The 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show: Patrick Dempsey, Olivier Francois, Paula Patton (M.I. 4), Mark Reuss, impressive cars and more

The 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show: Patrick Dempsey, Olivier Francois, Paula Patton ("M.I. 4: Ghost Protocol"), Mark Reuss, impressive cars and more

The first day of the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show Media Day was quite impressive. Actors Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy), Paula Patton (from "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" --opening on December 21, 2011) and Fiat C.E.O. Olivier Francois, and Mark Ruess, President of G.M. North America made appearances, and so did some impressive production and concept cars.

Impressive cars also shared the spotlight; new cars appearing at the show included the 2012 Hyundai Azera, featuring Hyundai's "fluidic sculpture" design philosophy, the 2013 Ford Mustang, 2012 Ford Escape, Bentley Continental GTC, Cadillac Ciel Concept, the performance-oriented Fiat Abarth, and many more cars, SUV's, crossovers and trucks were on display and presented at on the first day of press coverage. Another notable story form day one: the 2012 Volkswagen Passat was awarded Motor Trend's Automobile of the Year trophy Below this story are photos of the the people and vehicles that stole the show on day one of the L.A. Auto Show:

The Car Exam Quick Quiz # 32: The 2011 Dodge Charger R/T

The Car Exam Quick Quiz # 32: The 2011 Dodge Charger R/T

 Good Grades: Nice exterior styling update--taking styling cues from the 1969 Charger was definitely a great idea. Strong horsepower from the V8 engine--you just want to step on the gas pedal and see just how fast you can go--in spite of the heavy weight of the car. Good interior room and comfort, excellent brakes, and good trunk space.

 Bad Grades: The dash just doesn't seem to measure up to the rest of the car--designers tried to make it look flashy, but there's something cheap-looking about it.

 Final Grade: The 2011 Dodge Charger is nearly the perfect American Muscle Sedan. Lose the cheap-looking dash, a few hundred pounds of weight, and you have one perfect ride. Nevertheless, this is one impressive car.


The Car Exam Final Grade: A


MSRP: $30,395


Price as tested: $31,220


P. Scott

The Car Exam Quick Quiz # 31: The 2011 Dodge Challenger Rallye V6

The Car Exam Quick Quiz # 31: The 2011 Dodge Challenger V6

Good Grades: Cool retro exterior styling from the original, roomy trunk, useable back seats, comfortable ride, comfortable front seats and good ergonomics overall.

 Bad Grades: While the V6 feels adequate in city driving, I noticed some initial lag when entering on a freeway onramp, but then power surged into action once the rpm's increased; huge blind spots because of the extremely thick C-pillars in the rear. The interior seems a bit plain for a car with such great exterior styling.

 Final Grade: The 2011 Dodge Challenger has its flaws, but has its good points as well. Out of all of the pony cars, this one just might make the best road trip car--even with its huge blind spots. I would have loved to have driven the SRT8, though.


The Car Exam Final Grade: B/B+


MSRP: $24,895


Price as tested: $31,475


P. Scott

The Car Exam Quick Quiz #30: The 2011 Dodge Durango Express

The Car Exam Quick Quiz #30: The 2011 Dodge Durango Express

Good Grades: Excellent exterior and interior styling, decent power from the 3.6 liter V6, smooth-shifting automatic transmission, well-controlled ride, good brakes, nice use of interior room and materials, comfortable seat, respectable sound system, good overall visibility, back up camera on-screen feature is nice.

Bad Grades: You feel a bit uneasy getting used to the drive height at first (especially if you're not used to driving an SUV), but you do gain confidence as you drive it more; the base model's $30,000 price tag, fuel economy still could be better.

Final Grade: I was pleasantly surprised by the Durango. This is one well-executed SUV that looks great inside and out. Once I got used to the height, I found its driving capabilities to be quite good, and if the quality stands up over time, the 2011 Dodge Durango is one of the best efforts from Chrysler in a very long time.

The Car Exam Final Grade: A

MSRP: $29,195


Price as tested: $31,590

By P. Scott

The Car Exam Quick Quiz # 29: The 2012 Ford Focus SE Sedan

Consumer and Car Exam Quick Quiz # 29: The 2012 Ford Focus SE Sedan

Good Grades: There are very few cars I sit in that feel like they fit like a glove--but the 2012 Ford Focus SE Sedan is one of them. Like several new cars I've driven recently, the Focus really feels like it's built to fit around the driver. The seats feel very comfortable, and the driving position is excellent. The interior quality is first-rate--one of the best I've seen on a Ford--ever. The gauge cluster is clear and simple to read, and the climate controls are also simple--and simple is a good thing. The radio controls are clearly marked, but they could take some getting used to. The Focus SE came with the optional MY Sync voice activated feature--neat, but you'll need practice to learn using it. I had no problem with the front or rear seat room--some reviews have--but it seemed to be fine in the Focus Sedan. Fuel Economy is a good 27 mpg in the city, and an even better 37 mpg on the highway. The six-speed automatic shifts well, also. The exterior styling is excellent--it's one of the best looking cars in its class, right up there with the Hyundai Elantra. The brakes work well, and the Focus comes packed with ABS, and a full complement of air bags. Engine acceleration was fine--but I'll get back to that in a moment.

Bad Grades: The engine acceleration was fine, but seemed a bit harsh--not as refined as a Toyota power plant, for example. That is something that could use some more work from Ford. The trunk lid wasn't lined, which it should have been, and the trunk opening should have been wider.

Final Grade: Having driven the 2010 Focus earlier this year, and comparing to the new 2012 model, the 2012 SE Sedan is a homerun for Ford, whereas the 2010 was a double at best. While it isn't perfect, the 2012 Focus SE Sedan is far better than the previous model, and worthy of praise.

The Car Exam Grade: A

MSRP: $17,400

Price as tested: $21,775

By P. Scott