Described as a supercar, the GTI Roadster takes the form of an extreme-looking convertible that shares only minor styling cues such as lights and a radiator grille with the GTI. The concept is considerably lower and wider than a regular-production GTI and it boasts a muscular look thanks to deep bumpers on both ends, wide 20-inch alloy wheels and a sizable wing out back.

Inside, the GTI Roadster features two bucket seats fitted with five-point harnesses, a digital instrument cluster and a race-inspired rectangular steering wheel that integrates key functions such as the headlight switch and the button used to start the engine. Abundant carbon fiber trim reminds passengers of the car’s lightweight construction.

Power comes from a 3.0-liter TSI VR6 engine that sends 502 horsepower and 491 lb-ft. of torque to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system. Performance figures are not available, but expect the GTI Roadster to reach 62 mph from a stop in less than four seconds.

The GTI Roadster Vision concept will be added to Gran Turismo 6 shortly after debuting at the Wörthersee show. It goes without saying that the GTI Roadster will remain a one-off show car, but the engine it is equipped with previews the next generation of Volkswagen’s VR6 engine.

The executive argues that interiors now serve as a design battleground as automakers seek new ways to make their models stand out from the competition.

“A few years ago, GM was well behind the competition,” Welburn admits in an interview with Automotive News. “Interiors were well equipped and functional. They had everything but charm.”

The executive reportedly referenced the bland gray interior of a sixth-generation Chevrolet Malibu as an example of how GM interiors sometimes failed to be a “warm, inviting environment.” Tellingly, interiors were allegedly excluded from the product review process in some cases.

A handful of newer GM vehicles have been praised for their interior refinement. The Chevrolet Spark, Sonic, Corvette Stingray, Camaro, Equinox, Volt and Cruze have all been included in the Ward’s 10 Best Interiors lists in the past five years, along with the GMC Sierra 1500 Denali and several Cadillac models.

“The leadership of the company really cares about interiors now, and it shows,” Welburn concluded.

The qualifier “to individual car buyers” suggests Toyota’s Camry may still take the crown for overall sales, which includes fleet purchases. The claims are based on Honda’s analysis of new-vehicle registration data from analyst firm IHS Automotive.

Aside from the Accord, Honda boasts that three of its other top-selling models — the Civic, CR-V and Odyssey — led their segments in retail registrations for the first quarter of the year. The Accord maintained a small margin of less than 1,000 units over its nearest competitor, however the Civic was the outright winner in the small-car segment by more than 10,000 units.

“We’re thrilled to be leading the pack in the first lap around the track in 2014,” said Jeff Conrad, senior VP of the Honda Division.

The Accord held the same position among cars in 2013. In contrast, Ford shipped more than twice as many F-150 pickups to take the prize for best-selling vehicle.

The company is not relying on design refinements alone to help the Sonata compete in the midsize segment, as the 2015 edition is also slightly cheaper than the outgoing model. The MSRP now sits at $21,960 for the SE trim level with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine.

“A strong value proposition has always been a cornerstone for Hyundai and the 2015 Sonata continues that tradition, with the base model priced $300 less than the model it replaces,” said Hyundai Motor America’s VP of sales, Bob Pradzinski.

The Sonata’s revamped styling reflects Hyundai’s “Fluidic Sculpture 2.0″ design language, with a Genesis-inspired hexagonal grille, new tail lamps, redesigned headlights and fresh wheel designs. The interior has also been updated with a larger center console and other tweaks.

The basic 2.4-liter engine and turbocharged 2.0-liter mill have been retuned for more torque and better responsiveness in the low- to mid-RPM range, however the peak output specs have not been upgraded. Both engines are paired with a six-speed automatic gearbox.

Hyundai expects the first 2015 Sonatas to begin arriving at US showrooms by the end of the month.

The A7 gains a modestly revised front fascia with sharper LED headlights, a more chiseled version of Audi’s trademarked Singleframe radiator grille and an updated bumper that incorporates twin air dams. The modifications carried out to the rear end are more discreet and largely limited to new tail lamps and elongated exhaust pipes.

The A7 can be ordered with Matrix Beam headlights at an extra cost. Developed in-house by Audi, the Matrix Beam lights use a host of sensors to automatically turn off the LEDs that project light onto oncoming vehicles, eliminating the need to alternate between high beams and low beams. The system also warns the driver if it detects an obstacle in the road ahead.

In Europe, the A7 is offered with two gasoline-burning engines and three turbodiesel units ranging from 218 to 333 horsepower. The most fuel-efficient member of the lineup is a 218-horsepower version of the 3.0-liter TDI V6 that returns 50 mpg in a mixed European cycle. The oil-burner sends power to the front wheels only via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

On the other end of the spectrum, the hot-rodded S7′s 4.0-liter TFSI V8 engine has been tuned to generate 450 horsepower, 30 more ponies than the 2014 model. Power is transferred to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system, allowing the S7 to reach 62 mph from a stop in about four seconds.

As expected, the next Passat gets a more dynamic-looking design that borrows styling cues such a narrow three-slat radiator grille, a rippled hood and angular headlights from recent Volkswagen concepts like the T-Roc and the NMC. The middle section of the car is expected to carry over roughly unchanged, but the rear end will get a cleaner design with sharp tail lamps and a rounded bumper.

Volkswagen has not published any images of the Passat’s interior but executives have previously confirmed the sedan will move up a notch on the market thanks to improved materials and more high-tech equipment. A digital instrument cluster should be standard on all models, and high-end trim levels will be offered with the latest generation of Volkswagen’s touch screen-based infotainment system.

