If you haven't had the chance to visit the LA Auto Show, it's important to note the sheer scale of the venue. Spanning across Pico Boulevard in downtown LA, it offers a vast array of automotive delights. We began our exploration in the West hall, where the first car that caught our eye was the Ford Mustang GTD. This one is truly a marvel, and I'm calling it the Mystang due to its similar Mystichrome paint seen on some of Ford's previous high-profile creations. It's set to be the fastest Mustang ever made by Ford when it reaches customers' hands.
Next, we came across the Ford F-150 Lightning, which claimed the King of the Mountain title at Pikes Peak this year. Despite a brief 26-second stop mid-run to address an issue, its 1,600 horsepower was enough to beat every other competitor. It's a true force to be reckoned with.
In the West hall, Kia presented a batch of impressive cars. The WKNDR Concept, which I'm calling an ID. Buzz Killer, is a notable addition. Although it's not scheduled for production, the PV5 it's based on is a real EV van coming soon. In fact, it's going from concept to production in a remarkably short time compared to VW.
The new Kia EV9 GT and Sportage also stole the show. The Sportage gets more aggressive vertical headlights, a new curved display in the cabin, and a bit more power for hybrid buyers. The EV9 GT, on the other hand, is a 501 horsepower SUV with adaptive dampers, sticky tires, and bigger brakes. While the pricing remains unknown, we expect it to exceed $78,000 when it hits dealer lots.
Subaru may be doing well in overall sales, but the performance market is a different story. The WRX has no STI counterpart, and Subaru brought a reminder of this to the show with Project Midnight. It's a bit of a slap in the face to STI fans, but it was there nonetheless. Interestingly, there was just enough space between it and a normal WRX for an STI trim to fit.
Heading towards the South hall, we were greeted by a collection of race cars and supercars. Porsche took center stage, showcasing their impressive lineup. Then, there was the newest KTM X-Bow GT, sitting among other supercars and super GT cars. In the corner, we spotted a pair of Drako-branded cars. The company claims that the 2,000 horsepower Dragon will go into series production with 420 miles of range in 2026. If this becomes a reality, it will be a game-changer.
The folks at West Coast Customs brought several awesome builds to the show. One of the highlights was 3018, an art piece from Daniel Arsham that resembles a Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder with crystals growing out of it. Alongside it was a classic 1970 Camaro RS with a stunning and very unique paint job. There were also various other cars, making this section a true wildcard at the LA Auto Show. We can't wait to share more from the show soon.