New research from Euro Car Parts has uncovered a shocking gap in the knowledge of UK motorists. Apparently, one in four drivers don’t know what the oil in their engine is actually for.

That’s a worrying statistic given that oil is vital to ensure engine longevity. Without it, your engine will run for about five seconds before binding into a solid lump – in the best case scenario – or shooting scrap metal in all directions (in the worst case).

Given such a knowledge gap, it’s less surprising to note that nearly half of us don’t know what specific oil our engines need without consulting the handbook. The wrong oil, at times, can almost be as bad as no oil. See above.

As for how women deal with oil versus men, a third of women aren’t sure what oil in the engine does, compared to 13 percent of men. Nearly 60 percent of women don’t know what oil their car requires, compared with 38 percent of men.

Here are some top tips when it comes to your car’s engine oil.

Keep on top of your changes

Most cars will have an oil change interval of between 5,000 and 15,000 miles or, in almost every case, every 12 months – whichever comes first. You can do it yourself, but for the sake of a stamp in the service book, not making a mess of your driveway and general safety, we’d recommend taking it to a dealer or specialist.

Check it regularly

It’s very much worth your while checking how much oil is in your engine, at least once a month. That’s not just for old cars, either, given we have experience of nearly-new cars burning a significant amount of oil in the first few thousand miles of their lives.

How do you check your oil?

Under the bonnet you should be able to locate a brightly-coloured tab – usually yellow – that you can pull out. Its location will be in your car’s manual. The tab is connected to the dipstick, which you pull out and clean. Re-dip, then see where the level is. It should be within the minimum and maximum indicators. We recommend leaving oil checks for up to an hour after driving so that the temperature is low enough to be safe and for an accurate reading.

Keep it topped up

If it’s below, find out what oil your car takes and buy some to top it up post-haste. When topping up, be very careful not to over-fill. We recommend filling 200ml at a time, letting it settle and re-checking the level. Even if it takes four or five pours, it’s worth it not to over-fill. That can be as damaging as not having enough oil.

Oil for all seasons

There is even such thing as different oils for summer and winter, for best performance in different temperatures. Not essential, but worth bearing in mind if your car starts to struggle in the winter months. 

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The new 2019 Toyota Corolla will cost from £21,300 and the firm says first deliveries of the new British-built hatch and Touring Sports estate will begin in late March 2019.

Dealers are already taking pre-orders for the new Corolla, which has an all-petrol line-up of one turbo and two hybrid engines (the expected take rate is 85 percent hybrid). Four trims are available – Icon, Icon Tech, Design and Excel.

Specifications are pretty generous. Every new Corolla is fitted with 16-inch alloys, automatic LED headlights, reversing camera, reversing camera, heated front seats and an 8-inch Toyota Touch 2 infotainment system. 1.8 Hybrids get dual-zone climate control too.

Every Corolla also has Toyota Safety Sense as part of the standard spec. This comprises pre-collision warning that can detect pedestrians at day and night, and cyclists during the day, adaptive cruise control, road sigh assist and automatic high beam. Adaptive cruise control will also automatically bring the new Corolla to a halt in stop-start traffic.

The Icon Tech adds sat nav, a 7-inch TFT instrument panel and parking sensors.

Design is about, well design, says Toyota. It gets bigger 17-inch machined alloys, rear privacy glass, LED front fog lights, auto-fold door mirrors, rain-sensing wipers and the option to have an opening panoramic roof.

Top-spec Excel has 18-inch alloys on the hatch (the Touring Sports keeps the 17”s), bi-LED headlights and sports front seats with part-leather upholstery. Hatchback buyers can choose an optional bi-tone paint finish, and 2.0-litre Hybrid customers can option an eight-speaker JBL premium sound system.

