BMW is reportedly considering a switch to four-cylinder engines for future M3 and M4 models.

The M division head of product management, Carsten Pries, suggests the company could achieve acceptable performance out of fewer cylinders if the platform sheds weight.

“We do not start our design process with a power output in mind,” the executive told Motoring. “We have a set of characteristics that a new model must meet. For sure, you could see a future [M3] powered by a four-cylinder engine.”

Although the idea may seem repugnant to some purists, the original E30 M3 was powered by a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine. It was also much lighter than following generations, weighing in below 3,000 pounds.

Reports surrounding the M2 consistently point to a six-cylinder mill under the hood, despite the lighter 2-Series platform being a logical starting place for a four-cylinder mill rather than the larger and heftier 3-Series. Both model families are just entering new generations, however, leaving BMW plenty of time to explore development possibilities.

General Motors has announced that backup cameras will become a standard feature on all Buick models beginning with the 2015 model year.

All automakers that sell consumer vehicles in the US market will have to follow the same route eventually, though the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration mandate does not take effect until May of 2018.

The announcement is also not a significant change for Buick itself, as the company has already integrated backup cameras as a standard feature on all of its current models except for the LaCrosse.

Separate reports suggest more than three out of four new vehicles sold in the US are equipped with backup cameras, though an average of 210 annual fatalities — mostly children and the elderly — are still blamed on backover crashes.

Ahead of the backup camera requirement, automakers are shifting their focus to marketing other forms of safety gadgetry. Buick is among the brands that offers optional forward collision warnings, blind-spot alerts, lane departure warning and rear cross-traffic detection, among other features.

Automotive industry suppliers have reportedly voted General Motors as the worst automaker to deal with.

In a Tier 1 supplier survey conducted by research firm Planning Perspectives Inc, respondents were asked to rate their interactions with the biggest automakers in the US. Subjects include communications, trustworthiness, flexibility and handling of intellectual property, among other criteria.

More than half of the suppliers generally outlined their relationship with General Motors as “poor to very poor,” with a notable unwillingness to adjust prices due to unexpected jumps in material costs.

“As a result, GM is now the least preferred customer of suppliers,” PPI said, as quoted by Reuters.

The ranking is particularly significant amid the company’s ongoing recall crisis, which centers around an ignition switch produced by supplier Delphi. Reports suggest overly aggressive cost-cutting strategies played a role, putting pressure on suppliers to shave costs in every way possible. The practices have been blamed on quality deficiencies and production approval for component designs that were known to have fallen short of GM’s original specifications.

GM has vowed to place a top priority on safety, splitting off an “integrity” unit as a separate entity from the core engineering operations. It is unclear if the company is working to improve supplier relations as part of its quest to produce safer vehicles.

General Motors has announced pricing information for its OnStar in-vehicle Wi-Fi service powered by AT&T’s 4G LTE network.

Customers will be able to sign up for several different monthly plans, ranging from 200MB for $10 per month to 5GB for $50. OnStar subscribers receive a $5 monthly discount on the 200MB and 1GB tiers.

Unsurprisingly, the pricing structure matches AT&T’s own rates for mobile broadband service for individual devices such as tablets and notebooks. Service directly from AT&T for a mobile hotspot is limited to a 5GB plan, however, rather than the lower tiers offered via GM.

For existing AT&T customers, a supported vehicle can be added to a Mobile Share Plan as an extra device for $10 per month to share the data pool.

The upgraded connectivity suite will be available later this year for the 2015 model year, initially launching for the Chevrolet Corvette, Impala, Malibu and Volt, ahead of a wider rollout. The automaker is offering a free trial period of three months or 3GB to promote the new service.

After detailing pricing for its regular 2015 Golf range, Volkswagen has announced pricing for its 2015 Golf GTI hot hatch.

Set to arrive on dealer lots within the next few weeks, the seventh-generation Golf GTI will carry a base price of $24,395, not including an $820 destination charge. On a content-adjusted basis, VW says that makes the 2015 GTI $700 cheaper than the outgoing model.

For that cost of entry, GTI buyers will get a two-door body style and a manual transmission. The GTI’s powerplant remains a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder, but for 2015 VW has increased power to 210 horsepower (+10) and 258 lb-ft of torque (+51).

VW has also improved the GTI’s content list, with standard equipment now including a 5.8-inch infotainment touchscreen, leather-wrapped steering wheel, VW Car-Net connected services and a Driving Mode Selection feature.

For those interested in a bit more space, the entry-level Golf GTI S can also be ordered as a four-door for $24,995. The GTI comes with a six-speed manual transmission as standard, but a DSG automatic can be added to any GTI variant for $1,100.

