We’ve just completed a preliminary drive of the redesigned 2013 Chevrolet Malibu and on the whole, we came away impressed with this new family sedan. That’s a good thing, for the new Malibu will take on the upcoming redesigned Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, and Nissan Altima, battling for market share in one of the largest segments.

As more electric and plug-in hybrid cars charge to market, most (87 percent) consumers have a concern, with range limitations being chief among them. There are also significant safety concerns, many of which may have been fanned by the widely covered Chevrolet Volt fires experienced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) after conducting crash tests. The investigation may have been closed, but the public remains apprehensive.

Consumers are well aware of fuel economy and concerned about tailpipe pollution. But it’s much harder to get information on the whole lifecycle environmental impact of cars: how much energy it takes to produce a car, the pollution generated, and recyclability. Now Chevrolet is taking a step toward making this information more readily available.

Ford, Chevrolet, and Toyota have a commanding lead in car brand awareness, as determined from interviewing car owners for the 2012 Car Brand Perception Survey.

Consumer Reports’ 2012 Car Brand Perception Survey reveals how consumers rank car brands across seven purchase-influencing factors, such as safety, quality, and value. And the research also sheds light on what brands consumers are likely to purchase from for their next new car. Ford, Toyota, and Chevrolet lead purchase intent, though Honda has a higher brand loyalty rate than its domestic competitors.

General Motors recently announced that it is tweaking its OnStar system to try to help owners find cleaner energy to power their Chevrolet Volt gas-electric hybrid vehicles.

The people have spoken: Toyota, Ford, Honda, and Chevrolet excel over other brands in the minds of adult car owners, though the brand’s advantages are less this year than in the past. These are among the findings of the 2012 Car-Brand Perception Survey, conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has closed its safety investigation into fires that erupted from three Chevrolet Volt battery packs after severe crash tests by the agency.

A tiny car to slot beneath the Chevrolet Sonic, the upcoming Spark aims at city dwellers and young buyers on a budget.

Chevrolet loves milestones, and the storied brand has had many of them, including its 100th anniversary this year. Next up, two ways consumers can commemorate the Corvette reaching the six-decade mark. Starting next summer, Chevrolet will offer a 2013 Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition and a 60th Anniversary package. Both serve as a final send-off for the current-generation (C6) Corvette, as sports car enthusiasts anxiously await the next chapter for the “plastic” legend.

Among the central themes at this year’s Detroit auto show was the rise of the mainstream plug-in hybrid. My colleagues who attended the show point to another key theme: the resurgence of American automakers in their hometown, with Detroit brands making the biggest splash with mainstream models. Either way, call it an American sunrise.

OnStar held a CES press conference to make a number of announcements, and to give a preview of some additional features and services the telematics provider might offer in the future.

I really liked the looks of the Chevrolet Code 130R, a “concept” four-seat coupe that General Motors unveiled at the Detroit auto show. It’s somewhat upright stance reminded me of the BMW 135i - squat, firmly planted, purposeful. Like the Bavarian, the 130R is designed to accommodate a manual transmission and rear-wheel drive - things not often found in new small cars. Designed to appeal to a younger audience, the 130R keeps the fun alive with a turbocharged 150-hp, 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine but also aims to hit that mpg sweet spot of 40 mpg.

Detroit automakers seem resurgent in their hometown. That’s the take of Consumer Reports Senior Director of auto testing, David Champion. The most impressive models on display so far at this year’s Detroit auto show in the Motor City include the Big 3’s bread-and-butter sedans. The midsized Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fusion sedans, and the smaller Dodge Dart, the first offspring of the combined Chrysler and Fiat all look competitive in their segments. Another impressive domestic is the Cadillac ATS. The company’s first small car in decades could be a credible BMW and Mercedes fighter, says Champion.

Chevrolet announced this morning that they will conduct a “voluntary customer service campaign” to address fire concerns in the Volt extended-range electric car.