2019 Toyota Corolla prices

Icon

• 1.2T hatch: £21.300
• 1.8 Hybrid hatch: £23,750
• 1.2T Touring Sports: £22,570
• 1.8 Hybrid Touring Sports: £25,020

Icon Tech

• 1.2T hatch: £22,350
• 1.8 Hybrid hatch: £24,800
• 1.2T Touring Sports: £23,620
• 1.8 Hybrid Touring Sports: £26,070

Design

• 1.2T hatch: £23,375
• 1.8 Hybrid hatch: £25,825
• 2.0 Hybrid hatch: £28,820
• 1.2T Touring Sports: £24,645
• 1.8 Hybrid Touring Sports: £27,095
• 2.0 Hybrid Touring Sports: £28,820

Excel

• 1.8 Hybrid hatch: £27,345
• 2.0 Hybrid hatch: £29,070
• 1.8 Hybrid Touring Sports: £28,615
• 2.0 Hybrid Touring Sports: £30,340

A new ride-hailing app called Miwhip is taking on Uber in London. And customers could end up travelling in a gold supercar.

The supercar surprise applies once every 100 rides. That means that for every 99 people who call a cab, the 100th will have a McLaren, Lamborghini or something similarly exotic turn up. 

• London is the best city for Instagram supercar spotting

If you’re a loyal solo rider, your 100th trip will also be in a supercar. That’s around six rides a year if you’re booking a journey twice a day, as we’re sure some hard-working, high-powered Londoners do. 

Miwhip is looking to capitalise on London supercar culture. On its fleet are a Lamborghini Aventador, Ferrari 488 GTB, Rolls-Royce Ghost, Mercedes G-Class and McLaren 720S – all gold-wrapped. The cars will be located throughout the city, in ‘every London postcode and address’.

The less exotic members of the fleet are Smart cars, although they too are gold-wrapped. If you’re hailing a ride in zone one to another address in zone one, it costs just £5. 

The company will be taking 15 percent commission, which it says is much less than many other ride-hailing apps. 

Miwhip is hoping to have 10,000 drivers on its books by the end of next year, with 5,000 existing private-hire drivers joining by January. The MiWhip app is available to download now.

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In what is becoming a good news day for electric car owners, Marston’s Inns and Taverns has unveiled a partnership with rapid electric charging network Engenie to become the UK’s first pub company to install rapid chargers across sites nationwide.

This follows the news that Volkswagen and Tesco have teamed up to roll out 2,400 charging bays within the next three years.

• Every little helps: Tesco and VW plan huge EV charging network

Marston’s is the UK’s leading independent and pub retailing business, with around 1,600 pubs across the UK, and this move will see the installation of 400 rapid EV chargers powered by 100 percent renewable energy. Up to three cars will be able to charge at each site at any one time.

Engenie’s rapid charging points require no membership or connection fee and operate with all contactless payment cards. A 50kW charger will provide up to 80 percent charge in just 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the battery.

Andy Kershaw, head of facilities management and projects, Marston’s, said: “Our goal is to become the UK’s most environmentally efficient pub business. By partnering with innovative and customer-focused organisations like Engenie, we’ll continue to hold ourselves and the sector to the highest possible environmental standards.”

‘The centre of the EV transition’

Patrick Sherriff, business development director, Engenie, added: “Our national network of rapid chargers is having a significant positive impact on local air quality; another feather in the cap of Marston’s’ already impressive long-term environmental commitments. At the same time, our easy-to-use rapid EV charging points will put the customer at the centre of the EV transition.

“Partnering with household names like Marston’s to offer rapid EV charging is a huge boost to our ambition of building a UK-wide public rapid charging network. Marston’s’ pubs and restaurants are the ideal setting for our rapid chargers, giving drivers the convenience of charging their EV while they stop to eat, check emails or take a break from their journeys. At the same time contributing locally to cleaner air for their family customer base.”

• Hotel and B&B owners offered free EV charging points

Two Engenie chargers will be installed at each of the following Marston’s pubs and restaurant by early 2019:

• Chalkhill Blue Andover
• Cherry Laurel, Bridgend
• Silver Birch, Cleckheaton
• Kings Highway, Derby (1 charger)
• Spring River, Ebbsfleet
• Old Plane Tree, Glasgow
• Red Sails, Hull
• The Elms, Lutterworth
• Little Castle, Markham Vale
• Poppy Fields, Maidstone
• Lingfield Farm, Middlesbrough
• Talardy, St Asaph
• Highland Gate, Stirling
• Pepper Mill, Stoke-on-Trent
• Kings Chamber, Thorne
• Ruddy Duck, Wakefield
• The Bakehouse, Welwyn
• Black Pole, Worcester
• Plas Coch, Wrexham

Pricing and specs have been announced for the monstrous Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. Depending on your point of view, it could either be a bargain, or an outlandish extravagance.

