2014 Alfa Romeo MiTo costs from £14,350

The 2014 Alfa MiTo (pictured) costs from £14,350 Alfa Romeo announced the changes for the 2014 MY Alfa MiTo back in June. But they’re not extensive. Cosmetic changes amount to very little, with just a chrome grill and tweaked headlight surrounds at the front, new alloys, Anthracite Grey paint, some new trim options and revised dash and the option of Alfa’s Uconnect Infotainment marking the 2014 model out from the 2013 one.

GM expands advanced-vehicle-technology center in California

General Motors unveiled a new technical center dedicated to the development, maintenance and testing of alternative-energy vehicles last week in Torrance, Calif. The company has had local digs for years but recently leased the building next to its existing Advanced Technology Center for an alternative-energy research facility. It now employs a dozen scientists, technicians and engineers to advance the electrification of GM vehicles.

2012 Audi TT RS starting price set at $56,850

If you have your heart set on the top-shelf Audi TT RS, prepare to pony up $56,850 plus destination and what we’d assume are plenty of options to put one in the garage. Worth it? You decide: The highest-performance TT will get a 2.5-liter turbo five with 360 hp and 343 lb-ft of torque, with the twist available from just about off-idle to 5,400 rpm.