The third-generation Sportage helped put Kia on the map for a new group of buyers - those looking for a sporty-looking compact crossover - as opposed to many of the brand's traditional shoppers who were just happy to get approved for a new car. The new fourth-gen model ups the ante in just about every way.

So while the current CX-9 is selling well, it was time for Mazda's largest crossover to undergo the same Kodo/Skyactiv treatment. The results were on display last Wednesday at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show when Mazda took the wraps off the 2016 CX-9.

The second-generation Forte was all-new for the 2014 model year, but after three years Kia decided that its compact needed a bit of freshening. What we expected was a bit of tidying-up for the front and rear fascias and maybe an upgrade to its infotainment offerings. It turns out that buyers of the 2017 model will get even more than that.

During the first press conference at the 2016 New York Auto Show this past Wednesday, Toyota not only unveiled the latest Prius plug-in, it gave the model a new name, to boot.

Earlier today, Subaru of America released a teaser image depicting a headlamp and a portion of the front fascia of the redesigned 2017 Impreza.

Clemson University may have missed out on college football's national championship earlier this year, but members of its Deep Orange team have emerged victorious as the latest concept vehicle to wear a Toyota badge is a result of collaboration between the Japanese manufacturer, Clemson University's International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) and California's ArtCenter College of Design.

This year, the list of 31 ten best nominees included all of last year's 10 winners, with the exception of Volkswagen. The company was also barred from this year's competition due to the fallout from its diesel emissions scandal. Like 2014 only two previous winners returned to the list from 2015, one from Fiat Chrysler and the other from Subaru.

The 2017 Green Car of the Year winner will be announced at AutoMobility LA the morning of November 17th, 2015 at 8:25 a.m. PST.

While you'll have to wait for our driving impressions until November 1st, when it's scheduled to be unveiled at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, you can take it from us that you'll be glad Hyundai has decided to sell it here in the States (it's been on sale in Korea since April where it's marketed as the Avante Sport). Those of you under the impression that the latest Sport is just another take on the 2014-2015 Sport trim can think again.

The 2017 Nissan Sentra SR Turbo made its world debut over the weekend at the Miami International Auto Show.