2003 Saturn L Series Sedan Door Latch Passenger Right Rear 2536773 on 2040-parts.com

Toyota and Mercedes-Benz are top global car brands

Toyota & Mercedes-Benz are the Top Global Automotive Brands 2011 Interbrand, a branding consultancy, delivers a report on the world’s brands every year, and in 2011, despite recall woes and the devastation of the Japanese Tsunami, Toyota leads the automotive brands, with luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz just behind. Interbrand uses three measures to gauge how effective a brand is – performance of branded product, the brands ability to secure earnings and the role of the brand in purchasing decisions – to come up with a chart of the top 100 world brands. At the top of the tree are companies like Coca Cola, IBM, Microsoft and Google, but car brands do well with Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Honda, VW, and Ford all making it in to the top 50.

Changan CS35

Changan CS35 unveiled its first compact urban SUV concept at the recent Beijing auto show, designed at the company's European Design Center under Luciano D'Ambrosio. The CS35's horizontal grille with its Changan logo is similar in style to the Changan Yidong, while its side features a diving waistline and four prominent wheel arches reminiscent of the Ford Kuga. The C-pillar design is distinctive with its graphic split from the roof and the use of the brand's logo as a decorative feature.

Rolls-Royce bolsters custom-car operation to meet higher demand

Rolls-Royce is expanding its "Bespoke" customization enterprise to keep up with an influx of buyers wishing to determine the final strokes on their vehicular masterpieces. The British luxury-car manufacturer will double the headcount for its Bespoke team by the end of the year. More than 50 designers, engineers and project managers will run the operation to meet growing customer demand.