Performance Gets Top Billing At L.A. Auto Show

Speed is expected to be king at the 2004 Los Angeles International Auto Show, which runs Jan. 2 to 11.

Porsche is expected to unveil a "supercar" to compete with Ferrari and Lamborghini. The 2005 Carrera GT can go from zero to 65 mph in 3.3 seconds. Porsche plans to make 1,500 of the $440,000 cars, and rumor has it that Jerry Seinfeld wants one.

"They'd probably prefer to remain anonymous, but I think you can pretty much guess that famous people who love Porsches would probably have one of these in their stable," said Bob Carlson, of Porsche North America.

Acura will show off its TL A-SPEC, a one-of-a-kind concept based on the 2004 TL.

"It gives an automotive manufacturer a chance to try out some things to see how it works out, to see how it tests, to see how the consumer might react," said Dennis Manns, an assistant vice president.

Also going for performance is Mazda's Miata MX-5, which joins the MazdaSpeed line. It's got a 1.8 liter engine.

Chrysler's 300C is meant to redefine an American classic, as it brings back the letter series with a model that can get to 60 mph 6.3 seconds

Saab says it's 2005 9-2 is an entry into an emerging market for premium compact sports models.

"The competition in this segment will be the traditional premium five competitors, (including) Audi, BMW, Volvo. What's going to make our product unique is that we're going to have all-wheel drive fulltime versus these other competitors that will not," said Debra Kelly-Ennis, president of SAAB Cars, USA.