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Detroit brands top Asian, European rivals in study of most appealing models

Owner delight with import vehicles is falling, and Detroit 3 brands are more appealing than European and Asian rivals for the first time in 13 years, according to a study measuring owner enthusiasm and satisfaction. The biggest improvement in owner appeal was made by high-performance models from Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co., J.D.

Ford overhauls plans for the U.S. C-Max to go with fewer seats, all hybrids

Ford has shifted gears on its plans for the C-Max wagon in the United States and will now sell only the five-seat version with hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, beginning in 2012. Ford has canceled plans to sell the seven-seat version of the C-Max with a conventional gasoline engine in the States. Ford will call the car the C-Max hybrid, and C-Max Energi will be the name of the plug-in version.

Audi A2 planned for 2013

The original Audi A2. Audi are planning a new A2 for 2013 based on the A1 Well you didn’t really think that the kings of the car-niche would ignore the number 2 for ever did you? Despite the less than universal praise the original Audi A2 attracted (and, by Audi’s standards, miserable sales volume) they were always going to slip an A2 in to the mix somewhere.