Mercedes-Benz continues to explore bringing its prestige cachet down to smaller, more affordable vehicles with the GLA small SUV concept.

Over the years, with Consumer Reports' extensive testing, we've found that diesel engines provide a significant fuel economy advantage, typically reducing consumption by 30 percent over a conventional engine in an equivalent model. We're encouraged, since at the New York International Auto Show last week, a few automakers promised more diesel variants.

Taking a page from the Ford Mustang playbook, Chevrolet has resurrected a classic moniker (and order code) with the Camaro Z/28. Sure, fuel economy may be the buzz of the New York International Auto Show, but it is heartening to see that the muscle car battles continue.

It's amazing what you can find out from an auto show. This year, in the course of covering the New York International Auto Show, we came across some exciting electronics news: Readers no longer need commit to a book format the whole time they're reading, even when behind the wheel.

With the media days at the New York International Auto Show behind us, the cars team has had time to reflect on the approximately 1,000 vehicles on display. Many new models made impressions, and some were utterly forgettable. To share our perspective, we've named standouts in 10 categories.

Consumer Reports will be at the center of the action at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) with our Buzz Hub. Think of it as an interactive genius bar set up to engage with show attendees and share the hottest cars and trends via social channels.

At the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), we saw dozens of new and improved cars. To help make sense of it all, Consumer Reports' automotive engineers Tom Mutchler and Gabe Shenhar discuss the highlights in the latest episode of our video podcast called "Talking Cars with Consumer Reports."

It's laughably easy to get jaded in this business. Attending auto shows and being surrounded by impossibly beautiful and desirable cars sometimes makes you numb. But walking the show floor in New York yesterday, I felt an epiphany of sorts. I'm a diehard dog lover, so it surprised me that my fixation turned out to be a cat.

Kia has a hit with the Soul, a compact hatchback that has exceeded sales expectations. So, when it came for a redesign, the company stuck with its winning formula, packaged with more upscale amenities.

There aren't many cars that make my heart flutter more than a Corvette. And over the last 20 years, I've been lucky to have driven many.

Chrysler has partnered with clothing maker Carhartt to produce the 200 S Special Edition. For $28,870, this well-dressed sedan includes a 283-hp V6 engine, black 18-inch aluminum wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, "premium" leather seats, and a Boston Acoustics sound system.

For passenger cars, maximum engine speeds don't get much higher than 9,000 rpm. Yet that was the number that keep ringing in my ears after the press conference where Porsche took the wraps off of the latest-and-greatest 911 to date: The 2013 911 GT3.

All Toyota had to do with their redesigned 2014 Highlander is to top the current Highlander, our 2013 Top Pick Midsized SUV. That car happens to be efficient, easy-driving, smooth-riding, quiet, and very reliable. Piece of cake, right?

We expect a lot from the redesigned-for-2014 Cadillac CTS. After all, it has some pretty big shoes to fill, but at a first glance, it appears to pack the goods.

A built-in vacuum is pure genius for a minivan. You'll find this innovation on the 2014 Honda Odyssey, the lightly freshened version our current Top Pick minivan.