It’s that time of year again car lovers. The L.A. Auto Show is upon us. There is some great news coming from L.A. this week and I wanted to highlight two examples.

First is my absolute favorite. Mazda is (finally) releasing a CX-5 with a diesel engine. Diesel. Engine. Let’s just hope there isn’t a tragic cheating scandal with this diesel, though I am sure there won’t be.

Mazda says they have finally figured out how to deliver fuel emissions efficiency and good performance. I for one cannot wait. Let’s be honest, why wouldn’t this be a good idea? There aren’t any numbers on the 2.2 liter SkyActiv-D clean diesel engine yet, but let’s face it, this CX-5 will be efficient. And stylish. I like that Mazda adopted an it isn’t broken so let’s not redesign it and destroy it mentality. The styling is sporty without being over the top, nor is it underwhelming. And it is diesel.

Second, all I can say about this piece of news is it’s about time. The Jeep Compass is finally the small utility vehicle it was meant to be. The new Compass looks like its worthy of its Jeep name and there is performance to match. With the addition of a Trailhawk model, it seems that Jeep has ditched its raised car idea and gone back to what it knows: American off-road capable vehicles. I like the styling and appreciate that FCA went with a normal shifter. My one big hope is that the Compass will be reliable as it is useful. One can dream, right?

Chevy also made quite an impression with its Colorado ZR2 s a gutsy off-road ready truck and it comes at the best time possible—when Americans are buying trucks.

According to this article, Los Angeles is the market leader in truck purchases, which is astounding, I think and brings me to my next point.

Other exciting reveals: 

• The all-new 2018 Audi A5 and S5 Coupe boosts sharpened design and new technology build upon the heritage and success of the first generation, while bringing reimagined design details to the new A5 family of vehicles. The A5's design is backed by two powerful new engines to deliver a full range of driving experiences from efficient refinement to dynamic power.
• Born from the World’s Greatest Driving Road – Stelvio Pass – the all-new 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Sets a New Benchmark in Performance, Style and Technology in an SUV that could only be Italian.
• The SUV for the S-Curves. Built in Italy, the top-of-the-line Stelvio Quadrifoglio delivers a class-leading 505 horsepower and 0-60 in just 3.9-seconds.

I also want to make an observation about this year’s show. 

The Los Angeles Auto Show is typically a green showcase. This year however, and it could just be me, that doesn’t seem to be so. Though even I will admit the Jaguar I-Pace is pretty slick and could be some real competition for Tesla, but overall, not a lot of green vehicles.

The L.A. show is hosting quite a bit of tech, but as far as vehicles, the majority are SUV, crossovers or trucks and even the sedans focus on performance more than I recall. The times are changing and trends are shifting.

Lauren Fix, The Car Coach® is a nationally recognized automotive expert, media guest, journalist, author, keynote speaker and television host. Post your comments on Twitter: @LaurenFix or on her Facebook Page.