Los Angeles Auto Show
Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA
December 1-10, 2006 The first Los Angeles Auto Show was held in 1907 and was smaller than many cruise-in events there these days. A total of 99 cars were gathered at Morley's Skating Rink in the City of Angels for the inaugural show. A lot has happened since then, but possibly the most significant was announced two years ago. At that time, it was decided to move the show date from early January to early December. For 25 years, the LA show had been living in the shadow of Detroit's version, the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). With the two shows overlapping, major exhibitors and media were forced to divide their resources, with the inevitable result that the LA show never grew to international status.
Fabrizio Giugiaro of Italdesign...
Fabrizio Giugiaro of Italdesign shows off the Ford Mustang by Giugiaro, a one-of-a-kind concept powered by Ford Racing Technologies.
"Changing the dates of the LA Auto Show is the single most dramatic development in the show's history," confirmed Andy Fuzesi, general manager of the LA Auto Show. "It's similar to when the Detroit show changed its name and dates, which was the beginning of its rise to international prominence that it now enjoys."
This year's event marked the first December version and the organizers were rewarded for their change of date. For the first time, the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles (OICA) placed the show on its global auto show calendar, confirming the LA Auto Show as an 'international' event. Relieved from having to struggle with resources and timing, auto manufacturers responded favorably by lining up 21 world debuts, seven concept car world debuts and 14 North American debuts. This is high currency for the show organizers, as these exclusive launches help bring more paying attendees to the event.
The car's striking design...
The car's striking design made it the hit of the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Ford Motor Company was among the strong supporters, scheduling the introduction of the 2008 Ford Escape and Escape Hybrid at the show. However, without a doubt, the car that stole the show was introduced by Ford Group Vice President of Design and Chief Creative Officer, J Mays, along with Fabrizio Giugiaro, styling director of Italdesign - Giugiaro S.P.A. The Mustang by Giugiaro is a one-of-a-kind concept car, powered by Ford Racing technologies, and used by Italdesign as a design study and styling exercise. "When we saw the new Mustang, we knew two things: It was the best we'd seen since the original, and we had to get our hands on one," explained Fabrizio Giugiaro, styling director of Italdesign - Giugiaro S.P.A. "We still believe it's important to show the automotive world pure exercises in style that interpret key models reflecting the history and image of important brands."
Design aficionados and Mustang trivia collectors will recall that the senior Giugiaro, Giorgetto, created the 1965 Bertone Mustang. That car, which was unmistakably Italian in its interpretation, became the first European-styled car to make its international debut in America following the end of World War II. The offer to have both father and son working on a contemporary version set the hook when Ford was approached with the idea in early 2005. Visually, the concept appears more compact than the production car, due to a reduction of the rear overhang and the signature Giugiaro "trick" of tapering the angles on the car to the limit of its mechanical outlines. The Giugiaros added just over an inch to the front, gradually expanding the width by over 3 inches toward the rear. With its longer hood and the trunk barely visible, the car looks more like a fastback in side view.