MOVING AT THE SPEED OF STYLE A FASHIONABLE LOOK AT THE L.A. AUTO SHOW FULL-SPEED FASHION ON FOUR WHEELS.

Byline: Barbara DeWitt Fashion Editor

Swirls of silver, lots of red and numerous designs punched with orange.

And the silhouettes. Sexy, curvy and body-hugging.

Add sleek leather, some animal prints, monochromatic fashion statements and you've got the best of European design and American style.

Yes, these are cars, not clothes. But in a city where your image is defined by style, an automobile should not be judged by its mechanical prowess alone.

So, no hoods were opened or tires kicked for this report of the trendsetters of the Greater L.A. Auto Show 2000, which continues through Sunday at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Here are a few car suggestions based on your style:

VALLEY GIRL

Sporty, speedy and stylin' are the trademarks of the ultimate (San Fernando) Valley Girl driving machine, and the standout is the Audi TT Roadster, a shiny, little silver two-seater convertible that's as cute and curvaceous as the '90s Volkswagen Bug. Only it's more glamorous, with a retro dash (individual gauges instead of a panel) and a gas cap design that looks like the nut-and-bolt design on the Cartier love bracelet. The stick-shift Audi TT is available in matte or metallic silver, priced at $33,000 and up.

Other cars for driving in fashion's fast lane include the Ford Mustang, which has fewer muscle-bound features and more girlie stuff, like a neon-orange paint job and a cute pony logo embroidered on the fronts of the tan leather seats. Details include aluminum wheels and a groovy trio of tail lights.

RETRO BABE

She loves old movies, flea markets and clothes with bohemian flair. She'd love to drive a vintage car, but finds those restored models too pricey, and besides, they're gas guzzlers.

For her, the cherry red Chrysler PT Cruiser modeled after the 1930s Air Flow, and the Ford Thunderbird, modeled after the 1957 T-Bird.

The PT Cruiser is low-swung and curvy with art deco lines, upholstered in a gray fabric that looks like the old horsehair fabrics and also has the new-again dashboard with separate gauges. Not only does it turn heads, but its small (four-cylinder) engine ensures good mileage.

The T-Bird roadster, which we probably won't see until the end of the year, is modeled after the popular '57 T-Bird right down to the little porthole windows on the sides and the bullet-shaped tail lights. Even the top has to be lifted off to make it a convertible. At the preview, it was shown in red, but perhaps Ford will rethink the colors and include a vintage shade of turquoise.

GLAMOUR QUEEN

She's the designer-label driver who dresses to impress, right down to her luxury automobile.

For several years, it's been the Lexus, known for its subtle glamour and pearlized finish, and the company's new GS400 model certainly qualifies with its sun roof, pale gray leather interior and varnished wood on the center console and doors.

But this year, it's got some major contenders. For instance, the drop- dead gorgeous Jaguar S-Type, with a curvy silhouette, sun roof, oh-so- fashionable bird's-eye maple wood trim and a hefty chrome Jaguar hood ornament, is priced at $42,500 and up.

More sporty, but equally impressive is the two-seater Mercedes Kompressor, available in a coppery metallic exterior with orange accents in the black leather upholstery and the center panel. The little roadster also sports oval exhaust pipes instead of the usual round design.

Also to be considered is the Volvo C70 convertible, presented with a metallic cinnamon exterior and champagne leather interior with red walnut trim and elegantly appointed vanity mirrors. Note: Illuminated vanity mirrors are still not considered standard equipment.

DISCOUNT DIVA

Style really matters, but frankly she can't afford those luxe labels. She buys her clothes at off-price stores, and when it comes to cars, she's equally savvy.

For her, Chevrolet's Monte Carlo LS Coupe is at its best in black with ebony animal-print cloth interior, priced at $21,296. It's got nice vanity mirrors and lots of conveniences, but the curvy silhouette and futuristic taillights encased in clear plastic make the style statement.

CITIFIED COWGIRL

Hauling hay, antique furniture, golden retrievers and more. Something that kicks up the dust on the back roads and makes her feel like she's heading to a ranch in Texas instead of the studio lot in Burbank. We're talking trucks, and the GMC 4X4 Sierra is the hottest ticket.

This classic pickup truck comes in creamy fire-engine red with a passenger cab (three doors), sports gray leather upholstery, a snack table, really deep wells in the drink holders, and oh yeah, it's got an overhead console to hold sunglasses, garage door openers and maps. The final touch is some vintage-inspired chrome trim on the sides of the cab and the bumpers, and a lowered step that makes the cab easy to hop into. The bottom line? $33,000.

For $10,000 less, the Ford four-door pickup (also in creamy red), is loaded with style, right down to its chrome-trimmed wheels and fenders and the ``step-up'' for women drivers. Waxing nostalgic, Ford installed a bench seat instead of buckets and used gray vinyl and fabric upholstery, which is great for lovers watching the sun come up.

CAPTION(S):

5 photos, box

Photo: (1 -- color) On the cover: The curvy Audi TT coupe.

(2 -- color) (Tightly-cropped three-quarter rear side view of 2001 Thunderbird -- no cutline)

(3 -- color) Sporty two-tone leather upholstery gives the Mercedes Kompressor roadster a fashion boost.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer

(4 -- color) Chevrolet's Monte Carlo has great curves and animal-print upholstery. (Cutout three-quarter rear side view)

(5) The new Ford Mustang has more girl-power with a softer look and brighter colors. (grille closeup)

Box: FASHION CALENDAR