Mechanically, the next Passat will be offered with a host of gasoline- and diesel-burning engines whose outputs will range from 118 to 276 horsepower. The headline-grabber will be a new 2.0-liter twin-turbocharged TDI mill that will send 236 horsepower and a potent 368 lb-ft. of torque to all four wheels via a seven-speed DSG gearbox. Volkswagen expects the oil-burner to return up to 47 mpg in a mixed European cycle.

The most fuel-efficient member of the next-gen Passat lineup will be a plug-in hybrid model powered by a 1.4-liter TSI four-cylinder engine linked to a 100-horsepower electric motor. Reports coming out of Germany indicate the plug-in hybrid Passat will boast a total of 201 horsepower and be able to drive on electricity alone for up to 31 miles.

The European-spec Passat will debut at next October’s Paris Motor Show and go on sale across the Old Continent shortly after. The U.S.-spec model’s replacement is still a couple of years away but the current variant is expected to get a thorough facelift in 2016.

“If you are considering buying a 500e, I hope you don’t buy it because every time I sell one it costs me $14,000. I’m honest enough to tell you that,” said Marchionne during a press conference held at the Brookings Institute in Washington DC.

Introduced at the 2012 edition of the Los Angeles Motor Show, the 500e was expensive to develop so it retails for $32,650 before government incentives are factored in, nearly twice the price of a stock 500. Fiat has not revealed how many examples of the 500e it has sold to date but the number is likely low because the pint-sized EV is only offered in California.

Although GM’s own attorneys are likely playing a key role in guiding the response to the ongoing legal crisis, internal counsel also faces blame for its contribution to a corporate ethos that has been derisively described as a “culture of cover up.”

Documents highlighted in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recent consent order suggest GM counsel may have been going too far in its quest to minimize legal liability. An presentation for employees, presumably crafted with the help of GM counsel, ordered staff to avoid using dozens of terms such as ‘dangerous,’ ‘serious’ and ‘safety related’ in internal reports and correspondence.

In its agreement with the NHTSA, which arrived alongside a $35 million fine, GM agreed to “expressly disavow” any of the statements in the internal presentation that were apparently aimed at “diluting the safety message” of observations included in reports.

GM counsel Michael Millikin has reportedly assigned a legal adviser to collaborate directly with the engineering departments to make sure information regarding potential safety defects is quickly distributed across all divisions responsible for the reaction, unnamed sources have told Bloomberg.

A handful of executives and engineers appear to have been ousted amid an ongoing investigation into the ignition-switch recall, however GM insiders have claimed that a culture of extreme penny-pinching had been enforced throughout the ranks for decades. The comments suggest the automaker may face a much bigger task than simply removing a few ‘bad apples.’

The latest report also sheds more light on the responsibilities of outside attorneys that were hired within weeks of the ignition-switch announcement. Former federal prosecutor Anton Valukas was tasked with leading a group of internal and third-party attorneys to complete an investigation into the matter.

Valukas is better known for his role examining the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy in 2009. His 2,200-page report explained how the investment firm’s internal policies contributed to its downfall during the financial crisis of the time.

Millikin — a 37-year veteran at GM — reportedly expects the high-level shakeup to continue as the attorneys complete the internal investigation and GM continues to reevaluate its leadership.

General Motors has introduced All Terrain packages for its 2015 GMC Sierra Heavy Duty pickups.

Carrying over features from the Sierra 1500 All Terrain package, the HD lineup now benefits from similar off-road refinements and aesthetic tweaks.

From the outside, the All Terrain package can be identified by a chrome surround on the grill, exterior graphics, aluminum underbody shields and unique 18-inch six-spoke aluminum wheels with a chrome finish. Buyers can also add 20-inch wheels for the 2500HD.

All of the upgraded trim levels are naturally outfitted with 4WD, managed via an electronically actuated transfer case. The Z71 off-road package also comes standard, bringing Rancho twin-tube shocks, hill descent control and a skid plate.

Under the hood, both the 2500HD and 3500HD are powered by either a 6.0-liter gasoline engine or a Duramax turbo-diesel.

The All Terrain package is available for double cab and crew cab models, with SLE or SLT trim levels. The company has not announced pricing details or launch dates for the upgraded models.

The Japanese automaker’s brand value jumped by 21 percent, reaching an estimated $30 billion, while BMW posted single-digit gains with a valuation of $26 billion, according to the annual ‘BrandZ‘ analysis compiled by research firm MillwardBrown.

“Unlike in some other categories where consumers gravitated to the value and premium options, abandoning the broad middle, the mid-market brands came back strongly in the car category,” the report notes.

Ford showed the biggest value gains for the year, marking a 56-percent leap to near $12 billion, while Audi and Mercedes-Benz brands gained 20 percent and 27 percent, respectively. General Motors’ Chevrolet brand also made a notable entry into the top-ten list for the first time, despite the recall crisis.

“Consumers expected cars loaded with technology, regardless of price point,” the analysts observed.

Safety was also highlighted as a driving force behind new vehicle purchases, encouraging drivers to upgrade after an average of three years as newer safety technology arrives on the market.

Despite the focus on technology, however, the report suggests price, limited range and scant recharging infrastructure still stand in the way of electric-vehicle adoption. The Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt achieved “soft sales,” while Tesla “generated excitement” without many unit sales because its brand became a “status symbol.”

MillwardBrown provides some “brand building” advice to major automakers: be safe, be transparent, and demonstrate leadership.