Thanks to the Audi A3 compact sedan and Mercedes-Benz's flagship S-Class, the German luxury car companies narrowed the sales gap with global luxury-car leader BMW in the first half of 2014. Six-month auto sales by BMW exceeded Audi's deliveries by 16,997 vehicles compared with a difference of 23,760 a year earlier. BMW's lead against Mercedes fell 6.3%.

Jeep may make significant changes to its iconic Wrangler off-road vehicle. In order to improve mileage, Jeep may increase the automatic transmission gearbox from five to eight gears, make the engine smaller, and employ more aluminum.

Now that it's safe to go outside, it is worth reflecting that, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association, the sale of consumer fireworks may have surpassed $675 million this season. And branding is big business, too. Gone are the generic roman candles, cherry bombs, black cat, sparklers. Like everything else, it's about emotional connections. So here's to "Corruption," "Happy Hour," "Pyrotry in Motion," "The Big Bang," "Super Snazzy," "Emerald City," "Delirium," and "Encore."

Procter & Gamble's new ad for its Always brand makes nearly no mention the brand, runs more than 3 minutes long and won't ever appear on TV. But so far, it's been viewed 21 million times on YouTube, shared 300,000 times on Facebook and tweeted 40,000 times on Twitter. The ad, "Like a Girl", is meant to get people to rethink what they can and can't do.

Amazon may go to court versus the FTC to fight charges that it has not done enough to prevent children from making unauthorized purchases through apps. The FTC alleged in a draft lawsuit that kids have spent millions on unauthorized Amazon purchases via tablet. Amazon responded that it had already refunded money to parents who complained, and that its parental controls exceed FTC requirements.

Use of mobile applications for shopping doubled in the past year, with 41% of consumers actively using them, according to CFI Group. The numbers among Millennials are even higher: the study says 67% of 18-34 year-olds use mobile apps while they are doing their shopping. Consumers of all ages said they have two to four shopping apps installed. Nearly half said they use them for competitive pricing.

Procter & Gamble soon will launch a full skin care collection under the Dolce & Gabbana brand, aiming to leverage "prestige" products. Expected at Saks Fifth Avenue stores and Saks.com in September, the Essential line will offer products including eye makeup remover and skin cream. The higher-end Aurealux line will offer eye gel for $72 to masks for $169.

In a really huge shocker, McDonald's, Taco Bell and KFC customers say the restaurants' signature items are kind of crappy. "Consumer Reports," in a survey, found that its readers think McDonald's makes the worst burgers, KFC offers the worst chicken, and Taco Bell sells the worst burritos. The firm polled 32,405 of its subscribers.

MLB first basemen from all 30 teams and New York Yankees captain and shortstop Derek Jeter appear in a new spot that honors the 75th anniversary of Lou Gehrig's "Luckiest Man" speech. The ad is interspersed with footage of Gehrig himself giving the speech. On July 4, 1939, suffering from the symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Gehrig stood at home plate in the original Yankee Stadium and called himself "the luckiest man on the face of this earth." The video will air this week in every MLB stadium as part of a multi-media push. MLB said it would donate …

Jeremy Meeks, the convicted felon with the famous mugshot, has reportedly landed himself a contract with an agent, though the shoots will have to be in the stir, as he's serving time on $1.1 million bail for gun possession, parole violations and other things. Former porn star, now talent agent, Gina Rodriguez is handling. So to speak.