New hybrids at LA auto show?

Will a hybrid steal the show?

Last year's Los Angeles Auto Show offered some interesting hybrid announcements from GM, such as one regarding a plug-in Saturn Vue and hints of the Chevy Volt.

On the other hand, hybrid car king Toyota offered a great display area for its hybrid vehicles, but the automaker seemed far more focused on pickup trucks than hybrids.

Still, Southern California has become the largest hybrid market, and the importance of green vehicles is becoming a major theme for the LA Show - an auto show growing greatly in importance in the auto show circuit.

Currently, there are 12 major world premiers scheduled. One of them has to be a hybrid, and I'm betting one will be a new Prius-derivative, such as a smaller Prius or a crossover Prius. In addition, I'm expecting Honda's new hybrid to also show, and I would love to see a Ford Fusion hybrid, or a dual mode Chevy Malibu hybrid.

Regardless, I'm expecting hybrids to make a strong showing in LA. I can't wait.