Nowhere was the green message more evident than ont he Audi stand, where the battery-powered e-tron concept, now painted orange attracted far bigger crowds than the gorgeous production-ready R8 Spider alongside.

The LA Auto Show was the final major international show of 2009, and although we've seen the big launches already, it was good to see the manufacturers putting on a good show. As with all the big motor shows this year, the emphasis was very much on green cars, and the environmental message.

Nowhere was this more evident than ont he Audi stand, where the battery-powered e-tron concept, now painted orange attracted far bigger crowds than the gorgeous production-ready R8 Spider alongside. Ford's Mustang was being pushed hard in V6 form (who'd have thought that), while the star of the show was undoubtedly the Volkswagen Up! Lite which now looks production ready.

Porsche's Boxster Spyder was a welcome addition to the new launch circuit, and we'll have a drive of this one soon. It shows a refreshing willingness for Porsche to embrace its rich heritage – and we're rather excited about this one. Other recent new cars on show included the Rolls-Royce Ghost, and Britain's newest car, the Spyker.

Last word should go to the shock announcement that GM's newly-appointed boss, Fritz Henderson, has left his job, to be replaced by the legendary Bob Lutz. Rumours were that his decision to announce Saab's demise - and then swiftly give the Swedish company a further lifeline - could have been part of the reason for this...

More LA news to be found on the AutoExpress website.