Kent-moore Yb-34446 Yamaha Forward Gear Height Gauge on 2040-parts.com

Redesigned 2012 BMW 3-series revealed

BMW has revealed its sixth-generation 3-series sedan. The new model is the first in an unprecedented six-car lineup that will include a five-door GT and a four-door GranCoupe for the first time. BMW plans to put the car on sale across North America in February as a 2012 model.

2014 Dodge Dart Blacktop to debut at Detroit auto show

The 2014 Dodge Dart SXT will get the Blacktop treatment at the Detroit auto show next week. The company offered the same styling tweaks last year on the Journey, Durango and Grand Caravan. The Blacktop trim adds 18-inch gloss black wheels, gloss black side mirrors, and a sportier interior to the small sedan, as well as a black split-crosshair grille, dark headlight bezels and a few other bits.

Ford gains ground in customer perception

The Ford brand gained ground in consumers' minds this year as Toyota slipped, though the Japanese juggernaut still leads the pack by a slight margin. Over the last two years, Ford climbed 35 percentage points while Toyota dropped 46 percentage points, according to the latest survey from Consumer Reports. During this time, Ford (144) moved within three points of Toyota (147).