2011 Frankfurt Auto Show highlights

A bigger Porsche 911. A Maserati SUV. A Lamborghini that is actually lightweight. Such are some of the highlights currently on display in Frankfurt, Germany. Officially it's known as the Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA), but we humans call it the Frankfurt Auto Show.

Photos: Highlights of the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show

Held every two years in this banking city (including the European Central Bank), there's plenty of pricey eye candy at this year's event. Joining the three aforementioned brands are automakers such as Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari,  Fisker, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes Benz and Peugeot.

On the more humble side of things, Chevrolet, Ford, Hyundai, Mazda, Subaru and Volkswagen are also showcasing new and future products.

The best part of all this? Nearly every car making its global debut at this show, will be making its North American debut in Los Angeles. The L.A. Auto Show runs from Nov. 18 to Nov. 27.

So read on for some of the highlights from this year's Frankfurt event and start picking your favorites for L.A.

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Pebble Beach Concours: Cadillac looks into the future

-- David Undercoffler
Twitter.com/@LATimes_Driven

Pebble Beach Concours: Cadillac looks into the future

 

 

 

 

 

Clearly besotted with the motoring romance of the days of yore, Cadillac has pulled the wraps off a far-flung concept car called the Ciel at Pebble Beach’s Concours d’Elegance.

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Photos: Above, the Cadillac Ciel concept at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Credit: David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times

Below: Cadillac Ciel concept. Credit: General Motors

 

Pebble Beach Concours: Lexus unveils 2013 GS 350

Lexus decided to use this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance to unveil to the world their 2013 GS 350 sedan. Yet the automotive glamour of the event and rich heritage (and potential price tags for the auctions taking place during the weeklong event) seemed to overwhelm Lexus’ latest.

Though the new GS ostensibly draws a few design influences from the Lexus LF-Gh concept seen at the 2011 New York Auto Show, the car could have used a few more. The front bears a strong resemblance to the CT 200h, with a few more angles protruding out. On the one hand it’s a mundane design that’s not trying hard enough, and at the same time the cacophony of converging shapes is trying entirely too hard.

The back looks strikingly similar to a Hyundai Sonata, which isn’t necessariliy a bad thing. Though if you agree you might want to keep that little morsel to yourself as it's probably not a comparison that potential GS buyers will want to hear.

This is the fourth generation of the GS line, and it has traditionally competed against other midsize luxury sedans such as the Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5 series and Infiniti M. Therefore, the initial powerplant is a 3.5-liter V-6 with direct injection. Lexus says it puts out 306 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque.

Shifting duties are handled by a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and will route power to either the rear wheels or all four wheels, if equipped.  

The interior of the GS is a highlight. Recessed deep into the top-of-the-center console is a massive, 12.3-inch, high-resolution viewing screen, which the company says will be standard across all trim lines. The screen’s duties can be split simultaneously between, say, the navigation system for the driver and the stereo system.

Meanwhile, the comfortable seats are thickly bolstered and the construction of the cabin is first rate.

Lexus didn’t announce pricing figures for the GS, but said it would go on sale in early 2012. Stay tuned for a full review in the near future.

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Photos: Above, the 2013 Lexus GS 350. Credit: David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times. Below, the Lexus GS 350 at Pebble Beach. Credit: Lexus.