Yes, you read that correctly. The iconic 911 sports car could get electrified, the brand's head of sales, Detlev von Platen, told Reuters last week at the Geneva Motor Show. Along with an all-electric version of the Macan SUV and the upcoming production version of the Mission E electric concept, Porsche is apparently pursuing a number of avenues for electrification.

But von Platen does not envision electrified models taking the place of the traditional four and six-cylinder powered sports cars just yet. He thinks they could be sold alongside the traditional models as the e-Hybrid versions of the Cayenne and Panamera do.

Whatever routes Porsche takes, expect to see the results sometime around 2020. But those who want to have their sports car emit as few emissions as possible should stay tuned to what Porsche has in the works, as the company is under pressure to produce more electric cars and help parent VW prove it has changed its ways regarding emissions.

Volvo's US head Lex Kerssemakers told Automotive News last week at the Geneva Motor Show the automaker would bring an electric vehicle with a range of at least 250 miles and a starting price of between $35,000 and $40,000 to market. That would put Volvo right in the path of the Bolt, before federal and state incentives. The upcoming Tesla Model 3 is also expected to be priced from $35,000 before incentives, with a range of 215 miles.

What's less certain is what the new model will be called and whether it will be based on the upcoming XC60 crossover or a smaller to-be-announced model. It's likely that Volvo's EV will take the form of an SUV rather than a car, since it's what most buyers want these days.

Volvo's approach also appears to be more in line with making a long-distance EV rather than a vehicle that simply complies with emissions regulations. While electric range is improving, models such as the Nissan Leaf and Volkswagen e-Golf are still around the 100-125 mile range, which is enough for most daily commutes, but not enough to serve as a primary vehicle for many households. A 250-mile EV, especially one with fast charging, could convince buyers to look at electric cars differently – as Chevrolet has done with the Bolt.

Expect to see Volvo's first all-electric model in 2019.

The US Department of Transportation on Friday said a record 53.2 million vehicles were recalled in the country last year, besting a 2015 record by more than two million, and the third straight year recalls topped more than 50 million vehicles, according to Reuters and Automotive News. Yet the abnormally high numbers of recalled vehicles in recent years comes from more investigations by federal officials.

Most of the 2016 recalls centered around the Takata airbag scandal, which has implicated more than 40 million vehicles and resulted in more than a dozen deaths worldwide, many in vehicles more than a decade old. The continuing investigation by a number of agencies into Takata means recalls connected to that airbag problem are likely to continue into 2017 and 2018.

Since modern vehicles have so many parts built by so many different companies, some analysts expect this to be the new normal for recalls until automakers can put more pressure on their suppliers to raise testing and quality standards. Some recalls are relatively minor and do not results in crashes, injuries or deaths. But scandals involving ignition switches, emissions systems, and airbags have shed new light on vehicle safety.

BMW is recalling almost 122,000 2011-2013 X5s and 2011-2014 X6s in the US because of faulty universal joints that could break over time and stop power going to all four wheels, according to The Car Connection. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has been investigating the problem in other BMW models since last year and the recall has since been expanded by BMW to include more X5s and X6s.

If the joint is faulty, it could break and stop the four-wheel-drive system from being able to send power to the front wheels. While power to the rear wheels would continue, it could have bad long-term affects on other mechanical parts that could eventually leave the car inoperable, according to the federal government. Drivers should be aware of any noise or vibration coming from the front of the vehicle, which would indicate the joint has possibly broken.

The vehicles affected are specifically the 2011-2013 X5 xDrive35i, xDrive35d, xDrive50i and X5M models; 2011-2014 X6 xDrive 35i, xDrive50i, X6M and X6 ActiveHybrid.

Owners should receive recall notices in the mail by April 24, according to BMW. In the meantime, they can call the automaker's customer service line at 1-800-525-7417, or the NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236, regarding safety campaign #17V138000.

If you think the notion of calling a car the 86 860 Special Edition is unusual, you're probably not alone. However, there appears to be a reason for this. According to Auto Guide, Toyota will only produce 860 copies of each of only two available colors.

The first is called Halo, which is already available on the current car and is essentially an off-white. The second color option is new and will be exclusive to the Special Edition called Supernova. It's a deep orange, which, coupled with optional dual stripe graphics, offers a decidedly more aggressive look.

Under the hood, the SE will be exactly the same as the monospec car with a 205 hp engine with the six-speed manual gearbox, or a 200 hp mill when paired with the optional six-speed automatic. Like the base car, the automatic features steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters and rev matching.

Most of the key differences will be in the details. Order guides reveal the exterior of the new SE will get standard fog lights, a rear spoiler and distinctive 17-inch aluminum "Super Black High Luster" wheels.

