NEW CARS DEBUT; SPORTY MODELS, SUVS RULE AT INDUSTRY EVENT.

Byline: Chris Sieroty Staff writer

The buzz at the 96th Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, which opens Saturday, is all about style.

The styling of a handful of new roadsters that are making their world or North American debut at the auto show. The European styling of some American and Japanese sedans making their premier appearance. And the new, smaller sport utility vehicles that will roll out this spring and summer.

All told, in fact, nearly three dozen cars, trucks or SUVs will make their debut in Los Angeles this weekend. The number of new cars -- plus the hundreds of retooled cars also at the Convention Center speaks to the importance of the Southern California market to the world's automakers.

"This year's show will give The North American Auto Show in Detroit a run for its money," said George Peterson, president of AutoPacific Inc., a Tustin-based automotive and marketing research and product consulting company.

"With its climate and love for the automobile, Los Angeles is establishing its position as one of the premier shows. It has moved ahead of New York and Chicago."

Which is why so many vehicles are making their world or North American debut in Los Angeles.

Sports cars making their debut at the first major international auto show of the new year include the Audi TT Roadster, Acura's CL sports coupe and the BMW Z8 roadster, which is featured in the recent James Bond movie "The World is Not Enough."

There are also a myriad of new SUVs on display at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Among the sports utes making their debut are the Mazda Tribute and the five-door Pontiac Aztek, which is Pontiac's first SUV.

"The other cars, including BMW and Porsche, have sex appeal and that draws them to the display but it's not what people want to buy," Peterson said. "People appreciate expensive automobiles but will leave the auto show and buy a sport-utility vehicle."

Among the SUVs receiving the most hype at this year's auto show is the 2001 Tribute from Mazda. After a five-year absence from the market, Mazda hopes its new model will become the leader among smaller SUVs with its V-6, 260-horsepower and sports sedan handling.

"The Tribute cuts across several levels of the SUV market," said Richard Beattie, president and chief executive officer of Mazda North American Operations, at a media preview held Thursday. "With the Tribute, we've invented a whole new class of SUV," he said. "It's more functional and powerful than a mini-SUV and more maneuverable and efficient than a truck-based, compact SUV."

"Clearly we have been at a disadvantage without a four-door SUV."

Beattie wouldn't say what the Tribute's sticker price will be, only that: "I think consumers will be pleasantly surprised by its value."

Peterson says Mazda will find the SUV market a crowded one. "Between now and 2005, the number of SUV's sold will double," he said. Initially, the new sport-utility vehicle will be sold only in North America.

On the other end of the price scale, Porsche is introducing its model-year 2001 911 Turbo at the LA show. With a 415-horsepower twin engine and updated styling, the new 911 will take its place at the top of the model line when it goes on sale in May.

"The 2001 911 Turbo is the next step in the evolution of this legendary model," said Fred Schwab, president and chief executive officer of Porsche Cars North American.

Bob Carlson, spokesman for Porsche North American Inc., said Porsche decided to introduce the new 911 Turbo at the Los Angeles Auto Show because 17 percent of all Porsches are sold in Southern California. California also has the largest number of Porsches registered in the United States, he said.

"It's a big consumer show," Carlson added. "so it makes sense to debut our top model in one of our top markets."

Schwab said the 911 goes from zero to 62 miles per hour in 4.2 seconds and tops out at 189 miles per hour. He said it is the first 911 Turbo to be fitted with a liquid-cooled, rather than air-cooled, engine.

"It's a Porsche which makes it an icon, and it's a turbo, which makes it a real fast icon," said Jim Hall, vice president of AutoPacific's Detroit office. "It's the fastest production model Porsche has ever sold and one of the most expensive."

The company hasn't announced its price plan for the new 911 Turbo, said Carlson. However, the sticker price should be slightly higher than the $105,000 the German auto-maker charged for the 1998 model of the 911 Turbo.

A little less expensive than a Porsche is the redesigned Saturn SC, an updated three-door coupe for the 2001 model year.

The only three-door coupe in the world, the Saturn SC features a new exterior along with a number of interior improvements.

Cynthia Trudell, chairwoman and president of Spring Hill, Tenn., based Saturn Corp., said some of the interior changes include an extensive update in the electronic systems, new security features and reduced engine noise.

"While Saturn's mildly wedge-shaped body and smooth surfaces continue to form the basis of the distinctive Saturn swoosh," Trudell says, "all body panels below the beltline are new on the 2001 coupe, giving the car a fresh exterior appearance."

Hall said that smaller vehicles are usually part of what he calls the "fashion market," meaning they are hot sellers for 18 months and then their popularity diminishes. "The Saturn SC has broken that rule," he said. "The new Saturn SC is really important to the company in terms of volume. If it wasn't a three-door sports coupe, it would fit into the category of a ho-hum vehicle."

L.A. AUTO SHOW

WHERE: Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St.

WHEN: Saturday through Jan. 16. Weekdays, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Sundays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

ADMISSION: Adults, $7; senior citizens, $5 on weekdays, $7 on weekends; children 12 and under, free when accompanied by an adult.

CONTACT: 213-741-1151, Ext. 1; or www.laautoshow.com

MAKING THEIR DEBUTS

A myrid of cars and trucks make their world or North American debut at the 96th Greater Los Angeles Auto Show on Saturday. Here are the production cars and trucks:

WORLD DEBUTS

--2001 Acura CL

--2001 Infiniti QX4

--2001 Lexus IS

--2001 Mazda Tribute

--2001 Pontiac Aztek

NORTH AMERICAN DEBUTS

--2001 Audi TT roadster

--2001 BMW Z8 roadster

--2001 BMW 3-Series sports wagon

--2000 Daewoo Korando SUV

--2000 De Tomaso Mangusta 

--2001 Kia Spectra GS/GSX

--2000 Porsche 911 Turbo

-Daily News

CAPTION(S):

4 photos, 2 boxes

Photo: (1 -- 2 -- color) Two Porsche 911s anda Boxster, left, are on display at the Auto Show. Below is a BMW Z8.

(Above) David R. Crane/Staff Photographer

(Below) David Sprague/Staff Photographer

(3 -- color) program cover L.A. AUTO SHOW

(4) The redesigned Saturn SC is the only three-door coupe in the world. Interior changes include an extensive update in the electronic systems, new security features and reduced engine noise. The coupe's mildly wedge- shape body and smooth surfaces still form the distinctive Saturn swoosh.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer

Box: (1) L.A. AUTO SHOW (see text)

(2) MAKING THEIR DEBUTS (see text)