014 | LA Auto Show 2025: EV Test Drives, Movie Cars & JDM Icons

This week on Cool Cars with Chris, we’re going full throttle into the LA Auto Show 2025 — and you won’t believe what Courage saw.

From drifting electric Hyundais indoors to spotting movie cars from Fast & Furious and JDM legends, this episode is packed with everything you’d want from one of the biggest auto shows in the U.S.

We also compare it to the San Diego Auto Show, talk about family-friendly features, hidden rooms, million-dollar cars, and why Tesla didn’t show up.

• 🎟️ Ticket prices, discounts & insider tips

• 🏙️ LA Convention Center layout vs. San Diego

• 🚗 Why the LA Auto Show is at least twice the size

• 🧒 Activities for kids (yes, it’s family-friendly!)

• 🎬 Fast & Furious Supra, M3 GTR & JDM builds

• 🔋 Hyundai’s Ioniq 5N indoor drift ride-along

• 💰 Multi-million dollar exotics: NSX, SLR, Carrera GT

• ⚡ Lucid, Rivian, Scout EVs — but where’s Tesla?

• 🏎️ Corvette ZR1X breakdown: hybrid power meets legacy muscle

• 📸 Behind-the-scenes auto show nostalgia and stories

Get the full breakdown of the LA Auto Show 2025 in this episode of Cool Cars with Chris, where we dive into everything from EV test drives and electric car drift rides to rare JDM icons and movie cars like the Fast and Furious Supra and the M3 GTR from Need for Speed. We explore the all-new Corvette ZR1X hybrid, the powerful Hyundai Ioniq 5N, and emerging electric vehicles from Lucid, Rivian, Scout Motors, and more. Whether you’re into car culture, auto shows, electric sports cars, or comparing the San Diego vs LA Auto Show, this podcast episode has it all. Learn about family-friendly car events, EV performance, and insider tips on auto show parking, ticket discounts, and navigating the LA Convention Center. We also cover the evolution of mid-engine Corvettes, the hype behind electric SUVs, the growing presence of car brands at auto shows, and what it's like attending as a YouTube car content creator. If you're searching for car podcast episodes, EV show coverage, or best cars of 2025, hit play and enjoy the ride.

00:00 – 🎙️ Intro: LA Auto Show Preview & San Diego Connection

00:38 – 👋 Meet Courage: YouTuber & Auto Show Adventurer

01:34 – 🎟️ Ticket Prices & SoCal In-Club Discount

02:00 – 📏 San Diego vs. LA Auto Show Size

02:26 – 🏢 LA Convention Center Layout Explained

03:55 – 🚗 Brand Drop-Offs & Display Quality

05:00 – 📲 No More Swag Bags? Everything’s Digital

06:00 – 🧒 Kid-Friendly Zone: VW Crafts & Mini Racetrack

07:20 – 🚙 Off-Road Test Drives: Toyota Memories

08:30 – 🛣️ Family Road Trip: The Drive from Temecula

09:33 – 🅿️ Parking Problems & LA Sketchy Lots

11:00 – 💡 Ticket Tips & Kids Get in Free!

13:07 – 🗺️ Finding Your Way: Bring a Map!

14:24 – 🔋 GMC, Hummer EVs, and Escalade IQ

15:15 – 🎬 Hidden Room: Fast & Furious & JDM Cars

17:07 – 🔧 Are They Real Builds or Just for Show?

20:23 – 💰 Million-Dollar Room: NSX, SLR, Carrera GT

22:25 – 🖊️ Shelby Signings & Exotic Displays

23:26 – 🧨 ZR1X Corvette: Electric + Flat-Plane Monster

25:09 – 🧠 Why Chevy Went Mid-Engine with the C8

29:15 – 🚫 Tesla Skips the Show: Was That a Mistake?

31:44 – ⚡ EV Overload: Lucid, Rivian, Scout & More

35:04 – 👀 Tesla’s Image & Why People Still Buy Them

38:25 – 🍕 Food, Bathrooms & Family Amenities

40:25 – 👶 No Wagons Allowed? Family Logistics

41:50 – 🎢 Hyundai Drift Ride-Along in the Ioniq 5N

44:12 – 🔄 Indoor Drifting: Safe or Sketchy?

48:07 – 🗓️ Show Runs Through Nov 30th – Plan Your Trip!

49:00 – 🤷‍♂️ Why San Diego’s Auto Show Feels Smaller

51:00 – 📷 OG Auto Show Memories & Final Thoughts