April is shaping up to be a busy month for Toyota, as it prepares to introduce a pair of vehicles at two auto shows, taking place on opposite sides of the planet.

According to Ford, Edge sales figures point to the fact that many buyers in the Dallas Metroplex choose a cloth interior over technology because cloth seating materials tend to be more comfortable in the heat. In fact, Ford sells nearly 5 percent more Edge models with non-leather seats in Dallas than the national average. So maybe Texans aren't that tough after all.

the 2017 Kia Sorento represents a great offering for the Korean brand. Those who haven't visited a Kia dealer lately will probably be surprised by the window sticker prices, but keep in mind they represent lot of luxury for the buck. Buyers looking for a secure handling, handsomely-styled, luxuriously-appointed midsize crossover would do well to put the 2017 Kia Sorento at or near the top of their lists.

Three years ago the Outlander Sport landed somewhere in the middle of its class. But treading water in the compact crossover segment is no longer an option if a vehicle is to remain relevant. After driving the 2017 model, we can see Mitsubishi's offering is overdue for a major makeover.

For 2017, Hyundai has given its best-selling sedan, the Elantra, a complete makeover. But the Korean manufacturer saved the best for last with the introduction of a model where the Sport name is more than skin deep.

But the bottom line is that Corolla buyers are only looking for dependable transportation. The newest version is all that and, if nothing else, is also a pleasant car to drive around town and even on long stretches of freeway. Current owners will appreciate the improvements made to the latest generation, while its smooth, quiet ride - combined with Toyota's quality and reliability - will probably attract even more buyers to the Corolla nameplate.

In a first for the Canadian International Auto Show, an all-new car model made its world premiere there during the show's annual media day. The 2018 Hyundai Accent, the best-selling model in its segment in Canada, has been redesigned to bring its styling more in line with the brand's other sedans. It's also 0.6 inches longer and 1.14 inches wider than the outgoing model.

Hyundai took the wraps off an all-new Elantra GT during media days today at the Chicago Auto Show. Lower, wider and with more aggressive-looking styling, the third-generation is also lighter (the body-in-white weighs 61 pounds less) and stiffer (22 percent more rigid) than the outgoing model.

The latest news to come out of Auburn Hills is that Chrysler division Fiat has gotten together with the company's Mopar parts division to launch what it calls the "FIAT SEMA Design Challenge" and is subtitled "a social media contest allowing fans to create a custom Fiat 500 vehicle wrap."

This year, nominees for the awards fall into the five categories from last year - 2017 World Car, 2017 World Performance Car, 2017 World Green Car, 2017 World Luxury Car, and 2017 World Car Design of the Year. There's also a sixth category that has been added this year - 2017 World Urban Car.