A list price of £89,995 is the headline figure, and Jeep says that only 20 examples of the Trackhawk will be coming to the UK in 2019.

Hellcat’s bigger brother

So what exactly do you get for almost £90,000 of American SUV? For a start, the same 6.2-litre supercharged Hemi V8 engine that is used in the Dodge SRT Challenger and SRT Charger Hellcat muscle cars.

That means the faintly ridiculous power output of 707hp – more than a Ferrari 488 GTB – combined with 645lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed TorqueFlight automatic gearbox has the job of channeling all that torque to the upgraded four-wheel drive system.

Performance is suitably shocking, with 0-62mph taking just 3.7 seconds, with a top speed of 180mph.

For comparison, a Porsche Cayenne Turbo can only hit 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds, and reach 177mph flat out. The German machine is also more than £9,000 more expensive than the Trackhawk, even before you dive into the Porsche options list.

Fully loaded for battle

Standard specification is another area where Jeep wants the Trackhawk to appeal.

Externally is a substantial bodykit, complete with ‘supercharged’ badging to the door to ensure there is no confusion as to which Grand Cherokee you’re driving. Titanium coloured 20-inch wheels are standard, as are the powerful Brembo brakes with yellow calipers.

UK cars receive upgraded Laguna leather sports seats as part of the deal, along with carbon fibre accents for the interior. The 825w Harmon Kardon sound system features 19 speakers, but we imagine the Hemi V8 will provide the greatest aural output.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provide smartphone connectivity, with an 8.4-inch multimedia screen in control of most functions. For the Trackhawk it also offers bespoke performance data, letting you see just how much horsepower you are using and even G-forces.

Adaptive Cruise Control, Park Assist, and even a Trailer Hitch camera are just some of the claimed 65 security and safety features fitted.

At almost any price the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk would be a niche purchase in the UK. But it is hard to ignore the lure of a 707hp Hellcat engine fitted to a practical, right-hand drive, SUV.

Volkswagen and Tesco have announced plans to create ‘the largest UK retail electric vehicle charging network’, with more than 2,400 charging bays to be installed within the next three years.

The charging bays, which will be based in Tesco Extra and Superstore car parks, will be installed by Pod Point, the UK’s largest independent public charging network.

• London’s first public lamppost electric vehicle charging points are here

Electric vehicle owners won’t have to pay for using a standard 7kW fast charger, but ‘a small cost in line with the market rate’ will apply for use of a rapid 50kW charger. Around 600 Tesco stores across the UK will benefit from this development.

Geraldine Ingham, head of marketing at Volkswagen UK, said: “This incredibly exciting partnership with Tesco, powered by Pod Point, underlines the scale and ambition of our electric car programme in the UK.

“Working with these partners to provide such an extensive network of EV chargers should leave no one in any doubt about the Volkswagen brand’s wholehearted commitment to an electric future.”

Jason Terry, Tesco CEO for UK and Republic of Ireland, added: “As the UK’s biggest fuel retailer, we have a role to play in supporting the transition to a low carbon future and improving air quality.

“We know our customers are increasingly moving towards electric vehicles, offering charging while they shop is another little help to make their lives easier.”

Every Lidl helps

Pod Point has a network of 1,700 public charging bays across the UK, including electric chargers in Lidl and Sainsbury’s car parks.

According to the latest stats provided by Zap-Map, there are currently 6,625 public charging points in the UK, with a total of 11,013 devices and 18,944 connectors.

• The UK is behind on its journey to an electric motoring future

Earlier this year, BP bought the country’s biggest electric car charging network with the acquisition of Chargemaster. BP plans to add 1,200 fast chargers to its forecourts over the next year, adding to the 6,500 Chargemaster charging points.

Erik Fairbairn, CEO of Pod Point, said: “This agreement represents a 14 percent increase in the number of public charge bays in the UK and is a monumental day for electric vehicle drivers. It is a massive leap forward for the UK and a significant step in our mission to put a Pod Point everywhere you park.”

