The Motor Press Guild (MPG), which is the largest automotive media association in North America, announced that the all-new 2013 Cadillac ATS is the winner of the second-ever Motor Press Guild Vehicle of the Year Award.

The ATS was chosen by a group of MPG journal members who test and review cars on a regular basis. The competing vehicles were judged based on safety, quality, value, performance/handling, design/style, environmental/green impact, and technology/innovation. In addition, panelists were encouraged to consider models that reflect the Southern California lifestyle.

The ATS is the result of an extensive mission to design a smaller, leaner Cadillac that would go head-to-head with compact luxury sports sedans from European and Asian markets. Cadillac succeeded, and their efforts are being recognized and rewarded. This car offers a well-designed and attractive interior, is complete with all the latest technology, and is capable of being driven both on and off the track.

If you are in the market for a new luxury car, this is one worth checking out (or at least having a little fun on a test drive with)!

This year, a range of Japanese brands are cleaning up and taking the top spots on the Consumer Reports and Auto Reliability Survey. Toyota’s three brands - Scion, Toyota, and Lexus - swept the top spots. When it comes to car reliability, no manufacturer can compare to Toyota. The Toyota Prius C earned Consumer Reports’ top overall score.

The Toyota brands were followed by Mazda, Subaru, Honda, and Acura - all Japanese brands. Of the 90 Japanese models reflected in the Consumer Reports Survey, 86 scored average or better, with 35 earning the highest rating.

Of European cars, Audi is by far taking the lead, moving up 18 spots from last year into eighth place. This makes Audi the most reliable European make and the top non-Japanese brand.

Wondering about domestic brands? While they aren’t topping the list this year, there are some U.S. brands that are standing out. Cadillac is currently the top U.S. brand, moving up 14 spots from last year. The CTS Coupe was rated the most reliable domestic car. Several other GM brands moved up in ranking as well, including Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC.

Next time you are in the market for a new vehicle, make sure you check out the latest Consumer Reports Auto Reliability Survey for a complete vehicle ranking.

Car manufacturers are struggling to find the right balance between loading up new car models with modern technology and keeping the vehicle safe to operate and free of distractions. We’ve seen all kinds of ideas, from cars that communicate with one another to disabling cell phones inside cars so they can’t work when the car is in motion.

One way car manufacturers have really nailed the balance between technology and safety is with voice-activated technology. Install all the high-tech touch screens you want, as long as there is an easy-to-use, intuitive voice-activation system so we don’t have to take our eyes off the road to use the GPS or change the vent settings!

Another way manufacturers are balancing technology and safety is by incorporating Bluetooth into almost every new car. There is now virtually no need to take your cell phone out while you are in the car, which is definitely a feature we applaud. Make calls, send texts, listen to your music, and stay connected to social media, all through your car’s voice-activated Bluetooth system - and keep your hands where they need to be: on the wheel!

While we think these features will stick around for good, we can’t help but wonder where auto manufacturers are headed next. With endless talk of cars that will “drive themselves,” we wonder just how far this technology will take us. And, is it really safe?

Volvo, leaders in auto safety, is currently testing a technology that would track driver eye movements. When the car senses the driver is not looking at the road, it will flash a series of lights on the dashboard to get the driver’s focus back on the road. Cadillac is testing something similar, which would use a vibrating seat that pulses when the car veers out of its lane. Lexus has a system which monitors the driver and uses flashing lights and warning chimes to regain driver attention, and can automatically brake if the driver does not take control.

From what we can see, these technologies are safety steps to keep drivers aware and focused on the road and could eventually be incorporated into a car that drives itself. Could these be the first steps to creating a car that drives itself and, at the same time, making sure there is a competent driver behind the wheel to take control in the event something goes wrong? Only time will tell… but for now we can put these newer technologies to good use to keep us safe while driving today.