The Best Luxury Cars at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show

Although the Ford GT wasn't introduced this year and didn't make our list below, we love it anyway—especially when hung up on a wall.

Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg
You know it's good when a $2.5 million Mercedes isn't even the most exciting debut.

By @HannahElliott https://www.twitter.com/HannahElliott https://www.bloomberg.com/authors/AR_gYx13m9A/hannah-elliott

1 Desember 2017 09.47 WIB
This week at the Los Angeles Auto Show, automakers displayed their best efforts for the year to come. There was plenty to see, from a 755-horsepower Chevrolet Corvette that is the fastest in the world to an all-electric Mini that is the first of what will eventually be a 100-percent electric portfolio.
As with previous years, midsize SUVs and crossovers dominated, especially on the luxury front, while autonomous driving and electric-powered power trains were prevalent among everyone from BMW and Mercedes to Land Rover, Porsche, Volkswagen, and Mini. There was even an all-electric, all-wheel-drive Defender-style SUV from an obscure company called Bollinger.

"There’s no question that this is the show where automakers want to talk about alternative fuel and alternative power trains," said Joe Wiesenfelder, the executive editor of Cars.com. "In California especially, it's such a hot segment."

Elsewhere, as sales decline among sedans, sales among sport utility vehicles continue to rise. To that end, Subaru, Lexus, Volvo, and Hyundai all showed new compact and midsize SUVs, while Jeep's new Wrangler was perhaps the most anticipated of the lot. That was the first major update for the brand's most iconic offering in 10 years.

"The 2017 show saw another round of utility-vehicle introductions overshadowing car reveals," said Michelle Culver, the associate director of IHS Markit research. "Jeep Wrangler [was] among the most-watched UV introductions: Wrangler sales are forecasted to increase, and North America will be Wrangler's most significant market."

Most of the vehicles uncovered this week in L.A. will be available in spring 2018, though some will arrive as late as fourth-quarter 2018. And there is still plenty of time to see them before making a purchase. The show remains open to the public until Dec. 10.

Fastest Corvette Ever
The 2019 Corvette ZR1 Convertible made its world debut Tuesday. It has a 755 horsepower, LT5 6.2L supercharged engine with a new, more efficient intercooled supercharger system that offers 52 percent more displacement volume than the supercharger on the current $80,000 Corvette Z06. That helps the ZR1 get at least 100 horsepower more than the Z06 and 300hp more than the $55,000 standard base version of the Corvette Stingray.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-27/the-fastest-corvette-ever-will-roar-into-the-los-angeles-auto-show https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-29/gm-takes-on-ferrari-and-lamborghini-with-the-2019-corvette-zr1 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-30/take-your-pick-from-150-models-in-america-s-saturated-suv-market http://bollingermotors.com/

The ZR1 convertible will start at $123,995; a coupe version will ring in just under $120,000.They both will go on sale in the spring of 2018.

The Driver's Car
The new Porsche 718 Cayman GTS joined the new Porsche Boxster GTS as the latest GTS versions of Porsche's sports car line. It comes standard with adaptive dampers, Porsche's Sport Chrono package, torque vectoring, a limited-slip differential, a sports exhaust system, black-painted 20-inch Carrera S wheels—and best of all, a six-speed manual transmission. Both the 718 Boxster and Cayman GTS can reach 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, which is a 10th of a second faster than the existing 718 S models. Top speed is 180 mph. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-29/gm-takes-on-ferrari-and-lamborghini-with-the-2019-corvette-zr1

Pricing for the 718 GTS starts at $80,850 for the Cayman and $82,950 for the Boxster. Deliveries start in March 2018.

The Adventure Mobile
At a party Tuesday night, Land Rover introduced the 2018 Range Rover SVAutobiography SUV, one of several new editions from its Special Vehicle Operations factory. This is the most decadent variant of the model available, with thick leather seats, massive 10-inch, tough-screen entertainment systems, and, in the extended wheelbase version, four feet of legroom, reclining seats, and an ice-box refrigerator as well. It comes with a 557-horsepower supercharged V8 engine.

Pricing starts at just under $210,000.

The Electric Superstar
The 2018 BMW i8 Roadster is the open-top version of the German automaker's plug-in hybrid supercar. BMW has hinted at this model with concepts for years, but this is the first time it has produced the actual street-ready version. This year's i8 comes with a new motor that produces 143bhp for a total gas-plus-electric power output of 374bhp. The all-electric range is 34 miles on one full charge. The car can go to 62 mph in 4.6 seconds, with a top speed of 155 mph. The roof deploys in 16 seconds at speeds of less than 31 mph.

Pricing starts at $169,000.

