LA OFFERS EYE CANDY

Los Angeles Auto Show opens to the public tomorrow

The long list of luxury and performance cars, as well as the next-generation Ford Explorer SUV, making global premieres this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show reflect an industry catering to consumers with money.

Amid the eye candy of the Mercedes-Maybach, Porsche Panamera Exclusive and Audi R8 Competition is the Ford Explorer, the family vehicle that made the brand synonymous with SUVs when it debuted in 1990.

At its peak, Ford sold 445,000 Explorers in 2000 and its popularity was so consuming that Ford ignored cars such as its Taurus, which was relegated to rental car status. Higher gasoline prices torpedoed the SUV segment and pushed the truck-like Explorer off people’s shopping lists in favour of car-based crossovers from Japanese competitors.

By 2009, Explorer sales had fallen to 52,000. So Ford reinvented the Explorer in 2010 as a crossover and sales rose again. They were up almost 9 per cent through October of this year.

The expectation is the 2016 Explorer will continue to focus on fuel economy while loading up on the technology that today’s consumers demand.

As a profit driver for the company, Ford needs to keep the Explorer fresh, especially with an all-new midsize Edge crossover coming out and a facelift for the full-size Expedition, said Stephanie Brinley, analyst with IHS Automotive. “They do need to keep giving the Explorer attention to stay relevant in the segment. It carries a high price point so it is relevant to the bottom line.”

The Explorer is one of a record 33 vehicles making their global premier in L.A. this week, about a third more than last year, said show spokesman Brendan Flynn. When you add in North American debuts, the number of unveils exceeds 60 vehicles. About 4,000 media members will travel to L.A. from around the world for media days that begin Wednesday. The show opens to the public tomorrow.

The L.A. show has put an emphasis on green vehicles, and the Green Car of the Year will be announced today, but fuel-efficient vehicles have become ubiquitous at most auto shows and electric vehicles can be found on almost every stand.