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Consumer Reports says infotainment systems 'growing first-year reliability plague'

The Consumer Reports Annual Auto Reliability Survey (right) is out, and the top two spots look much the same as last year's list with Lexus and Toyota in first and second place, respectively. However, there are some major shakeups for 2014, with Acura plunging eight spots from third in 2013 to 11th this year, and Mazda replaces it on the lowest step of the podium. Honda and Audi round out the top five. This year's list includes six Japanese brands in the top 10, two Europeans, one America and one Korean.
Acura isn't the only one taking a tumble, though. Infiniti is the biggest loser this year by dropping 14 spots to 20th place. Other big losses come from Mercedes-Benz with an 11-place fall to 24th, and GMC, which declines 10 positions to 19th.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it's not traditional mechanical bugs hauling down these automaker's reliability scores. Instead, pesky problems with infotainment systems are taking a series toll on the rankings. According to Consumer Reports, complaints about "in-car electronics" were the most grumbled about element in new cars. Problem areas included things like unresponsive touchscreens, issues pairing phones and multi-use controllers that refused to work right.

Subaru teases Impreza sedan concept for LA

When the doors open at the Los Angeles Auto Show later this month, Subaru will be on hand to preview its upcoming Impreza. But before it does, it's giving us an idea of what to expect. Although we can only see so much of it from the teaser image above, the Impreza Sedan Concept pictured here for the first time looks similar to the Impreza 5-Door Concept we saw in Tokyo mere days ago. It seems to bear the same headlights and the same sculpted flank as the hatchback show car. Only as you might have discerned by now, it has a trunk instead of a tailgate. And instead of that blueish-silver, this one's done up in metallic red. For more than that, we'll have to wait. And it's entirely possible that even when it does arrive, Subaru won't tell us much about the technical specifications. Many of these concepts don't actually have engines, after all, When the new Impreza does reach production, it will in all likelihood feature a boxer four engine and all-wheel drive. Subaru to Debut "Impreza Sedan Concept" at 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show Tokyo, November 10, 2015 – Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the manufacturer of Subaru automobiles, today announced that the "Impreza Sedan Concept" will make its world debut at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show (Press day: November 17 – 19 / Open to the public: November 20 – 29, 2015). The Impreza Sedan Concept will be unveiled at the press briefing scheduled for 2:35 PM PST on November 18 at Subaru booth following a speech by FHI President & CEO, Yasuyuki Yoshinaga. The special site opens today on the Subaru Global Site. http://www.subaru-global.com/2015la.html The site will feature information updates relating to the Los Angeles Auto Show including Subaru's press conference. Related Video:

Subaru WRX STI gets all gymkhana slidey in new European ad

A good partner makes sacrifices for a significant other. They aren't always fun, but sometimes chores have to be done. Subaru's European ad for its new WRX STI clearly understands that dynamic, as it shows what to what lengths a guy is willing to go in order to get his lady some bread in time for breakfast. Of course, running errands in a turbocharged, all-wheel-drive sports sedan down picturesque roads is hardly drudgery.
The wordless ad for the WRX STI says everything you could ever want to know about the winged blue Subaru. It expertly mixes some fantastic gravel rally footage with just a bit of inspiration from Ken Block's Gymkhana videos, as well. The automaker makes the right choice of actually letting the audience hear the growly exhaust and squealing tires over the music, too.
If this was your daily route to the bakery, you'd probably be prepared for a round of the World Rally Championship within a couple of months. Scroll down to watch the Subaru ad about a very polite WRX STI owner making sure breakfast is on the table.