The Star Sedan
Mercedes-Benz's big debut was the CLS Coupe, the third generation of its compact four-door luxury car. The new CLS is offered as a two-wheel-drive CLS450 and the all-wheel-drive CLS450 4Matic. Both come with a 367-horsepower inline-six engine. More significant are the myriad of autonomous driving systems that have previously been reserved for more expensive cars from Mercedes. On the outside, it features Mercedes's diamond-block grille and LED headlights, plus a sloping roofline and subtle sculpting across the sides; 19-inch wheels are optional.

Pricing has yet to be announced. Deliveries start in fall of 2018.

Conceptual Excellence
The Nissan Infiniti QX50 Concept SUV comes with a 268-horsepower, turbo-powered inline-four-cylinder engine and optional all-wheel drive—and that's pretty much all Nissan has revealed about the details of this midsize luxury concept.

The production version will make its debut in the fall of 2018 at a price near $37,000.

The Turbo-Boosted Wagon
The Porsche Panamera Turbo S e-hybrid is the world's most powerful luxury sedan. The hatchback sedan gets 680 total horsepower and 626 pound-feet of torque, more than both the 911 GT3 and Cayenne Turbo SUV. Its high-voltage, lithium-ion battery will go 30 miles on electric power alone before the regular combustion engine takes over. It can hit 60 mph in 3.2 seconds; top speed is 192 mph.

Base models start at $188,400, with deliveries beginning next spring.

Fastest 911 Ever
Porsche introduced the 911 Carrera T on Wednesday. The car is the middle link between the entry-level $92,000 911 Carrera and the more advanced $106,000 911 Carrera S. It's also the lightest model in the 22-model-strong Carrera range, designed for pure driving rather than optimal comfort or entertainment value; it can come with the rear-seat removed to further reduce weight. The 20-inch wheels are an option as well. The Carrera T hits 60 mph in 4 seconds and has a top speed of 180 mph with the PDK, or 182 mph with the standard 7-speed manual transmission. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-29/2018-porsche-panamera-hybrid-sport-turismo-most-powerful-sedan

Pricing starts at $103,150.

Big Cat
The Jaguar E Pace is the British brand's newest compact SUV. It comes with a four-cylinder, 296-horsepower engine, a nine-speed automatic transmission, and three trim levels, including the highest-end $53,550 E Pace SE. Many luxuries come standard, though, such as rear fog lights, headed rear windows, and rain-sensing windshield wipers; heads-up display, Wi-Fi hotspot, and navigation are optional. It will seat five and compete against the Range Rover Evoque and the Land Rover Discovery Sport.

Deliveries begin in Spring 2018.

Black Label
The 4x4 Lincoln Navigator Black Label is Lincoln's attempt at competing with the likes of Audi, Cadillac, and Land Rover. The exterior comes in a Burgundy Velvet Metallic tone and a V6 engine with 10-speed automatic transmission. A heavy-duty tow package, running boards, second-row heated seats, and panoramic sunroof come free of charge, while the "Black Label" service adds complimentary car washes, annual detailing, and remote delivery maintenance service.

Pricing starts at $94,900.

Performance-Suited Sedan
The Audi A8 L Quattro comes with a 450-horsepower, 6-cylinder engine and can hit 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. It's Audi's larger performance-suited sedan. Top speed is 133 mph. It comes with four drive modes and can switch down to running on four cylinders to optimize efficiency. Full LED headlights are standard, as is Audi's unmistakable huge front grille, cruise control, multiple parking and crash-avoidance systems, and a heads-up display with navigation. The front seats are heated and wrapped in thick leather.

Pricing starts at $82,500.

Limited Bimmer Sportster
The BMW M3 CS is a special version of BMW's iconic sports coupe and the first to bear the "CS" name. It is the most powerful production variant of BMW's M3 line and comes with an optional carbon-fiber hood and roof and aggressive rear diffuser apparatus. Its twin-turbo inline-six engine gets 460hp and can get to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds. Top speed is 174 mph. Unfortunately for manual lovers, it comes only with a seven-speed automatic transmission.

Production is limited to 1,200 units; deliveries start in May 2018. Pricing has yet to be announced.

Electric Wonders
BMW came to the L.A. show this year with a lot of electric variants. The X7 electric SUV and BMW 8 Series electric concept were two of the most exciting.

You could say everything in the X7 is oversize: it comes with three rows of seating, an updated, edgy take on the signature BMW kidney grilles, 23-inch wheels, and a large panoramic glass roof and large, 12.3-inch instrument cluster. A six-seat option with captain's chairs is available. The production version will emerge next year.

The 8 Series Concept coupe features a V8 engine and (most likely) optional all-wheel-drive. BMW says it'll offer the production versions in convertible and Grand Turismo form when they come out next year. Pricing is expected to start at around $110,000.
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