From Our Automobiles Section

Critics’ Picks: Recovery Is Paying Off

Mazda North America

From its fine road manners to its responsive yet efficient powertrains, everything about the 2014 Mazda 3 just feels right.

Two writers for the Automobiles section each pick their 12 favorite vehicles for 2013. The Mazda 3 tops both of their lists.

Auto Shows

The Opel Monza made its debut at the Frankfurt show. This flight of design fancy featured gullwing doors.

A Year of Teasing at Shapes to Come (and Sometimes Just Teasing)

By JERRY GARRETT

The international auto shows of 2013 showcased many futuristic design studies and fanciful concept cars. Here are the highlights.

Slide Show: Dream Boats

Testing

The hybrid-powertrain hovercraft made by Mercier-Jones looks like something a supervillain would use.

Of Hovercraft, Heroes and Hens

By EZRA DYER

Automotive odds and ends, mostly odd, from 2013 included a hovercraft with the appropriate futurist appeal and a chicken that confused a Rolls-Royce for a henhouse.

Greentech

The Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid plug-in.

Plug In, Turn On, Pass Gas Station

By JIM MOTAVALLI

Cars with plugs are finding more buyers, with sales doubling since 2012, but they were still a tiny fraction of the 15 million vehicles sold in 2013.

Latest News

Video: The Next-Generation Kia Soul Keeps Its Soul

By TOM VOELK

Although it is improved in almost every way, the new Soul retains the mojo that made it a strong seller to begin with.

Larry W. Smith/European Pressphoto Agency

John Krafcik, the chief executive of Hyundai’s American unit, was one of the longest-lasting executives with a Korean car company and led it to greater market share.

Chief Will Step Down After Five Years at Hyundai’s U.S. Unit

By DANIELLE IVORY

John Krafcik, has completed his contract and will be succeeded by the vice president of sales, David Zuchowski.

G.M. Joint Venture in China to Recall 1.46. Million Cars

By REUTERS

The cars are being recalled because of a defect with the fuel pump brackets, in one of the largest safety recalls in the world’s biggest auto market.

Maserati Recalls Cars; Mercedes-Benz Investigation Is Upgraded

By CHRISTOPHER JENSEN

Maserati will recall 63 vehicles for electrical problems, and an N.H.T.S.A. investigation of more than 250,000 Mercedes-Benz cars has been upgraded.

Workers assemble a Volvo at the automaker's plant in Chengdu, China.

Wheelies: The Fresh Air Volvos Edition

By BENJAMIN PRESTON

Volvo’s pollen filtration technology may appeal to pollution-conscious Chinese customers; a faux pas by Japan’s prime minister may affect auto sales.

Ford unveiled its Atlas concept truck at the Detroit auto show last year and is expected to introduce its all-new 2015 F-150 at the Detroit auto show in January..

Wheelies: The Lightweight Heavy Duty Edition

By BENJAMIN PRESTON

Ford asks Alcoa to provide military-grade aluminum for its F-150 display at the Detroit auto show next month; Fiat restarts negotiations to buy remaining Chrysler shares.

People browse classic Studebakers parked on the sixth floor of one of Studebaker's former factory buildings in South Bend, Ind., on Friday.

A Studebaker Event in South Bend Focuses on Revival

By BENJAMIN PRESTON

Although many thought the Indiana city was ruined when Studebaker closed its factory there in 1963, businesses say they have much to look forward to now.

J. Emilio Flores for The New York Times

A police crackdown on jaywalking in Los Angeles carries with it a $197 fine for offenders.

In a Car-Culture Clash, It’s the Los Angeles Police vs. Pedestrians

By ADAM NAGOURNEY

A crackdown on jaywalkers has raised questions about whether the police are siding with the automobile at a time when the city’s pedestrian culture is taking off.

Joey Cali drives his tow truck through East New York hoping to get to crashes before the police do.

Character Study

A Tow-Truck Driver Who Races to the Wreckage

By COREY KILGANNON

Joey Cali, a tow-truck operator, drives through East New York, Brooklyn, looking for collisions with hopes of persuading the drivers to let him tow the wreckage to the shop he works for.

More Character Study Columns »

The 2014 Audi Q5 S.U.V. A member of the Audi management board, said 70 percent of the company's new investment would go to new vehicles, including an expansion of the product line to 60 models by the end of the decade.

In Sign of Strength, Audi Steps Up Investments

By JACK EWING

Audi, which like its German rivals has suffered less from the economic malaise in Europe than other carmakers, said it would spend more than $30 billion through 2018.

Advertising

Ads by the insurer SafeAuto feature the unremarkable cars owners value enough to name.

Playing on America’s Love for Its 2-Ton Darlings

By ANDREW ADAM NEWMAN

Ads by the insurers SafeAuto and Nationwide feature the cars, however unremarkable, that their owners treat like members of the family — complete with names.

Johannesburg Journal

Protesters rallied this month against a toll system built by the South African government.

South Africans Band Together, Finding a New Enemy in Highway Tolls

By JOHN ELIGON

A new road toll system has prompted a battle of words between protesters and the South African government.

Robert Schmidt, left, SGB’s chief scientist; Eric Mathur, chief technologist; and Kirk Haney, chief executive, with a jatropha bush.

Start-Up Uses Plant Seeds for a Biofuel

By TODD WOODY

Advances in molecular genetics and DNA sequencing technology have allowed a San Diego start-up to domesticate jatropha, a plant with seeds that produce high-quality oil that can be refined into low-carbon biofuel.