L.A. Auto Show preview: Crossovers in the spotlight; EVs take a supporting role

The Los Angeles Auto Show usually serves as a showcase for snazzy new electric vehicles — apropos for California and its car buyers, which represent the nation's biggest EV market.

Instead, 2023 will be an outlier, turning the spotlight on crossover vehicles with a smattering of powertrain offerings.

Automakers increasingly are opting to debut new vehicles outside of the national auto show circuit, leaving this year's L.A. lineup under the influence of product life cycles and timing.

An already thin introduction roster is made thinner by Stellantis' decision to pull out of this year's event, a result of cost cutting following the six-week UAW strike. Last year, Stellantis announced the return of the electric Fiat 500e to the U.S. at the L.A. show, and planned to unveil it this year.

Also on deck was the Ram 1500 REV electric pickup and the extended-range version, the Ram 1500 Ramcharger.

"Ram would have been a big one, undoubtedly the most significant intro at the show," Ed Kim, chief analyst at automotive research firm AutoPacific, told Automotive News.

"And 500e would have been a good fit for L.A. as an urban EV city car," Kim said.

Now the marquee EV reveal will be the Gravity crossover from California startup Lucid, which has been testing a camouflaged prototype on U.S. streets since spring of this year.

Kia could also surprise and delight with an EV concept or two as it sticks to its plans to launch eight EVs in the U.S. by 2029. For now, it is expected the Korean automaker will reveal its refreshed Sorento compact crossover at the show.

The likely introduction of the Toyota Camry at an offsite event ahead of the show may be the lone sedan to grab headlines. The Camry inevitably would capture attention because of its historic popularity among U.S. consumers, despite its steadily declining role in Toyota's lineup at the hands of the RAV4.

Here's what's expected to be on display at the L.A. show, which opens to the public after the media preview Thursday, Nov. 16.

Genesis: The Genesis GV80 Coupe will make its North American debut alongside the redesigned GV80, marking the second generation of the premium midsize crossover. The pair will unofficially kick off the show at a private unveiling on Tuesday, Nov. 14, in Bel Air.

Hyundai: Hyundai will reveal U.S. packaging and specs for its fifth-generation Santa Fe midsize crossover featuring a radically different design, including a boxier shape. Noticeably absent will be a plug-in hybrid variant; gasoline and hybrid models remain. Hyundai will also unveil a high-performance Ioniq 5 N at a pre-show event on Wednesday, Nov. 15.

Kia: It's expected Kia will reveal a freshened Sorento. Though the automaker has not confirmed details on its plans for the popular compact crossover, camouflaged prototypes have been spotted with headlights similar to the Telluride, signaling a visual update that would bring the Sorento more in line with the Telluride. Kia could also show off an EV concept. It will likely be smaller, and in the event the automaker pulls the veil on two vehicles, one could be a car, according to sources.

Lucid: The EV maker will present its second vehicle, the Gravity, at the L.A. show. The three-row crossover will be a critical addition to the lineup when it goes into production late next year, especially since Lucid is struggling to sell its Air sedan in the declining large sedan segment.

Subaru: Subaru will debut a redesigned model. While the automaker has been mum on specifics, it's expected to be the Forester compact crossover, which should sport interior upgrades similar to that of the redesigned Crosstrek.

Toyota: Toyota is expected to debut a re-engineered Camry midsize sedan in Malibu prior to the show, as well as a new midsize hybrid crossover likely to be marketed under the Crown sub-brand. Both vehicles will be on display at the L.A. show.

Laurence Iliff, Larry P. Vellequette and Jack Walsworth contributed to this report.