Honda Insight Concept

Bet you didn’t know that it was Honda, and not Toyota, that had the first hybrid for sale in the U.S. Honda lost its crown when the Prius came along, and it stung. So at the 2008 L.A. Auto Show, Honda unveiled the Honda Insight Concept, a car that is a lot closer to reality than concept. Using Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) drive, the production version of this concept – which will look very similar – will deliver fuel economy in the same range as the Civic Hybrid, but in a practical five-door package. It will also cost less than the Civic Hybrid, making it the lowest-priced hybrid available in the U.S. when it goes on sale early next year.

Photo Credit: Staff

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

The new 2010 Ford Fusion has its hands full challenging the Japanese and Korean competition, but it has an ace: the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. Receiving its world premiere at the 2008 L.A. auto show, the Fusion gasoline/electric hybrid hits some pretty high highs: a 700-mile range on a tank of gas, 39 miles per gallon in the city, and the ability to run up to 47 mph by battery alone. The 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid uses a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine in tandem with the battery power. Ford claims that the 2010 Fusion hybrid is the most fuel-efficient midsize sedan in the U.S. It arrives in Ford showrooms this spring.

Photo Credit: Staff

2010 Lexus RX 450h

Lexus introduced the world to the idea of a luxury crossover with the original RX, then with the second generation, introduced the first luxury hybrid with the 2005 RX 400h. Upping one’s own ante is never easy, but at the 2008 L.A. Auto Show, Lexus showed it’s willing to try with the all-new 2010 Lexus RX 450h. With more power from its 3.5-liter Atkinson-cycle V-6, but better fuel economy, it’s definitely headed in the right direction. With a smaller, more powerful electric inverter, it’s even closer. The RX also uses other tricks, like a new exhaust gas recirculation system to help reduce emissions and improve fuel economy further. Lexus promises economy in the range of a four-cylinder mid-size sedan; we’ll have to wait until sometime in the middle of next year to put that to the test.

Photo Credit: Staff

BMW 7 Series ActiveHybrid Concept

Normally, giant four-door luxury sedans aren’t considered very green. That changed when Lexus unveiled the LS 600h, which taught rich people that they could still have a big honkin’ sedan and feel good about themselves at the same time. Not wanting to be left behind, the BMW 7 Series ActiveHybrid Concept was unveiled at the 2008 L.A. Auto Show. Based on the new BMW 7 Series that goes on sale early next year, the Active Hybrid uses a 20kW electric motor to augment starts, resulting in roughly 15 percent better fuel economy. OK, that won’t change the world by itself, but it is definitely a step in the right direction.

Photo Credit: Staff

BMW X6 ActiveHybrid Concept

The BMW X6 is one of the most controversial vehicles the company has ever produced. It offers up stellar handling, a reasonably sized rear seat despite the sloping roofline, and lots of power from its V-8 engine. On the other, it looks pretty darn weird, and doesn’t do anything significantly better than other BMWs. Now BMW is putting the same hybrid drivetrain into the X6 in the form of the BMW X6 ActiveHybrid Concept, with the same 20kW electric motor as the BMW 7 Series ActiveHybrid Concept. Whether the hybrid will change our opinion of the X6 as a whole remains to be seen, but we have to admit that we at least like the idea of the fuel-swilling X6 having a greener side appealing.

Photo Credit: Staff

2009 Volkswagen Touareg V-6 TDI

Volkswagen is clearly on to something with its new push toward diesels. The new Jetta TDI, for example, has blown past sales expectations, with Volkswagen reporting that uptake on the Jetta SportWagen has been 80 percent diesel. So the time is clearly right for the 2009 Volkswagen Touareg V-6 TDI that was unveiled at the 2008 L.A. Auto Show. The Touareg V-6 TDI isn’t the first diesel Touareg of course, that title goes to the V-10 TDI that has been available since the Touareg’s introduction. However, the V-6 is something to crow about, with significantly better fuel economy than the regular V-6 model, and 50-state legal emissions. Expect another run on diesels at the VW dealership.

Photo Credit: Staff

Honda CR-Z Concept

This isn’t the first glance we’ve had of the CR-Z Concept, but we like the little hybrid coupe so much that we just have to keep posting it. Every auto enthusiast who was alive in the 80s or 90s knows about the Honda CRX; this is that car, but with a hybrid powertrain. At the 2008 L.A. Auto Show, Honda reiterated that this car itself is not slated for production, but it does give us a glimpse into the future of a hybrid sports car from the company. Our only thought: Hurry up already!

