Top cars at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show

What kind of madness is this? The S60 Polestar is a 508-horsepower beast churning out 424 lb-ft of torque. With a new chassis that is both lower and wider, along with a Haldex all-wheel-drive system and Ohlins suspension, the Polestar S60 Concept is a serious machine plucked straight from our fantasies (or nightmares). Rumor has it that Jay Leno has already shelled out cash for the Polestar S60; unfortunately, the closest the rest of us will get is a package for the Volvo S60 offering 25 more horsepower than the stock S60, along with the loud blue finish of the Polestar concept. We can always dream.

2013 Volvo S60

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The third-generation Cayman was unveiled at Los Angeles and we believe it is what most Porsche fans expected: a beautiful new take on what many feel is Porsche's best-looking — and as some believe, flat-out best — vehicle. With design elements taken from the gorgeous new Boxster, which in turn borrows elements from the upcoming 918 hypercar, the Cayman's swooping lines (especially where the roofline meets the integrated spoiler and taillight setup) create a real sense of drama. With a longer, wider stance and horsepower bump in both trim levels, the Cayman and Cayman S are ready to defend their "best driver's car" title.

View Pictures:  New Porsche Cayman bows in LA

It lacks a drivetrain, powerplant, suspension, and even an interior. We don't care about any of that — this first draft at a potential G-Wagen successor is so calm and assertive in its appearance that we want it to train our dogs. Mercedes is gauging reaction to the Ener-G-Force as they go about the work of developing their new top-dog off-roader. If it ends up looking like this, we'll take two and a couple trunks full of Germany's finest beer.

Read Blog:  Mercedes hints at future SUV

For those who find the monstrous SLS-AMG to be a touch too soft, there's now the SLS AMG Black. With its 6.2-liter V8 engine cranking out 622 horsepower, the SLS-AMG Black debuted in LA with a wing, spoiler, vents, and all manner of bodywork dedicated to the nigh-impossible job of keeping this car planted to the earth, where it clearly doesn't want to stay. All of that aggressive aero work and the screaming yellow finish seem to be a warning: Your doom will come, but the SLS AMG Black will try to make it quick, and you'll have fun while it lasts.

View Pictures:  Mercedes-Benz in LA

Ford's smaller performance hot hatch slides into the line for those looking for something more affordable than the popular new Focus ST. The Fiesta ST's 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine gives it nearly 200 horsepower, and when mated to the available 6-speed manual transmission it's slated to return 34 mpg highway. The Fiesta ST is the type of fun, nimble hot hatch driving enthusiasts have been clamoring for in the U.S. for years, especially as the European market was seemingly flooded with them — most notably the Focus RS that Ford seems dedicated to denying American drivers. Priced in the low-$20,000 range, the Fiesta ST could be a breakout hit with drivers over the coming months.

View Pictures:  Ford at the LA Auto Show

Making its North American debut, Mazda dropped an unexpected gift with their new Mazda6 — the news that the company's Skyactiv-D diesel engine would be available in the new Mazda6 as an option in the U.S. With 173 horsepower and a delightful 310 lb-ft of torque, the diesel Mazda6 makes the already highly anticipated new sedan even more attractive to buyers. Along with a new styling philosophy and available 6-speed manual or automatic transmissions, the 2014 Mazda6 is a bold statement for Mazda as it looks to increase its small but loyal American market share .

2014 Mazda Mazda6

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The C-X16 concept, which had over the last couple of years become a darling of the auto show circuit, finally gets let loose on the real world in the form of the Jaguar F-Type. Making its North American debut in LA, the F-Type will arrive with three supercharged trim levels offering anywhere from 340 to a whopping 495 horsepower. Of course, the first impressions are made by the F-Type's styling, with a body that, like the C-X16, shows plenty of influence from Jags of the past, inviting inevitable comparisons to the legendary E-Type.

View Pictures:  Jaguar and Land Rover go glitz in LA

America's new favorite mighty mite gets a slick new update with the Fiat 500c. The only major change with the Abarth version of the 500c is the addition of the cabriolet top, which has become a popular option with buyers of the standard 500. The 500c's top can only be totally lowered at under 50 miles per hour, but we think most prospective purchasers will want to be seen driving around town at lower speeds anyway, so we'll let it slide (no pun intended).

Read:  Fiat 500c Abarth grabs air in LA

Jaguar's R-S Series gets its second addition with the new Jaguar, a 550-horsepower beast with its sights set on every performance luxury sedan on the market. Incidentally, the XFR-S is also the most powerful sedan ever built by Jaguar. With only 100 examples being offered in the U.S. for the 2014 model year, the XFR-S also offers the exclusivity sought after by consumers who can afford the $99,000 price tag. Luckily, the Japanese tuner wing on the show car will be an option that you don't have to select. The grunt is strong with this one.

Read:  Jaguar rediscovers its groove

Coming in around $25,000 after tax incentives, Chevrolet's plug-in version of the Spark is promising best-in-class range--though there's no official word what that may be--and modern amenities to draw in young urbanites who may not otherwise be looking to buy a new car. Penciling out to 130 horsepower and with 400 lb-ft of on-demand torque, the Spark EV is likely to be more fun than it sounds. With the ability to recharge to 80 percent of full battery capacity in 20 minutes, it may be a car to watch if it catches on with consumers.

2013 Chevrolet Spark

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While not redesigned from headlight to taillight, the 2014 Nissan GT-R does get some interesting upgrades in the form of more response in the mid- and high-rpm ranges from its immaculate hand-built engine, along with a lower center of gravity and a new Premium Interior package. So it's not all-new, but it's still the Nissan GT-R: a stunner that still delivers fantastic bang-for-the-buck even as the base version closes in on $100,000.

Read:  Nissan pulls double duty in LA

With every new 911 generation it's not about the debut of a new platform, it's the slow rollout of each variant that enthusiasts anticipate. Now that we've seen the rear-wheel-drive Carrera and Cabriolet, the all-wheel-drive Carrera 4S makes its North American debut at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show. With the new Porsche Traction Management all-wheel-drive system in place along with the trademark wide rear-fender flare, it's nice to finally see the new 911 Carrera 4S ready to carve American corners regardless of the weather.

2013 Porsche 911

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For more information on the cars featured in this slideshow, click the links below:

-Volvo S60
-Porsche Cayman
-Mercedes-Benz SLS
-Ford Fiesta
-Mazda Mazda6
-Fiat 500
-Chevrolet Spark
-Nissan GT-R
-Porsche 911

James Tate cut his teeth in the business as a race team crew member before moving to the editorial side as Senior Editor of Sport Compact Car, and his work has appeared in Popular Mechanics, Automobile, Motor Trendand European Car. When not writing, Tate is usually fantasizing about a vintage Porsche 911.