A Performance Package is also available for the GTI S for $1,495. That package adds larger brakes, a limited-slip differential and a 10 horsepower boost.

Stepping up to the Golf GTI SE will require $27,395 for the two-door and $27,995 for the four-door. In addition to the GTI S’ standard equipment, the SE adds a power sunroof, push-button start, rear-view camera, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights, leather seats and a Fender Premium Audio System.

Buyers can equip the GTI SE with the Performance Package, but they will also have the added option of VW’s DCC adaptive damping system for an additional $800.

The GTI Autobahn will top the GTI range and carry an MSRP of $29,595. The Autobahn will be offered exclusively as a four-door model.

Building on the GTI SE’s equipment, the Autobahn adds navigation, power driver’s seat and automatic climate control. The Performance Package can be specified with or without the DCC system.

The GTI will stand as the hottest Golf model until the R arrives early next year. Although VW has yet to announce pricing for the Golf R, the German automaker promises that the 290 horsepower hot hatch will be capable of accelerating from 0-60 in just 4.9 seconds.

BMW is reportedly crafting a new range-topping trim packages for its 7-Series sedan lineup.

Customers who aren’t satisfied with the current luxury appointments will be treated to “Exclusive Edition” variants, bringing a few slight aesthetic differentiations to the exterior and a focus on more plushness on the interior.

Exclusive models are expected to be outfitted with Napa leather seats, a leather-wrapped instrument panel, optional Merino all-leather trim and Alcantara roof lining, according to Autoweek.

The exterior is said to be left mostly unchanged from the existing 7-Series lineup, aside from metallic paint and unique V-spoke 19-inch wheels.

The German automaker has not yet fully detailed the Exclusive Edition offerings, though the trim level is expected to be available only for the range-topping 760Li and other high-end models.

General Motors has reportedly reassigned a top safety executive as part of a broader shakeup in the wake of the ignition-switch recall.

The executive, Carmen Benavides, had served as director of safety investigations and safety regulations, serving as the liaison between the company and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Benavides’ name appears in documents related to the ignition-switch recall, including a 2013 letter sent from NHTSA investigations director Frank Borris that accused the company of being “slow to communicate” and “slow to act” in contrast to other major automakers.

Despite the reassignment, the executive will remain among the top ranks at GM to serve as the director of safety improvement initiatives, according to The Detroit News.

The current director of field product investigations, Brian Latouf, will serve as Benavides’ replacement.

Under new leadership of CEO Mary Barra, the company appears to have ousted several executives and fired engineers that were involved in the switch redesign and early investigations. The engineering department has been split into two divisions, including a new “product integrity” unit.

Cadillac has announced a limited-edition 2015 CTS-V Coupe to celebrate the end of the current model ahead of the next-generation V-Series debut next year.

The production run will include only 500 units that will arrive on the market for the second half of 2014.

The 2015 special edition is distinguished by its ebony-black interior with red contrast stitching, Recaro sport seats, metal pedals, black sapele wood trim, microfiber suede-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, satin graphite wheels and red brake calipers.

Under the hood, the coupe is powered by the same supercharged V8 engine that has been the hallmark of the 2010 through 2014 models, providing 556 horsepower delivered via six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. It also benefits from existing performance features, including magnetic dampers and Brembo brakes.

“The special edition is a stepping stone to the next-generation V-Series, which will move to the next level with more dynamic design and technical sophistication,” said Cadillac global marketing chief Uwe Ellinghaus.

The 2015 CTS-V Coupe will carry a $72,195 price tag, including destination fees and gas-guzzler tax. Exterior color options include Crystal White, Black Diamond and Phantom Gray.

BMW has officially detailed the M235i xDrive, an al-wheel-drive variant of the sportier 2-Series model.

Extending power to the front wheels brings a weight sacrifice, adding 121 pounds to the real-wheel-drive M235i for a curb weight of approximately 3,527 pounds. Splitting the torque four ways helps improve sprint times despite the extra heft, however, shaving the zero-to-62 mph time to 4.6 seconds.

The xDrive edition is powered by the same 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine as the standard M235i, producing 322 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. A manual transmission is not offered, instead relying solely on an eight-speed Steptronic gearbox. As expected, fuel efficiency takes a hit with a 30.2 mpg combined rating in European cycles.

Separate reports suggest BMW is also developing an actual M2 coupe that may not arrive until 2015 or later. It is expected to deliver between 365 and 375 ponies, while taking advantage of lightweight carbon fiber and even sportier suspension tuning for improved handling.

In the meantime, the M235i xDrive will fill a different handling niche when it arrives this summer. The company has not yet revealed pricing details or regional availability.