(November 14, 2011) LOS ANGELES — The 2013 Chevrolet Spark mini car, to be revealed Wednesday at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, is the only car in its segment to offer a seven-inch color touch screen radio capable of displaying smart phone-based navigation, media and contacts for hands-free calling.

A sporty four-passenger, five-door hatch updated for United States and Canadian consumers, Spark is designed to excite first-time buyers and city dwellers with its bold styling and colors, affordability, the safety of 10 standard air bags, fuel efficiency and maneuverability.

(November 14, 2011) General Motors said that it is recalling 674 2012 Cadillac CTS vehicles after it discovered that some vehicles had improperly assembled components that could cause the loss of braking ability.

GM said some vehicles have a power vacuum brake boost pushrod retention nut that was not properly tightened; the nut could loosen and allow the pushrod to separate from the brake pedal.

(November 13, 2011) DEARBORN, Mich. — The Ford Evos Concept car will make its first appearance in North America as the centerpiece of Ford’s display at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Jan. 10-13. The Evos Concept made its global debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

The Ford Evos Concept embodies the company’s new global design language while providing a glimpse at Ford’s technology future highlighted by the use of cloud computing to enhance the driving experience.

(November 12, 2011) DETROIT — U.S. auto-safety regulators are scrutinizing the safety of lithium ion batteries that power electric vehicles after a Chevrolet Volt battery caught fire, people familiar with the probe said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Friday it's investigating fire risks in the Volt after a vehicle caught fire three weeks after a government crash test.