Auto Guide reports shoppers will be treated to leather seats with orange contrast stitching, dual-climate control and push-button start. Leather has thus far not been an option on the entry-level 86, and has instead been a selling point for upgrading to the Subaru BRZ Limited.

Pricing is set to start at $30,040 with destination for the manual transmission and $30,760 with the automatic. This equates to a $2,900 premium over the base car which starts at $27,140 with the manual and $27,860 with the automatic.

For reference, a baseline Subaru BRZ Premium starts at $26,315 and extends as high as $30,515 for the limited-production Series.Yellow variant. Key competitors such as the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro start at $26,085 and $26,900, respectively.

The 860 Special Edition is expected to begin arriving at dealers within the next month.

Yes, even the iconic off-roader could go the gas-electric route when the next-generation Wrangler goes on sale next year, according to Auto Express and their interview with Jeep boss Mike Manley this week at the Geneva Motor Show.

Manley said Jeep parent Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is discussing different options for a hybrid Wrangler, whether that means a smaller electric motor that can't power the vehicle without the assistance of the engine – i.e. a mild hybrid – or a more sophisticated system. One thing that's likely been ruled out is a full-electric model, because of the Wrangler's off-road chops and the prospect of being stranded on a hill without a charging station.

If the hybrid happened, it'd be part of a powertrain revolution for the venerable Wrangler. A turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine, a small turbodiesel option, and an eight-speed automatic transmission are all expected when Jeep introduces the redesigned Wrangler. Beyond these additions, the next Wrangler will get more aerodynamic, all in the name of meeting more stringent fuel economy regulations.

Expect to see the new Wrangler this fall, along with more information about a potential hybrid version in the next few months.

Introduced in 2013, the Q50 shown this week at the Geneva Motor Show finally got some styling changes, although they're mostly limited a revised grille and new bumpers and lights, as Motor Authority reported. They're easy to miss if you don't study the car too much.

Alterations are similarly modest inside, where a new material covers the instrument panel surround and the options list is expanded to include more wood accents. But the basic design remains, so those familiar with the current sedan shouldn't be alienated by this updated version.

Engines, updated last year with the addition of a 2.0-liter turbo four and two 3.0-liter turbo V6s, are also unchanged.

The big change comes from the addition of Infiniti's new ProPilot driver assistance system. It bundles systems such as adaptive cruise control, a lane-departure prevention and a blind-spot monitor that will do more than just warn of oncoming traffic. The company claims it's a self-driving technology, likely similar to systems currently offered by the likes of Mercedes-Benz and Volvo. ProPilot is significant, however, because it's set to be offered on other Nissan products in the future, such as the next-generation Leaf.

If driver assistance systems are important to you and your possible Q50 purchase, it might be worth waiting until the 2018 model goes on sale this fall.

See pricing & deals on the current Q50 on sale now »

Right for

Single Buyers

The Mazda 6 might seem a bit large for singles, but this isn't your average midsize sedan. Slick design, a stunning interior, an engaging personality, and the availability of a 6-speed manual on Sport and Touring trims set it apart from the crowd. A decent-sized back seat with a pass-through to the 14.8 cubic foot trunk adds to its versatility.

Budget Buyers

While a Grand Touring model can easily top $34,000, the Sport trim has a base price under $23,000. That's hardly economy car territory, but, in comparison, the Mazda6 has more interior room and more power under the hood. It's also nearly as fuel efficient as many compact and subcompact cars. Topping it off are its better-than-average resale value and low maintenance costs.

Performance Buyers

The Mazda6 won't smoke its tires and can't match the performance of an American muscle car. But a balanced chassis and responsive brakes make it a standout in the midsize sedan class. The 2017 model also features more precise steering (Mazda calls it G-Vectoring Control). During cornering, the system slightly reduces engine torque, which increases the load on the front tires and improves cornering response.

Commuting Buyers

The ride is on the firm side, so it's not for everyone. But the Mazda 6 also has a premium interior with comfortable, supportive seats, easy-to-read gauges and clear sightlines for the driver. Mazda also added more sound-deadening materials in 2017, so the interior is impressively quiet, even while passing at freeway speeds.

Green Buyers

When equipped with an automatic transmission, the Mazda 6 delivers an EPA-estimated 27/35/30 city/highway/combined miles per gallon. Many owners report even better results, while our observed fuel economy was 28.1 mpg in city driving in the winter. These aren't hybrid-like numbers, but they're impressive for a midsize sedan that's as fun to drive as the Mazda6. For even more efficiency, active grille shutters and a regenerative braking system (that reduces the load on the battery and helps power the accessories) is available on the Grand Touring as part of the $2,500 Premium Package.

Wrong For

Family Buyers

The Mazda6 probably qualifies as a family car – but only for a family of four or less. That's because it lacks the passenger space and cargo-hauling versatility of either a minivan or most SUVs.

