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Los Angeles Auto Show 2018: weird and wonderful concept cars
From a powerhouse Rivian pick-up to a £1.7m, 250mph all-electric Pininfarina, these are the top prototypes making their debuts in LA
The track-focused Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro and new Porsche 911 have stolen the headlines since their unveilings at the LA show, which runs until 9 December, but a number of weird and wild concept cars have also been wowing visitors.
Here are the best concepts and prototypes making their world debuts at the LA event:
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Audi is building a sleek electric four-door coupe using the underpinnings of the eagerly awaited Porsche Taycan.
With styling inspired by the company’s PB18 electric supercar concept, which debuted at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August, the E-tron GT uses a 96kWh battery system and a pair of electric motors to offer an impressive 0-62mph of 3.5 seconds, Autocar reports.
The E-tron GT also uses a host of recycled materials in the cabin, including old fishnets for carpets, says Evo.
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Expect Audi to open sales for the EV in 2020.
Rivian R1S and R1T
A new electric carmaker entered the scene in LA, as US-based Rivian took the covers off its new R1S SUV and R1T pick-up.
Both models are built on the same all-electric platform offering a range of 400 miles on a single charge and 0-60mph sprint times of roughly three seconds, Auto Express reports. The R1S and R1T get four electric motors, positioned on each wheel, which provide all-wheel drive and a supercar-rivalling power output of 754bhp.
R1S models carry a “relatively modest” price tag of $65,000 (£50,900), the motoring magazine says, while the R1T pick-up comes in at $61,500 (£48,300). Production isn’t expected to get under way until 2020.
BMW Vision iNext
Much like BMW’s recent batch of concept cars, the Vision iNext (pictured top) is unlikely to see production. Instead, it acts as a showcase for technologies the company may one day install on its upcoming production models.
The Vision iNext previews a new production platform that will underpin the company’s electric cars from 2020, notably a battery-electric version of the 3 Series saloon, says Autocar. The architecture will be predominantly rear-wheel drive, but twin-engined all-wheel drive EVs and even combustion-engined models are on the cards.
Automobili Pininfarina PF0
Italian design house Pininfarina, famed for styling such cars as the Ferrari Testarossa and the Maserati Birdcage concept, is launching its own production car brand aimed at bringing supercar levels of performance to EV lovers.
The company’s first offering, the PF0, will boast a “scarcely believable 1,900bhp and 1,700lb ft of torque”, says Top Gear, which equates to around double the power output of a Formula 1 car. The battery and electric motor system come from Croatian EV maker Rimac, known for producing the Concept One hypercar that Richard Hammond famously crashed on The Grand Tour.
Only 150 examples will reach production, each carrying a price tag of £1.7m, the website says.
