Los Angeles Auto Show fun in the sun

Hopefully by now you have read the excellent articles about the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show from our very own Examiners. John Matras is publishing regular highlights about the show (check out his Mustang article, it is wicked fun) and Ivan Katz has been covering the sportier side of things. As an avid car show enthusiast, I would gladly leave sub-freezing Washington, DC and join the fun-in-the-sun but a rather important, promised volunteer stint at my son's soccer tournament this weekend has kept me grounded.

However, thanks to our ever "flattening" world, I can easily track the debuts and concept cars from afar thanks to our nifty Internet (thank you Al Gore). Plus, all of the new car model debuts have already occurred so I can now launch cynical jibes toward the manufacturers.

Rather than complicate things with pesky prose, I thought I would compile a simple list of new car model debuts and concepts I believe will be a hit (indicated with a yes) and of those I believe will be a miss (indicated with a no). Please enjoy the list below (to view all of these cars on the same page, click here):

1. CNG Camry Hybrid Project: No. It still looks like a Camry.
2. New Ford Mustang. Yes yes yes. They finally got that body shape just right!
3. Kia FCEV concept: No. I don't care if it's clean burning, it's still a Kia.
4. Chrysler Town and Country EV: No. This is why Chrysler is hurting.
5. Lotus Evora: Yes. Finally a Lotus you can buckle your baby into!
6. Ford Fusion Hybrid: No. Can we please drop that silly grill and import the European Focus?
7. Audi A6: Yes. They are really starting to slide in under the BMW radar
8. Dodge ZEO concept: No. Wrong direction Dodge, check out what Mazda is doing.
9. Smart ForTwo Brabus: No. For that price, you could buy a cooler looking 5 seater Scion.
10. Mazda 3: Yes. The brand to watch