In the midst of congressional bailout hearings, industry-wide malaise and abysmal sales, the mood at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show was decidedly subdued. Perhaps not surprisingly under an incoming Democratic administration, the predominant theme of the show was "Green." Even the trucks displayed at the show echoed this mantra, with Flex-Fuel and Hybrid models dominating the GM booth.
Nissan unveiled the U.S. version of its Scion-like Cube compact, as well as Kia unveiling its similarly "sqaure" Soul.
 Already creating both buzz...  Already creating both buzz and controversy among the Jeep faithful is the Wrangler EV prototype. Production chances are unknown, but feasible. |  Unveiled and then canceled...  Unveiled and then canceled within a matter of months, the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen Hybrid were ironic displays at the Chrysler booth. |  A more logical application...  A more logical application of the EV concept is the Chrysler Town & Country, sure to please environmentally-conscious soccer moms from coast-to-coast. |
 |  Some boomer-aged media types...  Some boomer-aged media types were wowed by the 26-inch wheels on this Dodge Ram, until I informed them that 32s are now available, as seen at this year's SEMA show. |  Nissan's Cube is the company's...  Nissan's Cube is the company's answer to Toyota's Scion xB. |
 Considering how much larger...  Considering how much larger the second-gen xB is, Nissan could make some conquest sales from first-gen xB owners looking for a new car around the same size. |  |  Chevy made sure you knew this...  Chevy made sure you knew this Silverado was a hybrid with prominent badging and decals from bumper-to-bumper. |
 The Tahoe Hybrid, which we've...  The Tahoe Hybrid, which we've reviewed and were relatively impressed with, made an encore appearance. |  For those who want to "bling...  For those who want to "bling green," Cadillac showed the 2009 Escalade Hybrid. |  My personal favorite of the...  My personal favorite of the show was the half-panel Chevy HHR SS. Offering better visibility and passenger versatility than the full-panel HHR, it still provides a promising template for customization, especially for a wicked subwoofer setup in the back. |
You coulda had a V8! |  Chevy's Colorado V8 was on...  Chevy's Colorado V8 was on display. Other than the subtle "V8" badge on the front fender, this one's a total sleeper. |  Not much to look at under...  Not much to look at under the hood. I suspect the manifold cover was removed from this display vehicle, but you wonder why GM couldn't have gone with the much better-looking LS2/LS3-style tubular manifold. |