The highs and lows of the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show

The LA Auto Show  one of the first indoor auto shows to return since the COVID outbreak — was light on news and heavier than usual on vaporware. However, there were a few vehicles, tech and companies that stood out during the two press days leading up to the event. Here are the vehicles and themes that got our attention for better or worse in Los Angeles this year.

Shifting the narrative: Green and clean

At the major press conferences, which were few and all before noon on Wednesday, the theme of the day centered on sustainability and climate change. It was a mix of greenwashing and actual action.

Hyundai and Kia showed video intros that highlighted how important it is to become environmentally aware, before unveiling their all-electric concept cars and plug-in hybrids. Fisker talked about saving the ocean. Subaru, which has had a longtime commitment to green initiatives and invested quite a bit of money into supporting everything from national parks to animal rescue, also highlighted their continuing support of environmental-friendliness.

While this hasn’t been uncommon in the past, it’s important to note that the entire auto industry has dragged its feet in the path to lower emissions, innovating around sustainable manufacturing and sourcing and finding ways to recycle and reuse parts and vehicles that have come to the end of their usable lives. The dire warning that we have just 10 years to reduce the impact that humans have on climate change came up at multiple press conferences at the show.

Hollywood mode

One of the more interesting reveals this year was the near-production version of the Fisker Ocean, an all-electric SUV with a massive 17.1-inch screen that can rotate 90 degrees to go from landscape or “Hollywood Mode” to vertical.

When in landscape, users can play games and watch videos when the Ocean is parked and charging. Fisker says that it’s patenting the swiveling screen tech.

The overall theme of this year’s LA Auto Show was (not surprisingly) the electrification of everything. While there were plenty of ICE-powered vehicles all over the floor, the big news came in the form of battery power.

Everything from the all-electric Nissan Ariya SUV and Toyota bz4x and its twin the Subaru Solterra to one of our favorites, the final variants of the all-electric Porsche Sport Turismo sedan and wagon with their magic roof.

Technology that keeps you from getting sick

As we enter into the third year of the ongoing pandemic, carmakers are increasingly considering how to keep us from getting sick. Hyundai unveiled the SEVEN SUV concept at the LA Auto Show that offers features like vertical airflow, antibacterial copper and even a UVC sterilizer.