(January 19, 2012) HERNDON, Va. —  Audi has announced that Los Angeles dealer Keyes Audi was the number one Audi dealer in the nation in 2011.  Keyes Audi was the only dealer in the U.S. to sell over 2,000 combined new and Certified Pre-Owned vehicles last year.

"The Keyes organization is one of the most progressive, customer-focused and strategically-aligned dealer groups I have had the pleasure of working with," said Mike Cagle, Director, Western Region for Audi of America. 

(January 19, 2012) Kia Motors produced a record 252,000 cars at its Zilina, Slovakia factory last year, a 10per cent increase over 2010.  The plant also achieved a 12 per cent year-on-year increase in engine production, with more than 359,000 petrol and diesel engines rolling off the production lines in 2011.

(January 18, 2013) DETROIT — The Buick Encore passed a milestone this week as shipments began to dealers. Within the next few weeks, test drives will be available at Buick dealers around the country allowing prospective customers to experience the first luxury small crossover from Buick.

(January 18, 2012) DETROIT — Got backseat boredom? DVD players and Game Boys are so five years ago, but a new concept in rear seat entertainment technology that uses the windows themselves could replace squirminess and snoozing with interactive scribbling, sweeping and pinching.

General Motors Research and Development put that challenge before researchers and students from the FUTURE LAB at Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Israel. The task: Conceptualize new ways to help rear seat passengers, particularly children, have a richer experience on the road.

(January 18, 2012) SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — The average age of cars and light trucks currently in operation in the U.S. has increased to 10.8 years, according to Polk, a global automotive market intelligence firm. Passenger cars showed a modest increase in age since 2010, from 11 years to just 11.1 years at the end of June 2011. Light trucks — including pickups and SUVs — showed a more sizable gain in the same time frame, from 10.1 years to 10.4 years.

(January 17, 2012) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Sales of Jeep brand vehicles rose 61.8 percent in Europe — the 27 member states of the European Union, plus the four European Free Trade Association countries — in 2011 versus 2010 compared to an industry decline of 1.4 percent, according to numbers released by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA).

(January 17, 2012) TORRANCE, Calif. —  The refreshed 2012 Honda Pilot has received the Cars.com's "Family Car of the Year," award. The Pilot SUV received a wide range of upgrades for 2012, including a sleeker front-end design, enhanced interior features and improved fuel economy.

(January 17, 2012) DETROIT — Toyota, Mercedes-Benz and BMW retained their ranking among the world’s top 15 global brands in Interbrand's Top 100 Best Global Brands Report for 2011.

Toyota kept its status as No. 11 with a value of $27.8 billion, up 6 percent from 2010. Mercedes followed Toyota at No. 12 with a value of $27.4 billion, up 9 percent from 2010. BMW came in at No. 15 with a value of $24.5 billion, up 10 percent. Both Mercedes and BMW retained the same rankings from 2010.

(January 16, 2012) The advanced Audi A6 is about to add more brawn to complement its highly sophisticated electronic "brain" as the third generation A6 allroad quattro with its customarily tougher stance and four-level adaptive air suspension makes its world debut early this year. Due to become available to order in the UK next month priced from £43,145 (about $68,000) the A6 Allroad quattro will reach its first customers in the spring.

(January 16, 2012) DETROIT — With his name inscribed on the “assembled by” plaque affixed to his new 505-horsepower Chevrolet LS7 crate engine, Jeff Kasper can point to his role in helping birth the high-performance engine for his project car.

Kasper, a sales and business manager for a semiconductor manufacturer in California, is the first customer of Chevrolet Performance’s new Crate Engine Build Experience, which allows hot rod builders to participate in assembly of their in the General Motors Performance Build Center in Wixom, Mich., northwest of Detroit.