The 2018 LA Auto Show is well underway, and our man is pounding the floor in search of the latest metal. Here, we select some of the hottest new cars and the important concepts to create a Los Angeles mega-gallery. We’ve done the walking, so you don’t have to…

Porsche 911

Searching for the star of the show? Look no further than the new Porsche 911, codenamed 992. Some might not approve of the evolutionary styling, but Porsche was hardly going to stray too far from such an iconic shape. Besides, Porsche is talking about a revolution beneath the surface.

Porsche 911

The big news is the 30hp boost for the flat-six turbocharged engine, with the Carrera S and Carrera 4S now offering 450hp. It means that every 911 at launch will hit 62mph in less than 4.0 seconds. It’s on sale now, and with prices starting from £93,110 before options. We suspect most 911s will leave showrooms with a six-figure price tag.

Jeep Gladiator

The 2020 Gladiator has a nice ring to it, don’t you think? We knew Jeep would be launching a pick-up at the LA show, but we didn’t know it would look this good. Jeep can trace its truck roots back to 1947 when Willys Overland introduced a one-tonne truck with four-wheel drive based on the CJ-2A. The Gladiator name was formerly used in the 1960s and early 70s.

Jeep Gladiator

The Jeep Gladiator would laugh in the face of a lily-livered crossover – this is a truck for outdoor adventures and properly tough jobs. For a start, there’s a 4,370kg towing capacity and a 1.5m load bed capable of carrying up to 725kg of gear. Two V6 engines will be available – one petrol and one diesel – but we’ll have to wait until 2020 before we can get down and dirty with the best truck in LA.

Mazda 3

This might be the best looking real-world car at the LA show. We knew it would look good – the Kai concept provided more than a subtle hint – but the Mazda 3 deserves to upstage the Golf and Focus based on styling alone. And, because it’s a Mazda, you know it will offer class-leading dynamics when it goes on sale in 2019.

Mazda 3

There are two versions on show in LA: a five-door hatchback and a four-door saloon. A range of engines will be available, including an innovative Skyactiv-X, which offers the performance of a petrol and the economy of a diesel. In 2019, three could be the magic number in the family hatchback segment. Still want that Golf? And other motoring journalism cliches…

Rivian R1T

Rivian is making a big splash here in LA, which is a worry, as mixing electric with water is never a good idea. Its aim: to ‘reimagine the pick-up and SUV segments’, which is a rather lofty ambition. This is the R1T, a five-seat pick-up offering up to 400 miles of electric range, a wading depth of one metre and a 0-60 mph time as low as three seconds. Still want that Tesla? Oh wait, we’ve used that cliche.

Rivian R1S

The Rivian R1S is a seven-seat electric SUV which uses the same ‘skateboard’ platform as the R1T. In simple terms, the battery pack, drive units, suspension, braking and thermal system are packaged below the height of the steering wheel, leaving space above for the occupants. Rivian claims the R1S will be good for a 410-mile range and offer 330 litres of space in the ‘frunk’ and 180 litres in the rear bin.

Honda Passport

Filling the gap between the CR-V and the Pilot, this is the new Honda Passport. It features a 280hp 3.5-litre V6 engine as standard, which is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard on the flagship model and an option on all others, as Honda hopes to appeal to outdoorsy types who do ‘lifestyle’ things at the weekend. The Passport will be built in Alabama for the North American market, but we won’t be seeing it passing through customs elsewhere.

Volkswagen Beetle Final Edition

Volkswagen is looking into the future, but that hasn’t stopped it paying tribute to a favourite from the past. Two special editions of the Beetle are on show in LA – the aptly-named Final Edition SE and Final Edition SEL. They pay homage to Beetles of the past and will see the famous name through until production ceases in July 2019. Herbie is said to be in mourning.

Volkswagen ID Buzz Cargo

The ID Buzz Cargo is a fully-connected electric van that could offer a range of up to 340 miles. Its solar roof can extend the range by up to 9.3 miles a day. The concept on show in LA is rear-wheel drive, but Volkswagen says a motor could be added to the front to make it 4WD.

Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

This is Subaru’s first plug-in hybrid vehicle, which makes it a big deal for the Japanese company. It should offer fuel economy previously unavailable to American customers, including a 17-mile all-electric range to deliver a total of 480 miles when using both petrol and electric power. It’ll hit 65mph in electric mode and will be priced at $34,995 when it goes on sale in North America before the end of the year. It might be sold in the UK, too.

Porsche Panamera GTS

The new 911 might be hugging the limelight on the Porsche stand, but the Panamera GTS is large enough to cast a shadow over the showstopper. Available in both Panamera and Panamera Sport Turismo guise, the GTS is powered by a 4.0-litre V8 engine developing 460hp offering top speeds of 181mph and 179 mph respectively. You can order them now – prices start from just under £106,000.

BMW X7

Everything seems bigger in America, including this, the new BMW X7. We knew it would be huge – the press release told us as much – but it’s not until you see it in the metal that you truly appreciate what a monster this is. To be fair, it needs to be big – a 7 Series SUV with seats for seven and enough tech to fill an entire series of The Gadget Show wouldn’t fit in anything else. It goes on sale in April with a starting price of £72,155.

Fiat 500X

Meanwhile, back in the real world… Fiat launched an updated version of the 500X in Europe earlier this year, but now it’s time for the North American version. There a few blink-and-you’ll-miss-them exterior changes, but the big news is fitment of the newly-developed 1.3-litre petrol engine and standard all-wheel-drive capability. Customers in the US will have to wait until the spring of 2019 before they can get their hands on the car.

Audi R8

Fresh from its European debut in Paris, the revised Audi R8 arrives in Los Angeles to ensure the Porsche 911 doesn’t have everything its own way. Two versions of the V10 engine are available, producing 570hp in the ‘entry-level’ car and 620hp in the Performance flagship, formerly known as the Plus. Coupe and Spyder models are available, with customers taking delivery in the new year.

BMW M340i

While we wait for the M3 main course, the BMW M340i should serve as a decent appetiser. The four-wheel-drive saloon is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six engine developing 374hp, enabling it to hit 60mph in less than 4.4 seconds. It’ll arrive in Europe in July, which gives you enough time to wonder if you’ll be prepared to wait another year for the full-fat M3 and M4.

BMW 8 Series Convertible

Alternatively, you could opt for BMW’s new grand tourer, which will hit the streets in April 2019. The convertible version utilises a fabric roof, chosen because a metal top would have been heavier and taken up more space. The roof, which opens and closes at speeds of up to 31 mph, is its chief party trick, with the convertible versions costing £7,000 (around $9,000) more than the coupe equivalents. Prices start from £83,270 (around $106,000).

Byton K-Byte

Byton is making some bold claims about the K-Byte, promising to deliver Level 4 autonomy to the four-door saloon segment. It’s one of three vehicles to share the same electric platform and follows the unveiling of the M-Byte SUV. If Byton is correct, this 325-mile range saloon will be the primary mode of transport for Americans when it hits the market in 2021.

Mini John Cooper Works Knights Edition

Sadly, the Mini John Cooper Works Knights Edition has nothing to do with Michael Knight, but at least the black metallic paint tips its hat to K.I.T.T. Other cosmetic upgrades include a silver roof and bonnet stripes, and piano black trim. There’s also a John Cooper Works exhaust flap system. It’ll be in US dealerships in early 2019.

Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport

The outgoing Type 991 Porsche 911 isn’t dead yet, as ably demonstrated by the GT2 RS Clubsport. This racing version of the road-going GT2 RS is a last hurrah for the 991, with production limited to just 200 units. The carbon steering wheel and colour display are taken from the 911 GT3 R racing car, while the Clubsport also features a ‘massive’ safety cage, a racing bucket seat, a six-point safety harness and air conditioning. The price is €405,000 (around $460,000 or £360,000), but we suspect there’ll be none left by the time you’ve finished this gallery.

Lincoln Aviator

We live in changing times. Lincoln’s press release for the Aviator kicks off with its advanced technologies that ‘let the luxury SUV kneel to greet you, scan the road ahead for uneven pavement, and allow you to drive away using your smartphone instead of a key’. It’s difficult for a three-row SUV to look elegant, but the Aviator is certainly handsome, while the interior is both opulent and well-appointed. Petrol and plug-in hybrid versions will be available.

