CES opens with fewer big wheels, including carmakers

There are some grumblings that the annual CES is becoming less relevant in this era of 24-hour news and instant globalization of information on the internet. And you can make a good argument that the relevance of the world's largest consumer electronics show is at least evolving, for carmakers as well as for other industry giants. It has always been an industry only show, with no public -- the “consumers” in "consumer electronics" -- allowed.

Kia Cadenza revealed

The new Kia Cadenza The Cadenza is the production version of the KND-5 Concept Kia showed earlier this year and is an A6 sized luxury saloon which will go on sale around the world in 2010. Designed in Europe – by a team headed by an ex Audi designer – the Cadenza is a very convincing up-market saloon aimed at taking on the German offerings. And it looks like it has the goods to deliver on the promise.

Ford and GM reliability ratings dip in Consumer Reports survey

Consumers rated Ford's new Explorer, Fiesta and Focus models at less-than-average reliability during their first year, according to Consumer Reports' annual auto survey. Poor reception of the new models bumped Ford's overall reliability rank from the 10th spot in 2010 to the 20th this year among the 28 major nameplates included in the survey. Findings are based on responses from 1.3 million vehicle owners or lessees who subscribe to the magazine.