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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).

Ferrari launches Tailor-Made program

Following an initial reveal at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show in September, Ferrari recently announced a new personalization program that will enable owners to create a highly individual and unique vehicle. The latest in a long line of manufacturers to begin offering highly personalized cars for individual owners, Ferrari's take is far more ambitious. The new Tailor-Made program harks back to the 1960s when each Ferrari was custom made to suit the desires of each individual owner and offers a multitude of infinitely personalizable options. The new Tailor-Made program allows owners to specify every last detail of their Ferrari – from the exterior color to the interior stitching – through an extensive list of accessories, materials and unique finishes created by the Ferrari Styling Center.

Ram heavy-duty pickup gets higher towing rating

Ram has fired the latest salvo in the ongoing pickup war between the domestic automakers, releasing what the brand claims is now best-in-class towing capacity for its 2013 heavy-duty pickups. The 2013 Ram 3500 is rated to tow a 30,000-pound trailer, up from a maximum towing capacity of 22,750 pounds for the same vehicle and powertrain setup in 2012. According to their respective Web sites, similarly equipped heavy-duty 3500 pickups from General Motors are rated at a towing capacity of 23,100 pounds, while Ford's F-350 similarly equipped is rated at 22,800 pounds.