Spider" Salley suggested he wanted the concept vehicle right away. Jacoby quickly retorted, "Well not just yet. You'll have to wait a little bit."

Click here to see the highlights of the 2007 L.A. Auto Show.

Vella is a writer for BusinessWeek.com in New York.