.::sports and home: Top 8 Hottest Showstoppers in the City of Angels

Top 8 Hottest Showstoppers in the City of Angels – 2012 L.A An influx of show cars invaded the L.A. Convention Center this week, and while we mostly liked what we saw, some eye candy shined more brightly than others. After visiting every automaker at the auto show, the Motor Trend WOT staff narrowed down our favorites to the top 8 best in show, ranging from one mean-looking EV to a sassy Jaguar XFR-S. To catch up on every 2012 L.A. auto show debut, head to our comprehensive auto show page.

Top 8 Hottest Showstoppers in the City of Angels – 2012 L.A

Top 8 Hottest Showstoppers in the City of Angels – 2012 L.A

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Top 8 Hottest Showstoppers in the City of Angels – 2012 L.A

2014 Ford Fiesta ST - The B-segment has just gained its first true hot hatch, and like its larger Focus ST sibling, the Fiesta ST brings turbocharged power and an Aston Martin-like front end to the subcompact table. Available in the U.S. market exclusively as a four-door hatchback, the Fiesta ST packs an estimated 197 hp and 214-lb-ft from a turbocharged 1.6-liter EcoBoost I-4.
2014 Jaguar XFR-S - The folks at Jaguar have been exploring their wild side lately, and the 2014 Jaguar XFR-S is the latest proof of that. The XFR-S gets the same performance goodies from the XKR-S coupe and convertible, including its Performance Active Exhaust system and the supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 rated at 550 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque. Act fast if you want one because only 100 are headed to the U.S.
2014 Mazda6 – The all-new 2014 Mazda6 may be the best-looking midsize sedan in the segment. While the ZoomZoom offering won’t offer V-6 or turbocharged four-cylinder power like many of its competitors, we found the 184-hp 2.5-liter Skyactiv gasoline engine provided plenty of power to motivate the sub-3000 pound sedan in our 2014 Mazda6 First Drive. Mazda confirmed the 2.2-liter Skyactiv diesel engine will arrive after the initial launch and the oil-burner is expected to produce around 170 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque once official ratings are released.
Fiat 500e - Mean doesn’t usually come to mind when describing an EV, which is why the Fiat 500e took us by surprise. Looking more closely related to the pugnacious 500 Abarth than the garden-variety 500 hatch, the 500e will be available with the e-Sport package that adds orange accented dark-face wheels, orange stripes and mirror caps, and a blacked-out fascia. The 500e is an electric car for those who care as much (or more) about style as they do about saving the planet.
Volkswagen Beetle Convertible - There was no better place to reveal the Beetle Convertible than sunny L.A. (funny, it rained), where the production car stood out among the crowd with its iconic and retro styling. Designed to celebrate the storied history of the drop-top Bug that started back in 1949 with the type 15 Convertible, the soft-top retains the same profile as the hardtop with its fantastic roofline. The sweet pair of white shades handed out for the reveal wasn’t a bad deal, either.
2013 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition – When the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon arrived a decade ago it was the most capable factory equipped Wrangler ever. Now the 10th Anniversary Edition holds that title with a half-inch more lift, beefy steel bumpers, Warn winch, rock rails, taillight guards, electronic-locking Dana 44 axles and Rock-Trac transfer case. The special edition Wrangler is painted Billet Silver with red and black exterior trim as well as red leather seats and silver accents inside. What’s not to love about a body-on-frame SUV you can take straight from the dealer to the trails?
2013 Porsche Cayman – There wasn’t anything too surprising about the Cayman, since we’ve already had plenty of time to get familiar with the Boxster, its top-down sibling. Still, the new mid-engined coupe from Stuttgart looks great (check out that spoiler!) and we have no doubt it will be a blast to drive. We can’t wait to get our hands on one.
2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series – Any time Mercedes-AMG puts the “Black Series” badge on a vehicle, you can bet it’s going to be something special. And when you start with a car that’s already easy on the eyes and an impressive performer, you can expect a showstopper. That’s precisely what the three-pointed star brand delivered at this year’s L.A. show with the SLS AMG Black Series. With 622 hp and 468 lb-ft of torque on tap, a weight reduction of more than 150 pounds, and a number of aerodynamic improvements, the SLS Black Series could be the perfect follow-up to the track-oriented C63 Black Series.
Do you agree with our choices? Which car impressed you the most?