Photo Credit: Staff

Honda FC Sport Concept

We really like the FC Sport Concept that Honda unveiled at the 2008 L.A. Auto Show, we really do. The idea of a mid-engined, fuel-cell powered three-place sports car gets our blood pumping. We aren't thrilled with the rear end styling on Honda’s concept though, which landed it a heartbreaking spot on our duds list. But the rest of the car is sound, and we hope that as fuel cell technology matures, we see something like the FC Sport on our roads. Just without the big, weird tail.

Photo Credit: Staff

Hyundai Tucson FCEV Concept

The Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) unveiled at the 2008 L.A. Auto Show concept is a runner. As in, drove across the country runner. As a participant in a U.S. government-sponsored marathon of hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles, the Tucson FCEV had a range of about 185 miles, and managed the 4,300 mile trip without breaking a sweat. Fuel cells still hold great promise for the future, but as development continues, that future seems less and less distant.

Photo Credit: Staff

2009 Audi Q5 TDI

The 2009 Audi Q5 TDI unveiled at the 2008 L.A. Auto Show isn’t even on sale in the U.S. yet, but it's already making news. Thanks to its 3.0-liter V-6 TDI clean diesel engine, it boasts 406 lb.-ft. of torque, certainly more than enough to move this compact luxury crossover. Yet on a recent mileage marathon hosted by Audi and featuring its diesel vehicles, the Q5 TDI managed a high average of 38.5 mpg. Audi is understandably proud of its new baby ‘ute, and we admit it’s a good looking little car regardless of what's under the hood. When the 50-state legal TDI goes on sale early next year, we don’t expect diesels to be sitting idle on lots.

Photo Credit: Staff

2009 Audi Q7 TDI

Audi’s Q7 is a monster of an SUV, capable of towing big loads, carrying plenty of people or things, and generally looking imposing wherever it goes. Up until now, however, it has had pretty lousy fuel economy. But the 2009 Audi Q7 TDI shown at the 2008 L.A. Auto Show will change that, with fuel economy in the 30s on a recent mileage marathon hosted by Audi, the 3.0-liter V-6 diesel’s 406 lb.-ft. of torque is still plenty to tow 7,000 pounds if need be. We have to admit that we’re warming up to the idea of diesels, especially the newest generation of clean diesels by Audi and Volkswagen. When the Q7 TDI goes on sale next year, some of us might just be in line for one.

Photo Credit: Staff

2011 Chevrolet Volt

We already know a lot about the Chevrolet Volt, but this is the first time the production version of the car – or at least, what Chevrolet is calling the production version – has attended a U.S. auto show. The 2008 L.A. Auto Show is a fitting venue, of course, with its green-tinged hue already well established. The Volt sat unassumingly on the show floor at Chevrolet’s display – no fanfare accompanied its arrival. Still, the little compact attracted quite a bit of attention. We just hope that GM is around long enough to build this potentially game-changing car.

Photo Credit: Staff

Kia Borrego FCEV Concept

One of the advantages to making a fuel cell vehicle out of something big, as Kia did with the Borrego FCEV Concept, is that you can cram a lot of hydrogen tanks inside. At the 2008 L.A. Auto Show Kia revealed that the Borrego FCEV can hold three tanks, giving it a range of 426 miles, which is truly real-world range. It’s also very efficient, getting 54 mpg. The Borrego FCEV is part of the combined test fleet of Kia and Hyundai, which are both working on fuel cell vehicles for the future. How far away is that future? Maybe not quite as far as it once was.

Photo Credit: Staff

More live updates -- all day long -- from the 2008 L.A. auto show

MyRide's 2008 L.A. auto show coverage on is a real-time, non-stop affair. And as long as there are new cars, concept cars and world premieres being unveiled at the L.A. auto show, we'll be collecting them and adding pages, photos and video to the stories like the one you. So over the next few days -- or even just a couple of hours from now -- you're invited to return to the 2008 L.A. auto show story you've just finished to see what amazing new cars and concepts we've added to it.

In the meantime, check out these other all-new highlights from the 2008 L.A. auto show:

Photo Credit: Ron Perry