The LA Auto Show Is A Fantastic Place To Annoy People.

"Andrew T. Maness" (theroadlessdriven)
11/20/2014 at 23:45 • Filed to: LA Auto Show, Happenings, Oppo, Photo Dump, The Road Less Driven, Andrew Maness, Today, Porsche, Bentley, Ford, Mustang, GT350, News, Mazda, Maserati, Toyota

Convention hall lighting sucks. It makes taking a good photo damn near impossible and will create a frayed mental state over the course of a day. However, it's worth enduring hours of being blasted with tungsten rays since the reward is getting up close and personal with all sorts of new vehicles, before the show is open to gen pop.

Seeing as I've somehow convinced the LA Auto Show folks that I'm a legit member of the automotive press core and secured credentials, I figured I'd turn to the Oppo community for suggestions on what to fill my second day with.

I've already interviewed people from Chrysler, Ford, KIA and Porsche but I'm happy to go back and take more pictures if there's specific stuff you'd like to see.

On the docket for tomorrow I have Toyota, Mazda, Jaguar/Land Rover, Subaru, BMW, Volvo, Mercedes, Audi, Mini, VW, GM, and Bentley. If you've got a question you want me to throw at any of their reps, leave it in the comments. The more ridiculous the better.

I do plan to go see if Nissan is doing anything interesting anytime soon and I'll check in with Acura because they looked lonely today. Mitsubishi is at the show hanging out in a corner next to Fiat and I'm told that Infiniti is there as well.

Here are some pictures from today to prove that I was there. You'll find many more on here on my !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and here on my !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

Look forward to seeing some good question suggestions and photo requests from you Opponauts, don't disappoint me!

There's a concept car up there somewhere beyond a sea of suits and square toed shoes.

If only Toyota had the balls to produce anything like the FT-1 instead more Howards.

Maserati got drunk and built an F-Type with Buick design touches.

Can anyone tell me what SKYACTIV technology is?

The three people in the background are exactly the type of people that will buy this.

The new Maybach caused quite a stir, not as much as the guy in overalls with a ponytail but quite a stir nonetheless.

I absolutely love that Ford had a German flag painted pony on the wall.

But not as much as I loved this, I mean that is just so kick ass amirite?!

So KIA had this virtual skiing machine setup. My friend Dylan killed it, even got a round of applause. Then we went over to the Ballast Point vending area built out of a Sedona and drank some free beer. Thanks KIA!

Beautyrest Black is a luxury mattress line, in case you were wondering.

Fireball Tim told me you don't know luxury until you've experienced a Bentley. He's right and hopefully Bentley will help me learn all about luxury very soon.

If you turn your head to the side the B looks like a pair of cartoon own eyes. Some shit you can't unsee bro!

DISCUSSION (36)

YSI-what can brown do for you > Andrew T. Maness
11/20/2014 at 00:10

Skyactive is the next skynet. . .

CAcoalminer > Andrew T. Maness
11/20/2014 at 00:12

Did you see the Mercedes-Maybach?

Fookin' Prawns > Andrew T. Maness
11/20/2014 at 00:15

Don't forget all that carpet and dry air means you'll get shocked every time you touch a car door.

Any LA opponauts going next week? I'm trying to go Monday or Wednesday, maybe.

Andrew T. Maness > CAcoalminer
11/20/2014 at 00:15

I did, it's big. Tomorrow I'm going to be interviewing someone from Mercedes, will hopefully get a chance to touch it, maybe sit in it.

Textured Soy Protein > Andrew T. Maness
11/20/2014 at 00:15

There's a concept car up there somewhere beyond a sea of suits and square toed shoes.

Man, I have square toed shoes I bought for work, because I have wide feet and these came in wide. The thought being that by going for my actual size rather than my usual going up a size to get enough width, I wouldn't have a bunch of extra unused space in the toe area.

Except the square toe totally negates that advantage. I shouldn't have bought the things, but oh well. I'll use them til they wear out.

CAcoalminer > Andrew T. Maness
11/20/2014 at 00:20

Very cool. Be sure to tell us how you like the pillows.

Kinja'd!!!

The Transporter > Andrew T. Maness
11/20/2014 at 01:50

Can anyone tell me what SKYACTIV technology is?

It's a bunch of stuff. No, seriously it's a whole mess of stuff. It's everything from engines and transmissions to bodies and chassies built around fuel efficiency and performance.

Fun fact: both the diesel and gasoline engines have the same compression ratio 14:1.

puppyknuckles > Andrew T. Maness
11/20/2014 at 02:30

Someone should really be in the GT350 revving it relentlessly all week long.

E92M3 > Andrew T. Maness
11/20/2014 at 07:01

Skyactive is a Mazda's design philosophy. A whole philosophy on "efficiency". Some Marketing VP got a 2 million dollar bonus for coming up with the term. Basically it's efficient drivetrains, reduced weight, and aerodynamic shape. You know the same thing every manufacturer is already doing. BMW already trademarked "Efficient Dynamics" so they had to come up with something to sound ground breaking too.

Jonathan Harper > Andrew T. Maness
11/20/2014 at 09:14

Kinja'd!!!

Speed holes...these are Buick speed holes.

Andrew T. Maness > Jonathan Harper
11/20/2014 at 10:24

Adds 25 hp and major appeal to greys.

extraspecialbitter > Andrew T. Maness
11/20/2014 at 10:37

How to press pass? Did you just show up with a big-ass DSLR? Teach me your ways!

Andrew T. Maness > E92M3
11/20/2014 at 10:40

1.) I really appreciate the well thought out and very on point response., hat tip to you sir.

2.) That caption was just an inside joke that is only funny to me and friend. His late father once wrote in to Motor Trend "Can anyone tell me what SKYACTIV technology is?" His question was published in the reader mailbag and their reply was simply, "yes."

Andrew T. Maness > Textured Soy Protein
11/20/2014 at 10:41

Haha, ah man your comments always make me chuckle.

Look into some Bass shoes if you have wide feet, I have a friend with a real Hobbit like situation going on and he swears by the Bass wides for dress shoes.

Andrew T. Maness > puppyknuckles
11/20/2014 at 10:42

I thought about cranking up a 5.0 that was off to the side with the keys in it...

Andrew T. Maness > extraspecialbitter
11/20/2014 at 10:44

You have to arm wrestle Angus Mackenzie and lose on purpose so as not to damage his ego, only then will you have proven you know the automotive world pecking order.