Safety Tech Buyers

If you're looking for active safety features, you can forget the Sport model. Rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking are standard on just the Touring and Grand Touring trims. In addition, standard lane departure warning, lane keep assist and radar-based cruise control (with a proximity warning) are found only on the Grand Touring model.

Learn more about the 2017 Mazda Mazda6, along with this month's best deals and incentives »

Right For

Family Buyers

A combined passenger and cargo volume of 113 cubic feet, close to the top of the EPA's midsize category, means lots of room for up to five adults. In addition, unlike a typical hybrid sedan, the rear seat actually splits and folds forward, revealing a pass-through to the trunk for added versatility and cargo-hauling capability.

Green Buyers

It's a hybrid so of course it should appeal to green buyers. EPA estimates of 39 miles per gallon city, 46 mpg highway, and 42 mpg combined give it excellent fuel economy for a midsize sedan. In around town driving, however, we only managed to average 30.3 mpg. That's still very good mileage, but it's also 24 percent below the EPA's city rating. In this instance, we might be able to chalk it up to the fact that hybrid batteries aren't nearly as efficient in cold weather.

Commuting Buyers

A smooth, comfortable ride and a quiet cabin take the stress out of commuting. Aided by the electric motor, acceleration off the line is brisk. The interior also boasts great fit and finish, excellent visibility, supportive seats and clear instrumentation. Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity don’t hurt, either.

Wrong For

Single Buyers

A midsize sedan with a hybrid badge screams middle age – something young singles might wish to avoid at all costs. But that's not all. For thousands less there are a number of smaller sedans and hatchbacks that are easier to park, nearly as fuel efficient, and much more entertaining to drive.

Budget Buyers

The gasoline-only Optima has an affordable base price of $23,095. But the entry-level hybrid model, the Premium, is nearly $4,000 more. There's even a bigger gap at the top, where the gas-only EX is nearly $5,000 less than the budget-busting $36,885 EX hybrid.

Performance Buyers

Thanks to a traditional six-speed automatic transmission, the hybrid feels much like a regular Optima. On the minus side, like the regular Optima, it isn't much of a sports sedan. Steering feedback is good and the suspension is forgiving without feeling soft. It's also easy to modulate the brake pedal – a rarity in vehicles with regenerative brakes – and the electric motor offers instant torque off the line. But the suspension emphasizes comfort over handling, while the seven additional system horsepower (versus the gasoline-only EX) has to haul around 176 more pounds.

Safety Tech Buyers

Advanced safety features like rear park assist, blind spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane change assist are part of an optional $1,795 package on the base model. To add those features plus more advanced active safety systems like radar-based cruise control, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, automatic high beams, and lane departure warning, you have to choose the range-topping EX, and then add the $5,000 Technology Package.

Learn more about the 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid, along with this month's best deals and incentives »

It's one thing to talk about vehicle safety – occupant protection is among the prime engineering concerns and selling points for any modern mass-market vehicle, after all. Unfortunately, that idea of "safety" is too often reduced to a few bland descriptions and ratings that don't even try to convey the intensity of the forces involved in a crash. It's quite another to see what those forces actually look like in controlled, calibrated, very loud testing.

Our friends over at Jalopnik uncovered three videos highlighting Volvo's brutal testing regimen for its new-and-improved XC60 crossover. With the mandated impact alignments, artless camera angles, and International Safety Orange paint, the company makes a fascinating case for both clinical purity and metal-crushing violence.

The immediate impressions are powerful enough – in particular, the cabin of the XC60 will apparently withstand anything short of a direct hit from a nuclear weapon without distorting – but the fascinating parts are the details that can't be put into a few lines in a sales brochure: the child's-toy tumble of the rollover test with its moment of suspense as the test car almost flops back on its wheels; the perfect crease of a crumpling hood as the vehicle slams into a stout wall; the carefully considered shifting of a subframe as seen through a glass floor; the way a wheel gets sheared off during the offset impact test that Volvo pioneered.

If only brochures could be this visceral.

According to the EPA, the version with a continuously variable transmission returns 30 miles per gallon in the city and 33 mpg combined. Going with the Activ's available five-speed manual transmission drops the city rating to 29 and the combined rating falls to 32 mpg. Regardless of gearbox, the Spark Activ returns 37 mpg on the highway. These figures are a perfect match with Chevy's estimates from the Spark Activ's LA Auto Show debut.

While those figures are slightly lower than the standard Spark – the normal hatchback returns 38 mpg regardless of transmission, while the five-speed manual model bests the Activ by one mpg in the city and combined ratings.

