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2013 Mazda 3, 2014 Mazda CX-5 earn 'Top Safety Pick' rating

Mazda announced Wednesday that the 2013 Mazda 3 and the 2014 Mazda CX-5 have both earned “good” ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. To achieve the overall “good” rating, the vehicles had to perform well in each of the following crash-test categories: frontal moderate overlap, side, rear impact and roof strength. “The Mazda 3 and the CX-5 are two very important vehicles for Mazda and our customers,” said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO).

Autoweek in review: What you might have missed

At the start of the week, Kia announced that it will launch a rear-wheel-drive sedan code-named the KH in the first half of 2012. U.S.-based press officials wouldn't comment on whether the KH would come stateside, despite a 36 percent increase in U.S. Kia sales in 2011.

Porsche announces new Weissach design center and wind tunnel

Porsche is to invest around €150m into its Weissach development facility, including a new design center. The plans also include an electronics integration department and a state-of-the art, on-site wind tunnel, which is hoped will allow the company to realize an holistic approach to efficient design, with a strong focus on aerodynamics. When we spoke with head of Porsche design, Michael Mauer, at this year's Paris motor show, he also alluded to the fact that the Volkswagen Group's – and, more specifically, Walter de'Silva's – recent influence on the German manufacturer was shifting its attitudes: "The Volkswagen Group has a very good understanding of how much freedom a brand needs to keep its characteristics and with [Walter] as 'conductor', I feel a lot of support with design issues within the company," explained Mauer.