Nissan will use the New York International Auto Show in April to debut the next generation of its Murano midsize crossover.

While few details are currently available, we do know that the 2015 Murano will ride on the same platform as the latest Altima and Pathfinder – underpinnings that will also be used for the next Maxima – and feature roughly the same footprint as the outgoing model.

Nissan feels that it has its three-row crossover bases covered with the Rogue and Pathfinder, so the 2015 Murano will retain the existing two-row configuration, company spokesman Dan Bedore revealed to Edmunds.

The oddball Murano CrossCabriolet, which has never caught on with buyers, will not be redesigned.

Powertrain options are a mystery, but an updated version of the current 3.5-liter V6/CVT combo is likely, and the Pathfinder Hybrid’s supercharged 2.5-liter four and electric motor could also make an appearance.

Resonance-inspired styling

Speaking with Edmunds on the sidelines of the Chicago Show, Fed Diaz, Nissan North America’s senior vice president of sales, marketing, parts and service, had effusive words of praise for the 2015 Murano’s design.

The new crossover “is beautifully styled. The dealers were just foaming at the mouth when I showed them pictures,” Diaz said, adding of the interior, “[the dealers] almost fell out of their seats they were so excited.”

Official pictures are not yet available, but our spies were able to nab a 2015 Murano prototype back in December, with the photos revealing an exterior influenced by the Resonance Crossover Concept.

Unveiled at the 2013 Detroit auto show, the Resonance concept was believed to be an early styling preview for the next Murano, but it was unclear just how much of the show car’s radical styling would actually make it to production. However, our spy shots show that quite a bit of the Resonance’s DNA will make it into the new Murano.

Up front it’s clear that the 2015 Murano will adopt the Resonance’s boomerang-shaped headlights, although the units have been toned down somewhat for production. This prototype also shares its C- and D-pillars, rising beltline and tailight design with the concept.

The Resonance’s main design draw was its “floating” rear roof section, and it looks as though that styling element will make the transition to production. Even the wheel design on this prototype bears a striking resemblance to the rollers used on the Resonance concept.

An interior photo reveals a design much more toned down than the car’s exterior would suggest.

Watch for official pictures and details to be released closer to the 2015 Murano’s Big Apple debut in April.

Bridgestone has reportedly agreed to plead guilty and pay a $425 million criminal fine in a price-fixing scandal that has ensnared several major players in the automotive parts industry.

The Japanese company faces one of the larger fines for its role in the alleged conspiracy. The Department of Justice accused the company of colluding with competitors to inflate prices, rig bids and establish market-division agreements.

The investigation focused on rubber anti-vibration components that were sold to Toyota, Nissan, Fuji Heavy Industries, Suzuki and Isuzu, among others. The schemes are said to have been in place from 2001 until at least 2008.

“We are pleased with the acceptance of responsibility along with the significant penalty which will be paid by Bridgestone for this conspiracy to fix prices,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony. “Together with our partners in the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, we will continue to combat illegal practices which threaten consumers across the United States.”

Bridgestone previously ran into trouble with the law in 2011, pleading guilty and paying a smaller $28 million fine for price fixing and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations related to the marine hose industry. The DoJ suggests the company’s failure to disclose its automotive-industry practices during the first investigation was a factor in the much larger fine.

“The Antitrust Division will take a hard line when repeat offenders fail to disclose additional anticompetitive behavior,” said Brent Snyder, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division’s criminal enforcement unit.

Aside from Bridgestone, 25 other companies and 28 individuals have pleaded guilty or agreed to plead guilty for price fixing and bid rigging in the automotive parts industry. Total fines currently surpass $2 billion, though the figure could rise as the investigation continues.

Subaru is reportedly preparing to introduce another special-edition BRZ sports car, this time headed to the US, though the enhancements are not expected to reach under the hood.

Aesthetic tweaks are said to include side skirts and a rear wing, possibly with a front lip spoiler, special wheels and STI badges, unnamed sources have told Car and Driver.

Power-hungry enthusiasts may be disappointed yet again, as there is still no talk of a turbocharger or other powertrain upgrades. The car is also not expected to offer the Brembo brakes and suspension components of the Japanese-market BRZ tS.

Subaru late last year introduced a BRZ luxury GT package, which is also limited to the company’s home market. The BRZ Premium Sports edition focuses on interior improvements, with extensive use of leather and carbon fiber, while the exterior is differentiated by STI-badged wheels. It is unclear if any of these features will make their way onto the US-bound special edition.

The new special-edition BRZ is expected to be introduced within a few months.

Finnish tire maker Nokian has demonstrated a winter tire concept that features retractable studs.

A promo video shows the technology in action, with the retractable studs installed on a Porsche Cayenne. With the push of a button, each stud simultaneously deploys from the center of a cylindrical metal body that sits nearly flush with the tread surface.

The idea isn’t new, though a similar concept previewed in 2008 by startup Q Tires has yet to arrive on the market. The Q Tires system utilized a secondary air chamber to activate the studs. It is unclear if Nokian is taking the same approach or using a different method.

Studded tires offer the ultimate traction on ice, however the carbide pins deteriorate road surfaces. Most states have seasonal restrictions to minimize damage, while a few states completely ban studs.

