Isuzu Como 2001 Condenser [1760600] on 2040-parts.com

Changes coming to LA Auto Show

The toughest opponent for the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show has never been the weather, which is always perfect, nor the location, in car-crazed Southern California. It's been the calendar. After decades of being run on the exact same dates as the larger and more globally recognized Detroit auto show, LA finally stepped out of the shadow of the Motor City several years ago and grabbed its own spotlight -- in November.

Vintage cars cross the auction block at Meadow Brook

An impressive array of gleaming classics crossed the block on Saturday at RM Auctions' Vintage Cars of Meadow Brook sale in a white linen event that showcased the grandeur and glamor of automaking in the Motor City in the early part of the Twentieth Century. The 16 annual auction, held on the eve of the Concours of America at Meadow Brook, is located about a half an hour north of Detroit on the grounds of a mansion where the widow of auto pioneer John Dodge one lived. Unlike the other RM auction, held in an convention hall on the other side of town in the spring, the Meadow Brook event carries an austere demeanor, and the automobiles roll with a similar vibe.

Honda speeds up major changes to the Civic

Honda will bring out a significant mid-cycle change to its embattled Civic compact this fall, just 18 months after it launched, a high-ranking executive told dealers here. The move is a rush to improve the Civic in time for the 2013 model year. The Civic's cheapened interior and other reductions in content got a critical reviews from The Wall Street Journal, and Consumer Reports removed the model from its recommended list.