(July 25, 2012) The flagship BMW 7-Series is getting a major refreshening for the 2013 model year including styling upgrades, a new standard eight-speed automatic transmission, and a new hybrid powertrain.

(July 24, 2012) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Edmunds.com has officially surpassed 100,000 Facebook likes, and proclaims that it is now the most popular automotive information website on both Facebook and Twitter. As of Monday morning, Edmunds.com's 101,700 Facebook likes and 34,400 Twitter followers topped all other independent automotive shopping or research sites.

(July 24, 2012) SEOUL — Kia Motors will introduce the next generation Cerato compact sedan later this year in its home market of Korea. Also known as Forte in North America, the Cerato was Kia’s global best-seller in 2011 with more than 445,000 units delivered.

(July 24, 2012) LONDON — Hertz has launched Hertz Rent a Boat in the Netherlands, allowing customers to explore Amsterdam by water on a variety of fun vessels.

Brought to customers through a partnership with local company Boot Amsterdam B.V., Hertz Rent a Boat offers people the chance to cruise the city's canals from gondolas, luxury motorboats, taxi boats, and open boats, with a selection of large boats able to accommodate up to 35 people. Priced at hourly rates from just EUR5 per person or EUR150 per boat, the crafts are a good way to see the sights of the city.

(July 24, 2012) DETROIT — Inferno Orange is the second-most requested color for Chevrolet Sonic hatchbacks, accounting for nearly one in five dealer orders and signaling a new color trend in the subcompact market. Its popularity trails only the ever-popular black hatchback.

(July 23, 2012) The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating 106,803 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs for power steering hoses that may fail, causing fluid to leak and possibly ignite when in contact with hot surfaces and another 2009-2010 Dodge Ram 1500 pickups for rear-wheel locking problems, according to documents posted on its web site.

(July 23, 2012) DEARBORN, Mich. — How many pingpong balls fit into an all-new Ford Escape? Approximately 56,778. Ford has a unique way of measuring interior storage spaces inside its vehicles and those of its competitors, and it’s not with a ruler; it’s with pingpong balls.

(July 22, 2012) BIRMINGHAM, England — MG has supplied a fleet of cars to the Jamaican and USA Track and Field Training Camps where some of the world’s top athletes, including sprint stars Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Asafa Powell andTyson Gay, are training. 

Both camps are in Birmingham with the Jamaicans based at the University of Birmingham’s Munrow Sports Centre and the Americans at the city’s Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr.

(July 22, 2012) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Chrysler has announced it is rolling out the proverbial red carpet to prospective talent by launching a redesigned careers web site that provides an enriched multimedia experience for prospective job candidates.

(July 21, 2012) DEARBORN, Mich. — The new Ford C-MAX Energi is expected to achieve more than 20 miles of electric-only range — nearly double the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid — and a 550-mile overall range to become the first hybrid vehicle ever that can be driven from Sacramento to San Diego on a single tank of gas and make the average American commute without gasoline.