California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger dropped by on the second media-preview day to congratulate various companies for efforts to improve fuel economy, reduce emissions, and generally make their vehicles more socially responsible.

The Los Angeles Auto Show makes more news than ever in 2007. Helped by last season's move to a permanent mid-November slot on the world auto-expo calendar, this year's edition (running through November 25th) boasts a record number of global and North American premieres: 40 in all, including 11 concept vehicles.

Equally notable, the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show attracted the most top-level executives we've seen in 20 years of covering the event. That's really no surprise. Southern California is a hotbed of environmental activism as well as automotive trends. With climate change, energy use, resource sustainability and related issues so much in the news--and on legislative agendas in the U.S. and Europe--what better place for automakers to trumpet their "green" credentials to the American public, especially given the commercial importance of the huge L.A. market.

Among the industry heavyweights on hand were Ian Callum, design director for Jaguar Cars; Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Japan's Nissan and France's Renault; Dr. Ulrich Hackenburg, chief of R&D at Volkswagen in Germany; Bob Lutz, General Motors' vice-president for product development; Alan Mulally, CEO of embattled Ford Motor Company who gave the keynote address kicking off the pre-show media days; Chrysler LLC CEO Bob Nardelli; Peter Schreyer, head of global design for Kia; and Audi CEO Rupert Stadler. 

Adding Hollywood star-power to the proceedings, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger again dropped by on the second media-preview day, this time to congratulate various companies for efforts to improve fuel economy, reduce emissions, and generally make their vehicles more socially responsible. After speaking to reporters, the governor headed for the Audi and VW exhibits, perhaps because so many officials there spoke German, and to the Ferrari stand, perhaps to consider a garage mate for the gubernatorial Hummers.

But the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show isn't all about future-tech and PR "greenwash." As ever, visitors can ogle plenty of good old high-style, high-power and/or high-priced machines, plus wild custom vehicles, wacky wheels from lone-wolf hopefuls, and more accessories than you'd find on a stroll down Rodeo Drive.

Here's what's new at L.A. 2007......