69 Camaro Nos 350 Emblem 3953627 on 2040-parts.com

Toyota drags down new-vehicle quality average; Ford leads Detroit 3 gains

Dragged down by Toyota Motor Corp., the quality of new cars and trucks sold in the United States slipped slightly this year--the first time since 2007, according to a study released Thursday. But Detroit's automakers--helped by Ford Motor Co. and some of the smoothest new-model launches ever--have matched or surpassed Asian and European rivals in initial vehicle quality for the first time, based on the closely watched J.D.

Dodge Dart (2012) - first pictures of the American Alfa

Dodge is reviving a badge from the 1960s for its new Dart compact car - and it's based on Alfa Romeo underpinnings. The new 2012 Dodge Dart borrows the Alfa Romeo Giulietta architecture, available within the group now that Chrysler is part of the Fiat group. Dodge dubs its the new Compact US Wide (CUSW) platform, and we'll see this rolled out across the group.

Chevrolet Aveo 5dr (2011) first official pictures

Following the Aveo RS concept’s appearance at Detroit eight months earlier, Chevrolet has revealed the new Aveo at the 2010 Paris motor show. It’s a homegrown model this time, too, replacing the rebodied Daewoo original of 2008. The supermini takes on the aggressive family face deployed so strikingly on Chevy’s tiny Spark and compact Cruze, and there are shake-ups in the engine and transmission departments, too.