Coming off a fresh win in J.D. Power's 2016 Initial Quality Study in the large car segment, the 2017 Hyundai Azera represents something of a tweener in the brand's sedan lineup. Large in both accommodations and luxury accoutrements, it slots above the midsize Sonata front-driver and below the more luxurious (and now a stand-alone brand) rear-wheel-driven Genesis models.

The big news for 2017 is the rollout of a refreshed Accord Hybrid with the same styling updates that appeared on regular 2016 Accords. Of somewhat lesser importance is a new non-hybrid trim level for 2017. That would be the Accord Sport Special Edition sedan - a $1,000 value package that comes with a number of upscale features including leather seats with red stitching, heated seats and a Special Edition badge.

Much like the 2016 Elantra Value Edition and the 2017 Accent Value Edition, the latest Elantra Value Edition trim, according to Hyundai, lands at a real sweet spot on the spectrum of amenities and price tag.

On Monday, Mazda released pricing information the 2017 MX-5 RF Launch Edition. On Tuesday, Mazda made it known that regular production models of the 2017 MX-5 RF would be available in two trim levels - Club and Grand Touring. It also released a price schedule for the two regular production models.

Scheduled to reach dealer showrooms sometime during the third quarter of this year, the 2017 Elantra Sport is powered by the same 1.6-liter Gamma DOHC direct-injection twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder engine as that found in the Veloster Turbo.

Earlier today, Kia Motors America released pricing information on the full-size Cadenza sedan, which is nearly all-new for the 2017 model year. At 57.9 inches tall, 73.6 inches wide and with a length of 195.7 inches and a wheelbase of 112.4 inches, the new model's measurements are within a half inch of its predecessor. It also comes with all-new sheetmetal and a redesigned interior.

Following a refresh for the 2016 model year, not much was expected in the way of changes for Hyundai's 2017 Elantra GT. But with sales in the compact segment softening, the Korean manufacturer has dropped the option package it offered for models equipped with a manual transmission. It also moved around some of the equipment it offers in the two option packages now offered on automatic-equipped models only.

Earlier this week, Lexus unveiled the brand's latest contender in the Japan-based Super GT grand touring car racing series, where it will compete against the likes of the Nissan GT-R and Honda NSX. The LC 500 will replace its current entry, which is based on the RC-F (although the RC-F will continue to be campaigned here in the U.S.).

Truth be told, Mazda's compact has aged very nicely since its introduction - thank you very much and, at least in our opinion, is still the best-looking vehicle in its class. But staying on top in this business requires chasing a continuously-moving target, hence Mazda, earlier today, announced a number of changes to both model configurations for the 2017 model year.

On Monday of this week, Volkswagen of America announced that a specially tuned Beetle had achieved exactly 205.122 mph over a flying mile at the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah during the annual Utah Salt Flats Racing Association's (USFRA) World of Speed event.