LOS ANGELES -- It's the kind of comeback story Hollywood loves to tell.
After several years of C-list debuts at the Los Angeles auto show, the 2016 iteration is back with a vengeance -- and some relevance.
Timing helps: Without a Tokyo or Frankfurt show to steal its thunder, and with product cycles matching up favorably, L.A. will offer a variety of crucial model debuts, most of which will tap into buyers' unending appetite for crossovers. Here's a rundown on what to expect.
Acura
It's what's on the inside that counts. Honda's luxury arm will show off a new interior design and layout for future vehicles that's production-ready. It's expected to do away with the brand's unpopular two-screen setup.
Alfa Romeo
With the Giulia compact sedan finally hitting the road in the U.S., Fiat Chrylser Automobiles' German-fighting brand will double down on the U.S. market with the world debut of the Stelvio. The midsize, all-wheel-drive crossover shares a platform with the Giulia and will target models such as BMW's X3 and Audi's Q5. It's expected to arrive in showrooms late next year.
Audi
The redesigned A5 and S5 models and the new Q5 crossover make their North American debuts, as well as a highly limited-run (think just 25 copies) R8 V10 Plus Exclusive Edition that features Audi's laser-headlight setup for the high beams.