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SoCal Speed shop wins AMBR award as hod-rodding returns to its roots

In a competition that "took hot-rodding back to its SoCal roots," the SoCal Speed Shop--the entity founded by original hot-rod hero Alex Xydias and now helmed by Pete Chapouris--finally won the AMBR. That's AMBR, as in, America's Most Beautiful Roadster, the most sought-after title in all of hot-rodding and the crowning glory of the Grand National Roadster Show. There is that competition at the Detroit Autorama that hands out the Ridler Award, but that is open to all manner of kustom kars.

Pontiac Vibe

One week after Toyota introduced its new Matrix at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, Pontiac presented the new redesigned Vibe at the LA Auto Show, a five-door hatchback short wagon that - like the Matrix - is derived from a lengthened and widened Corolla platform. Clear brand differentiation between the two cars is done through the styling of the Vibe's excusive sheet metal and different interior finishes and trim. To better relate the Vibe to the Pontiac Solstice or G8, designers wanted to express more muscle and leave behind last generation's "mini-SUV" look.

Is this the Audi Q4 crossover?

Audi has released three official sketches of a new TT-inspired crossover concept set to make its debut at the Beijing auto show later this month. The high-riding crossover, whose details are being kept secret for now, is rumored to preview the upcoming Audi Q4 – Ingolstadt's answer to the likes of the BMW X4 and Porsche Macan. The new five-door shares design cues with the three-door Allroad Shooting Brake wheeled out at the Detroit auto show back in January, suggesting Audi is well into a series of new sporting crossover-style SUV models that will line up alongside the more practical SUV offerings already on sale today.