Photo: LA Auto Show
BMW i concept | LA Auto Show, via Facebook
Every fall, the annual Los Angeles Auto Show takes over the Los Angeles Convention Center in Downtown LA. In addition to the dozens of exciting World and North American Debuts, the Auto Show features Electric Cars, Hybrid & Alternative Fuel Cars, Concept Cars, Luxury & Sports Cars, Test Drives, Tuners & Aftermarket, and a Kids' Fun Zone.
The LA Auto Show always kicks off with two press days full of activity for journalists, designers and industry representatives alike. Press days also include a breakfast sponsored by the Motor Press Guild, the “Green Car of the Year” award presented by Green Car Journal, the Design LA Conference, which includes the announcement of the winning Design Challenge entry, and the Green Cars Ride & Drive. Automobile Designers finish out the Design LA Conference on Thursday night of press days at the Designers’ Night Reception.
Photo by rwpeary via Flickr
For car enthusiasts, the Petersen Automotive Museum is a must-see any time of the year. Current exhibits include Phil Hill: The Life of a Legend, Supercars: When Too Much is Almost Enough (through February 5, 2012), and Scooters: Doesn't Always Matter (through May 28, 2012). Kids will enjoy Discovery Hour, the Petersen’s weekly, interactive activity hour for families with children under 6. Every Tuesday from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m., the Petersen hosts staff-led games, storytelling, scavenger hunts and races. Discovery Hour times are subject to change, check signage at the Admissions desk and in the elevators.
Petersen Automotive Museum
6060 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323.930.2277
www.petersen.org
Photo: ADM
The Automobile Driving Museum (ADM) is the only museum of its kind in the world that invites visitors to actually take a ride in a classic or collectible car. The ADM displays a rotating collection of 130 classic, antique and vintage automobiles. The museum occupies over an acre of land and has 40,000 square feet for automobile display, storage, repair, and restoration. The ADM also has large meeting rooms and party spaces available for rent. On Saturdays, the public is invited to touch and sit in cars, and on Sundays visitors can ride with docent drivers in a dream vehicle on public streets near LAX. Guests can expect to ride in anything from Joseph Stalin’s 1936 Packard to a 1982 DeLorean. Rides take place from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for museum visitors ages 10 and older.
Automobile Driving Museum
610 Lairport St.
El Segundo, CA 90245
310.909.0950
www.automobiledrivingmuseum.org
Photo: Beverly Hills Rent-A-Car, via Facebook
Of course, riding in a car (even a classic one) isn’t as much fun as getting behind the wheel. For a world-class driving experience, head to Beverly Hills Rent-A-Car, which maintains an extensive fleet of the finest, most prestigious automobiles in the world. Among the high end options are Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, Maybach, Rolls Royce, Mercedes Benz, BMW, LandRover, Cadillac and more.
Now through December 31st, the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills is offering a Suite Drive package: book one of the hotel’s renovated suites at a standard rate, and you can drive a luxury car from Beverly Hills Rent-A-Car with no rental fee! Guests are responsible for fuel, extra mileage and insurance.
Now that you’ve got your ride, where are you going to put it through its paces? LA INC. has gathered some of the city’s best driving routes in this guide to Scenic Drives in LA. Don't miss the video of LA's "hidden race track," which your tour guide compares to Germany's famed Nürburgring.