Audi E-tron GT Concept

The E-tron GT concept previews a production model set to arrive in 2020, which will follow the E-tron SUV and E-tron Sportback slated for 2019. It might not come across in the photos, but the four-door GT is a big car, close to five metres in length and nearly two metres wide. A large car needs large wheels, so the Audi is riding on 22-inch rims.

Audi E-tron GT Concept

The four-wheel-drive concept, which has a centre of gravity comparable with that of the R8, develops 590hp, which is enough to hit 62mph in 3.5 seconds, before hitting a regulated top speed of 149mph. The range is quoted at ‘over 248 miles’, although this will drop if you spend too long testing that 0-62 time.

BMW Vision iNext

It’s not what you’d call attractive, but the Vision iNext wraps BMW’s strategic innovation fields into one cosmetically-challenged SUV. For the first time, autonomous driving, connectivity, electrification and services (ACES) have been incorporated into one BMW, but we suspect somebody forgot to tell the stylists.

Toyota Prius Hybrid AWD-e

This is a big deal, not least because Toyota reckons it will account for as much as 25 percent of annual US Prius sales. It’s the new AWD-e variant, which sends power to the rear wheels to create ‘one of the most fuel-efficient all-wheel-drive-equipped passenger cars available in the US’. It sends the power to the rear from 0mph to 6mph, then, when needed, up to 43 mph. The Prius also showcases new exterior styling and interior upgrades.

Toyota Corolla Hybrid

The Prius isn’t the only eco-warrior on the Toyota stand, because this is the most fuel-efficient model ever to wear a Corolla badge. The Corolla Hybrid combines a 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with two electric motors to deliver an output of 121hp. But, more importantly, the 2020 Corolla, which goes on sale next year, should achieve at least 50mpg (US) combined.

Nissan Maxima

The Nissan Maxima is one of the most popular large saloons in America, so the launch of a revised 2019 model is a big deal. The styling has been given a makeover, the interior has been refreshed and a full suite of safety features are available via Nissan’s Safety Shield 360. Only one drivetrain will be offered: a 300hp 3.5-litre V6 mated to a CVT transmission.

Hyundai Palisade

The Palisade is the largest Hyundai ever built and offers seating for up to eight people. Power is sourced from a 3.8-litre V6 engine developing 291hp and 262lb ft of torque, which is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. But the real story is inside, with the Palisade offering more first- and second-row legroom than the Honda Pilot, Nissan Pathfinder and Ford Explorer. There’s also more luggage room behind the third row than the Toyota Highlander, Pilot and Pathfinder.

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT R Pro

The limited-run Mercedes-Benz AMG GT R Pro uses technology from the AMG GT3 and AMG GT 4 racing cars and comes with the Track Pack as standard. This comprises a roll cage, four-point harnesses and a fire extinguisher. “No other production model of Mercedes-AMG presently is as close to motor racing as the new AMG GT R Pro,” said Tobias Moers, chairman of Mercedes-AMG. Blimey.

Kia Soul EV

Last, but by no means least, this is the new Kia Soul EV. It should be a quantum leap forward for the electric Soul, with Kia promising more power, greater range and faster charging. The familiar boxy look has been given a nip and tuck, with the Soul also gaining new safety and connectivity tech. Performance and range details will be confirmed ahead of the car’s UK launch in 2019.

Read more:

• LA Auto Show 2018: supercars and crazy custom creations
• Nurburgring-ready Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro leads refreshed 2019 range
• New 2019 Porsche 911 revealed: everything you need to know

There’s good news for custom car fans visiting this year’s LA Auto Show. Galpin Auto Sports, one of LA’s biggest car dealership networks, has a dedicated section for modified metal, with around 40 different creations on show.

Below the main show arena, you’ll also find The Garage, an area packed with the wildest vehicles and hottest supercars. We journey deep underground to see what lurks beneath the show floor.

Jordan Maron’s Ford GT

Haven’t heard of Jordan Maron? Well, if you don’t spend your time watching other people play video games on YouTube, that’s perhaps understandable.

However, having 10 million followers hanging on your every word is a lucrative business. One that allowed 26-year-old Jordan to purchase a 2017 Ford GT supercar. He then had it painted in Miami Blue by Galpin Auto Sports.

