LA Auto Show highlights - Introduction

American car buyers can get up to speed on new models at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show, but the Californian event feels very much like a US-targeted recap of 2011's new arrivals instead of a showcase for a future generation.

That's not to say there aren't big launches; the new Ford Escape (Kuga) and Honda's latest CR-V are among the cars with 'never seen before' appeal. However, there's also a definite whiff of a 'Frankfurt hangover', with rehashed concepts from Audi, BMW and Land Rover, and only new derivatives from Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche instead of different shapes.

So, which are the LA Show models that British buyers should be looking out for? Here are our picks of the show.