Nissan Quest

The Quest joins the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey to make a trio of new full-sized minivans at the 2010 LA auto show. The Quest appears, both from the outside – and gives the impression – inside, of being the largest of the three.

The previous generation Quest featured an undulating shoulder line, replaced on this new model by two key flowing lines on the body sides, one of which wraps around from the hood surface.

The interior has space for at least seven full size adults. The IP combines aesthetic cues from Nissan's 370Z, while the shifter and switchgear are incorporated in a drum-like center console, allowing an uninterrupted floor.

Dodge Charger

The new Dodge Charger is longer, lower and wider than the model it replaces, but offers even more performance from its 5.7-liter Hemi V8, which now belts out 470bhp and the standard 2.7-liter Pentastar V6 also offers 292bhp and better economy.

Although based on the previous models' platform, the car has been significantly reworked to enhance its driving dynamics with all-new suspension settings, but it also wears bolder sheet-metal.

The interior, benchmarked against European models, features soft touch plastics, a single piece molding for the dash and better colors throughout the range. Ralph Gilles amused those gathered at the press conference by relaying that he has banished the "rat fur gray" color from the repertoire.

Hyundai Elantra

Hyundai is set to add another vehicle to its list of successes: the new Elantra, which was revealed at the LA auto show this year.

Created by principal designer Cedric d'Andre, the Elantra was the last car conceived under the direction of Hyundai's former design boss, Joel Piaskowski. The new car shares the 'fluidic sculpture' design theme of its larger sibling, the Sonata and has an impressively low 0.28Cd.

Inside, the flowing, sculptural design theme is continued on the doors, the IP and the center stack. Wave-like perforations in the door panels and on the leather seats demonstrate an attention to detail that we're unused to at this level.

Dodge Avenger

The 2011 Dodge Avenger has allegedly been reengineered from the ground up. But in terms of styling, you’d be hard pressed to spot the difference.

Dodge says that it has imparted a plethora of changes to the mid-sized sedan, with the exterior gaining cleaner and more aggressive lines. Taking in the front of the car, a new, more sculpted front face accompanies the signature Dodge 'split crosshair' grille as well as lower bumper revisions. Elsewhere, the rear bumper has also been revised to suit the cars' more sporting intentions, whilst new light pods front and rear round out the exterior changes.

As with all of Chrysler’s products for 2011, the predominate focus has been on upping the interior quality of its cars. Therefore, once again, the biggest changes for 2011 are found on the inside of the Avenger with an interior benchmarked against European rivals. Utilizing more tactile materials, a new instrument panel, bezels, gauge faces and an all-new multifunction steering wheel, Dodge aims to transform the outgoing model's interior.