The Spark Activ is arguably the smallest crossover on the US market, dwarfed even by the tiny Mazda CX-3, which is several hundred pounds heavier and over a foot longer. In many ways, the Spark Activ takes after the latest trend in Europe, which is jacked-up city cars. Small car specialists Fiat and Suzuki both sell high-riding city cars – the Panda 4x4 and Swift 4x4 – to European drivers with some success. Since this is the first in what is essentially a new segment for the US market, that makes it difficult to compare its fuel economy with the competition.

It should come as no surprise that the Spark Activ is more economical than larger rivals, like the CX-3 and Honda HR-V. But considering how much smaller it is, we expected the Activ to perform better. Its highway fuel economy is just two better than a front-drive CX-3 and four better than the HR-V. And in the city, the CVT-equipped Activ is only one better than the CX-3 and two points above the HR-V. In other words, you're getting a much smaller vehicle without a dramatic increase in fuel efficiency.

Still, if you want the smallest crossover around, the Spark Activ should be an affordable and efficient choice.

See preview and pricing for the Spark Activ »

The Sonata gets some noticeable revisions for 2018, three years after the current iteration of Hyundai's midsize sedan appeared. As seen on Motor Authority, there is a new grille on both the standard models and the Sport variant, one with traditional horizontal slats and the Sport getting a mesh-like treatment.

Inside, a new seven-inch touchscreen is set to be standard, with an eight-inch version an option. Some switches are updated to match more recent Hyundai models. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be on offer, as they've been phased in over the Sonata's life, but a wireless charge pad for smartphones is new.

The Sonata Sport with the 2.0-liter turbo four gets a new eight-speed automatic, while other models keep a six-speed automatic. The Sonata Eco with its 1.6-liter turbo four is expected to continue with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Performance details and US-specific changes will be announced in April at the New York Auto Show, with the 2018 Sonata landing at dealerships shortly thereafter.

See pricing & deals on the current Sonata on sale now »

That claim will be proven next year when Volvo unveils the new S60 and V60. Speaking at the Geneva Motor Show this week to the UK's Auto Express, Volvo design head Thomas Ingenlath said the replacements for the company's current compact luxury sedan and wagon will come in 2018. They'll be based on many of the same pieces that make up the large S90, V90 and XC90 vehicles, but also the 2018 XC60 SUV that was just shown in Geneva.

But Ingenlath says the S60 and V60 will be a bigger step forward from their predecessors than the XC60 was. He says a more "muscular" design will be in order, with less of a formal look than the S90 and V90. In the wake of diminishing sedan demand, Volvo seems to be banking on sporty styling to lure Audi A4 and BMW 3-Series buyers over.

Ingenlath says the interior of the S60 and V60, however, will look much like that of the one in the XC60. Based on recent Volvo designs, that means it should have high-quality materials and a modern, minimalist feel. Engines should also mimic the ones that will be in the new XC60 -- all of which are 2.0-liter four-cylinder units. A plug-in hybrid should join the lineup.

Another big change for the S60, at least, will be that it will be made in a new plant in South Carolina, rather than in Belgium as it is now. The V60, meanwhile, is expected to still be sourced from Sweden.

The S60 and V60 will likely go on sale at the end of 2018. The 2018 XC60, meanwhile, should land at US dealerships this fall.

Shop all current Volvo models on sale »

Rolls-Royce announced Monday it has painted one Ghost model using 1,000 crushed diamonds. Called "Diamond Stardust," it's a first for any automaker, according to the company. The unnamed-but-insanely-wealthy customer is allowing the car to be shown at the Geneva Motor Show.

The company says it created the paint from 1,000 "ethically-sourced" diamonds that were subjected to a rigorous inspection to test for radiance before they were crushed into a fine powder that was mixed into the paint. Rolls-Royce's paint shop then applied an extra layer of lacquer than is normal for the Ghost, the company said.

This particular car is meant to showcase the "Bespoke" process that Rolls-Royce offers to its customers, which allows them to customize their car depending on certain paint or upholstery tastes. After all, if you're spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a car, you'd like it to be a little more special than the one that's parked on a dealership lot. Now, how long until someone orders a Wraith with upholstery made from shredded $100 bills?

Based on what we know about the new Wrangler, which is due to arrive in 2018 and be built in Ohio, the new Jeep truck will use a V6 engine and possibly only in four-wheel-drive form. It's likely to be based off of the four-door Wrangler Unlimited, suggesting it will also have four full doors. It would be sized similarly to other midsize trucks such as the Chevrolet Colorado and Toyota Tacoma.

Jeep has a long history of building pickups dating back to 1947. Its most recent truck, the Jeep Comanche, was based off of an old Cherokee design and was in production from 1985 until 1992. FCA is reportedly considering a "historic" nameplate for the as-yet-unnamed truck.

While 27 years is a long time to wait for a new Jeep truck, it will likely be worth it to the brand's loyal followers. And for potential pickup buyers, it could be a worthy addition to the growing off-road-oriented midsize truck field.