Chevrolet has introduced the 2017 Cruze Hatch ahead of its scheduled debut at next week’s Detroit Motor Show.

While the Cruze Hatch was developed primarily for global markets, the Bowtie explains it decided to sell it on our shores because the small hatchback segment grew by nine percent last year. The Hatch is all but identical to the 2016 Cruze sedan that was introduced in Detroit last summer when it’s viewed from the front, but its rear fascia gains horizontal tail lamps and a roof-mounted spoiler that gives it a sportier silhouette.

The Hatch ships with the latest generation of Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system which is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It offers 18.5 cubic feet of trunk space with five occupants on board, and 42 cubes with the rear seats folded flat.

Like the sedan, the Cruze Hatch is powered by a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that uses direct fuel-injection to deliver 153 horsepower and 177 lb-ft. of torque. Front-wheel drive is the only configuration offered, but Chevrolet hasn’t revealed what gearbox the hatchback will ship with. A standard start/stop system promises to keep fuel economy in check.

The 2017 Chevrolet Cruze Hatch is scheduled to go on sale in the fall of 2016. Buyers will be asked to choose from just two trim levels called LT and Premier, respectively, and a RS package (pictured) that includes fog lights and a full body kit will also be offered. Pricing information will be published in the weeks leading up to its on-sale date.

BMW has introduced a concept named i8 Mirrorless at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that’s taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The concept’s name couldn’t be clearer: it’s an i8 without mirrors. BMW has sent the mirrors back to the parts bin and replaced them with a pair of tiny cameras mounted in aerodynamic, wing-shaped holders on the doors and an additional camera located right above the rear window. Each camera features dirt-repellent coating and a Gorilla Glass Type 2 lens.

The footage captured by the three devices is digitally stitched and transferred to a high-resolution, 11.8-inch wide screen that replaces the traditional rear-view mirror. The system gives the driver a panoramic view of what’s behind the i8, and it provides visual warnings if it detects that another car, a motorcycle, or a cyclist is traveling in one of the blind spots. Passengers benefit from the mirror-less setup, too, because they have a clearer view of the outside world and they’re not bothered by glare.

BMW’s mirror-less technology sounds promising, but it won’t arrive in showrooms in the near future because state and federal regulations require that all cars have at least two mirrors. Automakers — notably Tesla — have been petitioning the NHTSA to allow cameras. Officials are taking the request seriously, but they haven’t revealed when a final decision will be made.

Careful observers will note that the Volkswagen XL1 boasts similar technology, though the cameras transfer images to individual screens integrated into the door panels.

General Motors has unveiled the production 2017 Chevrolet Bolt at the Consumer Electronics Show.

The official debut provides a closer look at both the exterior and interior, after spy photographers recently spoiled the surprise. The production model stays fairly close to the concept, though its smooth EV facade has been outfitted with a faux grille and thicker LED headlight housings.

Out back, the Bolt’s taillights have been reshaped with a bit of inspiration from the Volt hybrid. The red LEDs are integrated into the full-width hatch, with supplementary LEDs located on the lower bumper.

The company aimed to give the compact “the look of a small crossover,” with a 102.4-inch wheelbase that is two inches longer than the Chevy Trax and Buick Encore. A flat battery pack is mounted beneath the interior floor, enabling seating for five passengers and 16.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat — more than the Honda Fit and BMW i3, as GM proudly notes.

“[The flat battery pack] really opened up the interior and created a fantastic view from every seating position,” said design managing director Stuart Norris. “All of this additional space gave us a lot of opportunities to play with creative design and storage solutions.”

On the inside, a ‘floating’ instrument panel brings a horizontal focus centered around a 10.2-inch touchscreen. A rear-facing camera provides a wide-angle view, presented on a digital display built into the rear-view mirror, while other cameras provide ‘surround vision’ when parking or driving at low speeds.

The company has reaffirmed its promise to deliver at least 200 miles of electric range, though a specific figure has not yet been announced. Production is scheduled to begin before the end of 2016, potentially giving the company a head start against the Tesla Model 3.

Several automakers are expected to introduce long-range EVs in the next two years as battery prices continue to decline. Tesla’s Model S has established a luxury pedigree that could help drive sales of the company’s first mass-market EV, presented as an electric BMW 3-Series rival rather than a battery-powered econobox. GM is the first to show a contender in final production form, however, with a seemingly solid launch window and price tag around $37,000.

Ford has detailed plans to triple its fleet of fully autonomous Fusion Hybrid sedans, claimed to represent the largest fleet of self-driving cars in the automotive industry.

The company does not have thousands or even hundreds of prototypes on the road, but merely 10 in its current test fleet. The expansion will add 20 more sedans, allowing engineers to hasten development of software and hardware technologies for production vehicles.

The cars will be outfitted with Velodyne’s latest Puck LiDAR sensors, enabling the system to ‘see’ out to 200 meters in all directions. LiDAR systems can be seen on nearly every autonomous prototype, but the technology has been prohibitively expensive for production. Velodyne has set a mass-production ‘target’ of $500 for the Ultra Puck, compared to approximately $30,000 for the LiDAR sensors used on the current Fusion testbeds.

Ford suggests the new Puck’s small size will enable the units to be placed on sideview mirrors, allowing the number of LiDAR sensor units to be reduced from four to just two.

The company’s first-generation autonomous vehicle platform was built upon a F-250 Super Duty chassis for participation in the DARPA challenges a decade ago. The Fusion was picked for the second-generation prototypes, introduced in 2013.

“We’ve come a long way since DARPA,” said Ford’s autonomous tech lead, Jim McBride. “A decade ago, no one in the field knew what the art of the possible was. Today, we’re all hustling to make the most ambitious dreams become a reality.”

Moving one step closer to its goal of having a fully-autonomous vehicle on sale by 2020, Volvo announced on Wednesday that its upcoming S90 sedan will be the first vehicle in America to come standard with semi-autonomous tech.

Every S90 sold in the U.S. will come standard with the latest version of Volvo’s Pilot Assist system. Already available in the XC90 crossover, the Pilot Assist system can handling braking, acceleration and steering at speeds up to 30mph when there are clear lane markings and a pilot vehicle to follow. However, the system in the S90 will differ in that it will work at speeds up to 80mph and doesn’t require a lead vehicle.

“Making semi-autonomous features standard in the S90 symbolizes Volvo’s commitment to autonomous driving and our Vision 2020,” said Lex Kerssemakers, President & CEO of Volvo Car USA, “The S90 will be the first vehicle to offer this semi-autonomous technology as standard.”

The Volvo S90 is scheduled to make its world debut at next week’s Detroit auto show. Following its introduction in the Motor City, the S90 will go on sale later in 2016.