Ken Block’s Ford RS200 Evolution

There’s a bigger chance you’ve heard of this guy, though. Perennial rubber-burner, rally driver, and business owner, Ken Block has a host of special cars in his Hoonigan stable.

He may have just unleashed a custom Ford pickup truck, but it’s his RS200 that is here in LA. One of just 200 built to homologate the car for Group B rallying in the 1980s, this Evolution-spec RS200 produces over 700hp.

Lincoln Navigator

The craze for ‘rolling on dubs’ certainly hasn’t gone away Stateside. On this Lincoln Navigator, the wheels are a faintly ridiculous 26 inches. Yet, given the vast size of the Navigator, they don’t look too out of place.

Matte red paintwork, matched with plenty of gloss black detailing, means this Navigator certainly stands out.

2018 SEMA Show Ford Mustang

Another car you’re unlikely to lose in a parking lot is this special Ford Mustang. Built by Galpin Auto Sports for the 2018 SEMA Show, the metaphorical kitchen sink has been chucked at this pony car.

Look beyond the epic livery and there are custom 1221 wheels and Brembo brakes, plus a host of performance parts from Roush and APR.

RWB Porsche 911

Rauh-Welt Begriff is a Porsche tuning company like no other. Founded in Japan, RWB creates bespoke 911s, fitting them with outlandish bodykits and massive spoilers.

Inspiration comes from the GT racing Porsches of the 1990s, and this 993-based creation wears a suitably huge rear wing. We are also in love with the beautiful wide wheels and purple paint.

Porsche 911 GT3 RS

It proves just how mad the cars built by Rauh-Welt Begriff are when a 911 GT3 RS looks tame by comparison.

At least it’s still rocking the purple look, and we imagine this one would be the prime choice for some track-day action.

Honda Accord

Three in a row means we’re calling purple as the ‘must-have’ hue for this year’s LA Auto Show. At least in the custom tuning world, that is.

Global markets might have ditched the Accord years ago, but it still matters in the United States. This latest 10-generation car can even be had with a detuned version of the turbo VTEC engine found in the Civic Type R.

Mazda CX-5

Galpin operates a network of dealerships across southern California, with Mazda being one of the key brands. The 2018 LA Auto Show is important for Mazda, marking the launch of its all-new 3 model.

Back in 2016, the then-new CX-5 made its debut in Los Angeles. We imagine Mazda didn’t envisage it wearing bold two-tone yellow paint, though.

Mazda Cosmo Sport Series II

Going further back into Mazda history means we arrive at the rather lovely Cosmo Sport. Produced between 1967 and 1972, this was one of the first cars to use a two-rotor Wankel rotary engine.

Later Series II cars like this one produced 128hp, and featured a five-speed manual gearbox. With less than 1,200 built, they are very collectible, and this one appears original.

Mazda R360

Regarded as the first ‘proper’ car produced by Mazda, the diminutive R360 first went on sale in 1960.

Built to comply with Japanese kei-car legislation, the R360 was powered by a tiny rear-mounted V-twin engine, making just 16hp.

Ford Mustang Bullitt

This isn’t just any Highland Green classic 1968 Ford Mustang. Oh no, this is one of the cars used in the movie Bullitt. After time on the silver screen, this Mustang spent years being used as a regular family car by the Kiernan family.

Rediscovered just before the 50th anniversary of the film, the Mustang has been restored to bring it back to full glory. It also features on the National Historic Vehicle Register.

Ford Explorer

Having been on sale since 2011, time is running out for the sixth-generation Ford Explorer. A new model will debut next year, with talk of a high performance ST version on the cards.

That hasn’t stopped Galpin modifying several Explorers for the LA Show. This one wears a rather subtle white and brown paint scheme, matched with chunky off-road tyres and wheels.

Ford Explorer

This Explorer, meanwhile, gets plenty of Galpin Auto Sports logos, along with similarly big wheels and tyres.

Ford Econoline Cruising Van

Jeff Dunham is a household name in the United States, renowned for his comedy and ventriloquism acts. He is also a huge car fan, although some of his vehicle choices are far from conventional.

