The Lincoln MKZ has been a practical and reliable choice for an entry-level luxury sedan. But the exterior styling, interior quality, and driving dynamics didn’t really deviate much from its Ford Fusion family sedan platform-mate. If buyers wanted a luxury car that felt special, the MKZ just didn’t really deliver. But Ford is trying (again) to breathe life into Lincoln. A big part of that is a new MKZ. (See the new Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ in our Detroit auto show coverage.)

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.

As I made my last tour of the Cobo Center show floor in Detroit, it struck me how few new models stood out to me this year. I love that most unveilings were practical, or at least skewed toward the practical, from traditional mainstream models edging upscale to prestige brands reaching down toward mainstream budgets. The cars that etch themselves into my memory are distinctive in appearance, function, and/or mission, leaving so many others anonymous in an army of clones.

Lincoln’s performance during today’s press conference (see “2012 Detroit auto show: Will a new MKZ be enough to revive Lincoln?”) clearly showed that company knows it has a problem and seems to be committed to righting the listing ship.

The last 20 years saw the rise of luxury brands, including Lexus, Acura, BMW, Infiniti, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. Even Cadillac, once near death, was revived by edgy styling, improved driving dynamics and a rocking Led Zeppelin ad campaign.

While the stores are promoting door-busting discounts for Black Friday, it can also make a great time for getting deals on a new car. We've found some attractive discounts on good models. And being the end of the month, dealers may be a bit more willing to negotiate to meet their quotas.

Ford’s high-tech touch-screen dashboard interface, MyFord Touch, has proven to be a lighting rod for criticism. To address this, Ford today announced interface and performance upgrades for the system. These changes launch with the redesigned 2013 Ford Escape and updated 2013 Flex and Taurus. They will also be available as a free upgrade for current owners of MyFord (and MyLincoln) Touch-equipped vehicles.

Consumer Reports recently unveiled the results of its latest reliability survey, showing that Asian brands continue to occupy the top-tier, claiming nine of the top 10 spots in our rankings. However, the findings among the domestic brands are noteworthy, and there’s plenty of good news within each segment.

The Consumer Reports Cars team simply won’t stop talking about cars. If we’re not discussing the finer points of new models in our test program, the conversation eventually settles on a what we would personally buy based on myriad criteria. This time, we’re focused on “collector” cars under $30,000. That covers a lot of ground, and we invite you to join in the conversation. Post your picks in the comments below.

In assembling our best new car deals on American cars and deals on American-made cars, we compiled and examined a lot of data. Much of the findings enriched our deals reports, while others inspired trivial pursuits. To fuel your discussions around the BBQ grill (or even an automotive grille) this weekend, we determined how many cars each brand actually builds in the United States.

When it comes to flag waving, driving an American-branded car makes a strong patriotic statement. For those looking to buy a car from Chrysler Group, Ford Motor Company, or General Motors this holiday weekend, we have compiled more than two dozen of the best deals.

Patriotic fervor spreads across the land as the nation counts down to Independence Day. And as families break out their red, white, and blues, many consumers may be inclined to shop for an American car this holiday, over a weekend known as much for fireworks as car sales. To help those looking to save money when shopping for a car made in the USA, we have compiled a list of the Best July 4th deals on American-made cars.

While many motorists will be hitting the road on vacation, this Memorial Day weekend, it’s also a great time to buy a new car. There are a number of discounts available, and dealers may be more willing to negotiate since it’s also the end of the month and they want to meet their quotas. In honor of this American holiday and unofficial start of summer, we are listing good deals on recommended vehicles from the U.S.-based automakers.

More than one million pickup trucks made by the Ford Motor Company have been added to a February safety recall of Ford F-150s for defective air bags, says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Ford is recalling close to 15,000 2011 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX, Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles due to a problem with the electrical system, which could cause an internal short. If this occurs the vehicle may...