(December 1, 2012) The 2013 Audi A4 luxury sport sedan and the 2013 Audi S4 performance sedan gained further validation of their segment-leading attributes by earning the U.S. government’s highest crashworthiness and rollover safety rating.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said the A4 and S4 achieved the coveted 5-Star designation based on their performance in the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

(December 1, 2012) LOS ANGELES — Subaru Global Design won the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge competition with its SHARC (Subaru Highway Automated Response Concept) vehicle. As a futuristic model for 24-hour highway monitoring, the SHARC provides protection and rapid emergency response solutions for Hawaii's highway patrol.

(December 1, 2012) LOS ANGELES — Subaru introduced its all-new 2014 Forester, the fourth generation of its popular all-wheel drive crossover SUV, at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Thursday. The 2014 Forester debuts a bolder exterior design and roomier interior, along with improved performance and higher fuel economy across the line. The 2014 Forester arrives in Subaru dealerships this spring.

(November 30, 2012) LOS ANGELES — Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is supporting the University of Southern California and the institution's Viterbi School of Engineering as it develops a special campus-wide Smart Grid "Living Laboratory" project including the use of Mitsubishi i-MiEV 100% electric vehicles.

(November 30, 2012) LOS ANGELES — Smart design meets urban style as Hyundai unveiled its Veloster C3 Roll Top concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Expanding on the qualities that have made the Veloster a sales success, the C3 (which stands for Convertible 3-door) combines open-air freedom with the style of a coupe and the functionality of a tailgate.

(November 30, 2012) At the Japan Car of the Year awards ceremony inside Zepp Diver City on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay, Mazda’s all-new CX-5 posted 363 votes to win Japan’s coveted Car of the Year prize.

Surprisingly, the expected close battle between this year’s two most highly anticipated cars — Mazda’s CX-5 and the Toyota GT86/Subaru BRZ — did not materialize as the SUV from Hiroshima pulled away from the jointly developed GT86/BRZ sports car to triumph by some 45 votes.

(November 30, 2012) LAS VEGAS — Chevrolet this week opened a new chapter in its storied racing history, unveiling its eagerly anticipated 2013 NASCAR Chevrolet SS race car. Powered by the legendary small block V-8 engine, the rear-wheel drive performance sedan will be Chevrolet’s newest entry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, beginning with the 2013 SpeedWeeks in Daytona, Fla.

(November 30, 2012) TORRANCE, Calif. — The 2013 Honda Civic debuted Thursday at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show sporting extensive interior and exterior design upgrades, enhanced dynamics, and a host of new standard features.

Honda also announced that the 2014 Accord Plug-In Hybrid earned a class-leading EPA-certified 115 MPGe rating and will go on sale in New York and California on Jan. 15 with an MSRP of $39,7801.

(November 29, 2012) DETROIT — When fans fire up their PlayStation3 (PS3) systems today they’ll have a chance to become part of Corvette history. Chevrolet and Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC (SCEA) are giving gamers a first-of-its-kind driving experience by offering a camouflaged Corvette C7 Test Prototype as a vehicle download in the critically acclaimed PS3 racing game Gran Turismo5.

(November 29, 2012) LOS ANGELES — Ever since the type 15 convertible from 1949, the Beetle has been one of the most popular open-top cars built. More than 330,000 examples of the first Beetle convertible were manufactured over a 32-year span, while another 234,619 New Beetle convertibles were produced in an eight-year period.