LA Auto Show Opens

LA Convention Center - The Los Angeles Auto Show begins its 10-day run at the Los Angeles Convention Center Friday, with 1,000 vehicles on display, including 20 making their world debuts and more than 30 their North American debuts at the first major North American auto show of the season.

More than half of the debuts are in the performance and luxury categories, including the Audi R8 GT Spyder, the Cadillac XTS luxury sedan, Porsche 911 and Jaguar's XKR-S convertible and C-X16 sports car concept. Bentley is returning to the show with its 2012 Continental GTC ultra-luxury convertible.

The show will also feature the BMW M5, the fifth-generation edition of the sports sedan, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster convertible, and what General Motors is billing as the world's most powerful production convertible, the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

Hyundai also has a new entry in the category, the Azera, while the MXT from the Mexican manufacturer Mastretta will be making its U.S. debut.

The show's highlights include vehicles with strong fuel efficiency. Nearly 20 vehicles on display average at least 40 miles to the gallon of gasoline, including the debuting five-door Chevrolet Spark mini-car, which averages 55.4 miles per gallon.

Debuting in the small crossover category are the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5.

Several electric vehicles will be displayed, including Mitsubishi's all-electric i, the Ford Focus Electric, BMW's i3 concept, CODA's sedan, Nissan's LEAF, Honda's Fit EV and the XD, built by the Croatia-based manufacturer DOK-ING. BMW will display its i8 plug-in hybrid sports coupe concept car.

Other world debuts include the Ford Shelby GT500, the Ford Flex, Infiniti's IPL G convertible and JX crossover, Lincoln's MKS and MKT, the Mercedes-Benz ML63 ALG, the Volkswagen CC and Volvo C70 Inscription.

The show will be open from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Monday through Wednesday; 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays; 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays and Thanksgiving; and 9-10 p.m. Nov. 25. The entrance closes one hour before the show closing.

Tickets purchased at the show are $12 for adults, with coupons for a $2 discount for Friday through Nov. 24 available at the show's website, laautoshow.com. Children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets for senior citizens 65 and older are $8 Friday though Nov. 24.

Discounted tickets are also available on the show's website.