Shuttling in to downtown Los Angeles this morning it appeared to be a normal day—commuters on the freeways, coffee houses bustling, the ever-present Southern California sunshine filtering through the smog; but for the auto world, today is the biggest day of what remains of 2012. Scheduled as two of the earlier morning press conferences, Volkswagen and Hyundai looked to add a little edge to what are often predictable announcements.
Just prior to debuting its emotional spearhead—the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible—Volkswagen handed out polarized sunglasses, needed to view its video presentation. Although gimmicky, forcing a couple hundred stuffy journalists to put on knock-off wayfarers (China’s finest), deserves our kudos.
Party in the Front, Fixie in the Back.
Hyundai debuted the three-row 2013 Santa Fe SUV earlier today, but more interesting was the 
Korean automaker’s introduction of the hipster-classic term “fixie” to the auto industry. The Hyundai Veloster C3 Concept has a roll-top roof that can be rolled back to store sports equipment and gear, like a fixed bike. The Veloster C3 Concept employs the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo’s 1.6-liter turbocharged engine, and a unique aqua-colored rear-wheel. With more press conferences scheduled and a night of parties ahead, there’s sure to be more.
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