As much as we love Uber and Lyft, nothing beats getting behind the wheel of your own customized car. Taking ownership of the road, turning up the dial and getting a little cruise time is an essential part of every guy’s DNA. That’s one of the big reasons that the L.A. Auto Show continues to fill up with loyal gearheads every year. And it’s the reason we continue to happily report on it.
So here you are… Enjoy The 7 Sickest Rides Of the 2016 L.A. Auto Show!
Divergent Blade 3D Printed Car
Let’s start things off with some high-tech hot wheels. Believe it or not, this year’s Auto Show was proudly displaying a sleek, purple car built from an actual 3D printer. Created by Divergent, the Blade is one-of-a-kind ride came straight from Silicon Valley (vs. the Detroit assembly line) and has an ecological touch; since it uses less pollutants than factory made materials.
Jaguar I-Pace
Concept cars always catch our eye at these events and Jaguar’s I-Pace SUV certainly set the standard. Showcasing electric power (with a driving range of 220 miles) and shiny, silver curves, it attracted some of the biggest crowds at the show. This one is still in the planning stages, but we imagine, when it rolls off the line, it will out “pace” every other car with a VERY HEFTY price tag.
Mercedes AMG GT C Roadster
Adding a nice touch of vintage James Bond to the floor, Mercedes’ AMG GT C Roadster offers luxury and speed in one sweet convertible package. We were very impressed with this model, which surprisingly carries quite a bit of power underneath the hood. It can hit 62 mph in a mere 3 seconds and houses a twin-turbo V8 engine.
Acura Precision
Jumping back into concept car mode for a sec, Acura’s Precision model delivered quite a bit of buzz for its “alien spacecraft” design. The cherry red ride was on center display at the show; touting LED headlights, a double-layered ergonomic instrument panel with touch pad controls and floating rear seats. Though the automakers were hush hush on price and a release date, our fingers are crossed that it’ll hit the highways soon.
Elio E1C
Imagine picking up a vehicle for just $7,300, but its also eco-friendly and American made to boot!!! Well that’s the mission of automaker Elio Motors. Just a few years ago Paul Elio was fed up with a soaring prices of cars and fuel in the auto industry. As Elio puts it, it was an “economy taking too much and giving back to little” – and the Elio EIC was born. A three-wheel vehicle that has 90% of its material made in the U.S.A., giddy-up of up to 84 miles per hour and a safety system that rivals, if not exceeds what’s on the market – all for 7K. Not bad, not bad at all. Plus, looks like we finally have our car from The Jetsons.
Honda Civic Si
Finally, an Auto Show ride that can fit within a reasonable budget. Don’t let the modesty of the name “Civic” fool you, however. Honda’s new Si model is built to perform. Not only does it maintain the sleek 2016 redesign, it comes with a turbocharged engine that can reach up to 250 horsepower. It’s also got a bit of old school charm, manufactured with only six-speed manual transmissions.
Dodge Ram 1500
How could we finish this list without at least one gravel-crushing power truck? The Dodge Ram 1500 had plenty of eager off-roaders chomping at the bit. Though it’s far removed from many of the eco-vehicles on display, the 1500 unapologetically exemplifies machismo. The one on display was outfitted with shiny red chrome, leather black interiors and a 5.7-liter V8 engine. It also carries 22-inch wheels and 410 pound-feet of torque. It’s definitely worth adding to the personal garage (if you can meet the $43,740 starting price).