Despite the additional traction, studs have slowly faded in popularity as companies continue to improve their studless winter tires. Retractable studs appear to eliminate some of the technology’s drawbacks, however the additional complexity presumably raises costs and poses potential problems as the surrounding rubber begins to wear.

“The unique stud concept may indeed become a reality one day,” said Nokian technical customer service manager Matti Morri.

The company has made no formal commitment to commercialize the technology, leaving its fate uncertain.

Honda has confirmed plans to launch a hybrid version of its Odyssey minivan, with efficiency ratings expected to reach up to 62 mpg.

An assistant large project leader in the company’s powertrain division, Takashi Shinchi, told Drive the development process is still in early stages, though a fuel-consumption reduction of “maybe 50 percent” appears to be attainable.

Engineers are currently working on several challenges for hybrid integration, with battery location at the top of the list. The company must carefully integrate the battery underneath the already-low floor, without bringing a negative impact to weight distribution.

The hybrid option is expected to be added to the fifth-generation Odyssey, which arrived in showrooms late last year. All trim levels are currently powered by a 3.5-liter i-VTED V6 engine that produces 248 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque, with a 19 mpg city rating and 28 mpg on the highway.

It is unclear if the hybrid edition will switch to a smaller engine, sacrificing power to help reduce fuel consumption to a level below Toyota’s Prius.

Honda is remaining tight-lipped about the development time-frame for the hybrid Odyssey.

Georgia legislators have moved to eliminate a $5,000 tax credit for electric vehicles, according to an Atlanta Business Chronicle report.

The sizable incentive has been considered one of the best in the country, helping the state rise to the top five in terms of EV registrations. Buyers who also take advantage of the $7,500 federal tax credit can effectively reduce the price of an EV purchase by as much as $12,500.

The incentive is now threatened by a bill introduced by Republican House Representative Chuck Martin and several other supporters. Martin argues that the current tax break was designed to help electric vehicles become “mass marketable,” and is no longer necessary because the goal has been accomplished.

Critics argue that the program should be left intact due to environmental concerns and its help in reducing the need for foreign oil.

Interestingly, Martin–a Kia Optima Hybrid owner–also introduced legislation that aims to reform dealer franchise laws and open the door for Tesla Motor’s direct-sales model.

“I want to allow people access to the (electric vehicle) market,” Martin said. “I just don’t want to make other people pay for their decision.”

The legislator further argues that the current credit system is too narrowly focused on zero-emissions vehicles, such as the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S. Several other states, in contrast, have programs that include hybrids and only provide tax incentives based on the price premium compared to the equivalent gasoline-only car.

The incentive-eliminating bill has yet to receive a formal vote.

Chrysler is reportedly seeking approximately $700 million in subsidies from the Canadian federal government and the province of Ontario.

The negotiations, detailed by The Globe and Mail, may have broad implications for the company’s Canadian operations. The automaker promises to use the aid to help fund a $2.3-billion modernization and expansion project at its Windsor, Ontario plant, along with another investment plan for a Brampton, Ontario facility.

The federal government separately announced plans to add $500 million to its general Automotive Innovation Fund, in an attempt to help create and maintain industry jobs in Canada.

Chrysler’s two Ontario plants already employ approximately 8,000 workers, though the expansion plans, including research-and-development operations for the company’s next minivan platform, are expected to add several thousand jobs.

The company already threatened to kill the expansion plans, and hinted that it could shutter the facilities, if the Canadian governments don’t play ball. Officials have signaled a willingness to consider additional incentives, despite potential backlash over the large sum.

The Canadian government has yet to confirm the reported numbers or announce a final decision.

Porsche’s next-generation 911 GT3 RS will reportedly benefit from 50 percent more downforce, further stripping-down to reduce weight, and a bit more power than the current GT3.

The additional downforce is said to be accomplished via a completely redesigned aerodynamics, with winglets on the front spoiler and a wider body to accommodate a stretched track, unnamed sources have told Auto Express. The changes should allow the new car to beat the current GT3′s 3.3-second 0-60 time, though top speed will likely take a hit.

The new RS is expected to be offered only with the company’s paddle-shifted PDK transmission, like the existing GT3, though the gear ratios and shifting parameters will likely be revised for higher revs.

Porsche is said to be already testing the new RS, including laps at the Nürburgring. More details are expected to be announced as early as next month ahead of a summer launch.

A new survey published by J.D. Power and Associates suggests vehicle quality may be on the decline for the first time since 1998.

The firm asked owners to report the number of problems they’ve experienced with their 2011-model-year vehicles. Responses show an average of 133 problems per 100 vehicles, marking a six-percent increase over the previous year.

“Until this year, we have seen a continual improvement in vehicle dependability,” said J.D. Power VP of global automotive, David Sargent. “However, some of the changes that automakers implemented for the 2011 model year have led to a noticeable increase in problems reported.“

The majority of the increase has been associated with engine and transmission problems, particularly for vehicles with four-cylinder engines or large diesel powerplants. Analysts suggest automakers may be making quality sacrifices to achieve better fuel efficiency.