Blog Posts by Aki Sugawara

Given that the current-generation Golf is a thinly veiled, cost-conscious facelift of the fifth generation, the people's hatch has been on cruise control for a number of years. Thankfully, it receives a chiseled upgrade for the 2015 model year: longer, lower and lighter, the all-new Golf and GTI unveiled at the 2013 New York Auto Show strike a sleeker profile, thanks in part to Volkswagen’s new MQB architecture.

If there's a valuable design lesson to be learned from the Nissan Juke and Pontiac Aztek, it's that dual headlights rarely work. And Jeep adopted that look not just on any name plate, but on an all-new Cherokee — a classic brand with a loyal following for its utilitarian, no-nonsense style despite its absence from production since 2001.

Not surprisingly, reactions to its dramatic resurrection, which has been called "contemporary" by Chrysler/Jeep design chief Ralph Gilles, have been brutal, especially in social media.

The BMW X6 and its sloped hatch is—well, ugly. And opinions further polarize when talking about Mansory’s outlandishly customized X6 M, which has air inlets up front big enough to inhale a deer. But it’s captivating in black from this rear, low-angle shot, courtesy of Stefan Sobot. If you have an eye-catching photo of your own to share, add to the Motoramic group on Flickr, or send us a message via Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

Times have been tough for Mitsubishi Motors. In spite of a growing industry, the company's sales fell 27 percent last year to 57,790 units. That's only a couple thousand more than how many F-150s Ford moves — in a single month. And since the once-respected Galant and Eclipse badges have faded into obscurity, the only bright spots for the three-diamond brand is the pocket-rocket Lancer Evolution and the crossover styled after it, the Outlander Sport. But can the company succeed beyond the Evo? Mitsubishi hopes so with the 2014 Outlander.

Usually when an automaker presents multiple models at an auto show, the higher profile car takes center stage, and attendees who come early sit up front for the best seats in the house. But Acura curiously pulled a switcharoo, causing confusion as the company's showstopping Acura NSX concept was unveiled off to the very rear (to the delight of the latecomers) as almost as a side note. In front of them lay the still-shrouded MDX concept, but at that point the SUV seemed irrelevant—even though Acura marketing chief Mike Accavitti futilely insisted it was "the star of the show." I quickly ditched my spot near the main stage and went to the NSX, never looking back.

_OZB7105Hybrids have long been a cornerstone of Toyota Motor Corp., and when Lexus unveiled the 2014 Lexus IS 300h hybrid alongside the IS Sport, the company revealed that the former will only see a Europe and Japan release; the regular gasoline version goes on sale this June.

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—Full gallery of the Lexus IS concept car