When Jeff wanted to build a custom 1970s Ford Econoline Cruising Van, he turned to Galpin for assistance. The result is this retro-tastic creation, complete with porthole windows in the rear.

Ford Pinto Cruising Wagon

Dunham had inspiration for his Ford Econoline. He already owned a Ford Pinto Cruising Wagon, complete with striped paintwork and porthole window. The combination is certainly an acquired taste.

Volkswagen Atlas

Another sizeable SUV made especially for the US market. Volkswagen produces the giant Atlas at its manufacturing plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It’s proved popular, with 100,000 made in less than two years.

Naturally the special livery and big wheels fitted to this Atlas did not come from the factory, but were fitted by Galpin Auto Sports.

Volvo XC40

Upstairs, Volvo might not have any cars on display at the 2018 LA Auto Show, but that hasn’t stopped Galpin bringing along two.

No doubt smug about being in contention for the 2019 World Car of the Year title, the XC40 looks perfectly relaxed among all the modified metal.

Volvo V90 Cross Country

Serious lifestyle action is occurring with this V90 Cross Country. Not only are there chunky off-road tyres, but the addition of a roof rack makes it primed for life in the wilderness.

Proof, if needed, that getting off the beaten track doesn’t mean having to abandon your sense of Scandinavian cool.

Jaguar E-Type

Consistently rated as one of the most beautiful cars ever produced, we’re relieved to see that this E-Type has been left well alone.

No giant wheels, huge spoilers, or terrifying paintwork here. Phew.

Svipe Ford F-150 Raptor S

The same cannot be said for this Ford Raptor – built as a collaboration between Galpin Auto Sports, 1221 Wheels and YouTuber Salomondrin.

The 20-inch wheels are new modular design, while the suspension has been lifted, with bigger brakes also fitted. Inside is a custom white leather and Alcantara interior, so be sure to clean your shoes before getting in.

Aston Martin DBS Superleggera

Forget the fact that the flagship DBS Superleggera is less than six months old. Galpin is still more than happy to get started on something so box-fresh.

Aston Martin Vantage

Aston Martin is one of the dealer franchises run by Galpin Auto Sports, which explains their access to new vehicles like the latest Vantage.

We imagine the twin-turbocharged V8 engine, sourced from Mercedes-AMG, makes the potential for performance tuning rather tempting.

Lotus Evora N400

See, we called it. Purple is certainly the most happening colour beneath the main show floor at the 2018 LA Auto Show.

Wearing a hue titled as ‘Plum Crazy Purple’, this particular Evora owes its paintwork to classic muscle cars from the 1970s. More importantly, it’s for sale, meaning if you love the shade, you can buy it for $125,000 (£97,500) right now.

Galpin Lotus Evora

It’s another Evora, but this time wearing the distinctive John Player Special black and gold livery.

There is also a rather large spoiler bolted to the back, which looks to have been taken from the Type 124 GT race car.

Jaguar I-Pace

The I-Pace is extremely new to the USA, but Galpin have their hands on one through their Jaguar dealership franchise.

We don’t expect the dramatic stickers to be a popular accessory, for some reason…

RingBrothers 1971 De Tomaso Pantera ADRNLN

This is serious modified car. Built by RingBrothers, with an interior designed by Nike, almost every inch of this Pantera was reimagined for the 21st century. More than 5,000 hours of work went into handcrafting each new body panel before adding the 600hp Chevrolet V8 engine.

At auction in 2015, this car was bought by Richard Rawlings of Gas Monkey Garage. The sale set a new record, with a whopping price of $346,500 (£270,000) when the hammer fell.

Custom Lexus RC

It might not be the traditional choice of modified motor, but dropping this Lexus RC to the floor does wonders for its stance.

A sizeable set of rims and a custom flip-paint colour scheme would help it fit in outside the local drive-thru.

Modified Lexus UX

More lifestyle action with this customised Lexus UX crossover. Although given that most mountain bike courses are out in the countryside, we wonder just how practical this might be.

Slammed Lexus ES

With this Lexus running so low to the ground, we would bet money on there being an expensive adjustable air suspension system nestling inside.

It certainly makes you appreciate the dramatic swoops and angles of the original design.

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