Camco Mfg Awning Mat 6' X 9' Brown 42883 on 2040-parts.com

Ford door protector takes the sting out of dings

Nothing ruins car joy like a door ding--whether it's the first blemish on your pride and joy or the latest door divot. Now, the engineers at Ford in Europe have developed a way to take the sting out of the parking lot--a retractable door-edge protector for the Ford Focus. It's no surprise that this comes from Europe, where roads are narrow and parking spaces are squeezed tight.

Video: J Mays walks us around Ford EcoSport

Earlier this month, Ford unveiled its EcoSport compact SUV at the Delhi Auto Expo. The B-segment crossover is a key component in the brand's ‘One Ford' global strategy, underlined by the fact it was designed in Brazil under the direction of Joa Marcos De Oliveira Ramos. Here Ford's Group Vice President of Design and Chief Creative Officer, J Mays, talks us through the five design elements of the car.

BMW 135is coupe and 135is convertible available for order

BMW announced that it will expand its 1-series lineup with the addition of the 2013 BMW 135is coupe and 135is convertible. The enthusiast-oriented 135is models will be powered by BMW's TwinPower 3.0-liter I6 engine that will produce 320 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque after factory tuning. That's a 20-hp and 17-lb-ft increase over the 2012 135i, but BMW claims that the vehicles will maintain both the fuel-economy and emissions ratings of the 135i.