Automotive Design at www.japanese-home-gardens.com

And for years we have bitterly complained to automotive manufacturers they both use us and abuse us by not bringing the "A" show to the country's largest automotive market. If indeed they believe we set the trends (just count the number of automotive design studios in Southern California) and create the direction by training the world's best designers at our schools (Art Center College of Design and the Academy of Art University) why indeed have we for so many years been treated as secondary and undeserving of the best.

CONCEPT CARS AND TRUCKS California has long been recognized as one of the key trendsetters and style makers for automobile design and car culture. No place else has as much influence on automotive design as does the California lifestyle and its car crazy residents. The progressive and varied makeup of the state also explains why there are 14 major automobile design studios in the Southland along with at least another half-dozen independent design studios. Los Angeles is also home to the Art Center, perhaps the leading institute of automotive design in the world. Therefore, it's fitting that the Los Angeles Auto Show should serve as a showcase to a variety of innovative concept vehicles from throughout the world.

DESIGN CHALLENGE Southern California's progressive social environment and freethinking spirit are major contributors to American culture today. This is why leading automotive companies have built design centers here, and why the Los Angeles Auto Show is featuring an exciting design competition among the studios. With "An LA Adventure" as its theme, the contest challenges studios to develop a unique visual concept of the perfect LA adventure vehicle.