Ford Motor Co., the maker of Ford and Lincoln vehicles, ended 2010 with the highest loyalty rates in the auto industry, according to R.L. Polk & Co. About 63% of all Ford car owners bought or leased another new Ford vehicle when they returned to the market in 2010.

Toyota has unveiled the second iteration of their FT-86 Sports Concept at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show earlier this month and now, after announcing that this concept was very close to the actual production version that’s going to go on sale in 2012, they have released a new gallery with a couple of wonderful studio pictures with their upcoming sports coupe.

Microsoft and Toyota will develop a cloud-based in-car entertainment system for Toyota vehicles that will handle navigation and data services plus audio and video. The system will also provide power management for electric and hybrid vehicles, said the companies in a joint press conference Wednesday.

It will be a voice-activated system based on Microsoft’s current Windows cloud operating system called Azure. It should be in electric and hybrid cars beginning in 2012. Toyota president Akio Toyoda said the cloud system is part of the company’s aim to “develop a new link between vehicles and people.”

It's a distinctly American trait to want what's next—even before it's here. Yes, Americans are spoiled, with too many choices in every genre of product, especially cars. But so what? This is the place where cars blossomed, where the first (and arguably best) car culture still exists. And where we haven't stopped loving—and lusting after—the cool car around the next bend. With that in mind, here's PM's calendar of 12 cool cars under $50,000 that will go on sale in the next 18 months. Note that the exact dates may not be 100 percent accurate: The timetable is based on what the notoriously vague car flacks told us. So we've pried free what info we could, and we share it with you here.

It's a distinctly American trait to want what's next—even before it's here. Yes, Americans are spoiled, with too many choices in every genre of product, especially cars. But so what? This is the place where cars blossomed, where the first (and arguably best) car culture still exists. And where we haven't stopped loving—and lusting after—the cool car around the next bend. With that in mind, here's PM's calendar of 12 cool cars under $50,000 that will go on sale in the next 18 months. Note that the exact dates may not be 100 percent accurate: The timetable is based on what the notoriously vague car flacks told us. So we've pried free what info we could, and we share it with you here.

The Detroit 3 didn't spend the past two years just cleaning up their cost structure. They also improved supplier relations to the point that they're within striking distance of the industry's top performers.

A healthy win-win relationship with suppliers is a key factor that not long ago separated top-level automakers (Toyota, Honda and Nissan) from also-rans (the Detroit 3) in North America. Now it's a horse race.

Some key changes, shown in the annual supplier survey by Detroit-area research firm Planning Perspectives Inc.:

-- Chrysler Group, reflecting CEO Sergio Marchionne's vision for cooperation and Chrysler purchasing chief Dan Knott's push for harmony, has dramatically improved relations with suppliers just two years after a self-admitted phalanx of problems.

Carlos Ghosn and his team at Nissan painted a glowing picture of fiscal year 2012 in Yokohama Thursday, despite an expected 15.4-percent decline in profits for 2012 due to the effects of the soaring yen and higher costs combined with the ongoing production disruptions caused by the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami to overcome. Japan’s second-largest automaker predicted lower profits but higher vehicle sales and heftier revenues for the current fiscal year.

The brave new world of smartphone apps is budding everywhere, and that includes the automotive industry, now that car manufacturers are looking for new ways to engage with both owners and brand fans. Following is an overall list of current smartphone applications (the vast majority of which are designed for the iPhone platform) developed by automakers.

The photos do reflect a slightly different taillamp than the one shown yesterday by Toyota, but it is unclear at this time if the differences are entirely to blame on market differences or trim level changes.

The 2011 Honda Fit is one of the most popular vehicles in the subcompact segment, and with good reason: it’s small on the outside but big on the inside, relatively entertaining to drive and affordable for most any budget. It’s racked up “Best Of” awards from the likes of Car and Driver, J.D Power and Edmunds, and Fit sales in 2011 are up by nearly 32 percent compared to last year.

A brief review in relation to 2012 Toyota Hilux

 The official name of this car is the 2012 Toyota Hilux. Generally, this car belongs to a new design and further improves the model’s well-known quality, durability, and reliability. Surely, you will be impressed with the coming of this sturdy car. This car has experienced some updated features. You must check this one out.

2012 Toyota Rav4 review

2012 Toyota Rav4 was introduced with the new engines and new presentations. This car was designed with elegant design with all the power that the car is new, it can take people’s attention. The car is the combination of comfort and power, and of course with the best engine, can deliver high performance. This is a minivan that comes with more standard styles.

Recent reports, including ours, have incorrectly stated the 2012 RAV4 EV will only be sold to fleet and car sharing organizations. Though we now know that's not true, we'd like to set the record straight by quoting an official response from Toyota about the inaccurate reports:

The new car will be the eighth new vehicle to wear the storied nameplate. This time around, the Malibu's a bit smaller and a lot softer, too. Chevrolet's bowtie is framed in a tiered grille, and its taillights are squared off in an homage to the Camaro muscle car. The cabin has been reshaped around a new center console with a flip-up radio control panel, flanked by woodgrain, metallic or chrome trim and blue ambient lighting.

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

At the New York Auto Show VW goes and gives us the brand new 2012 VW Beetle, complete with turbocharged engines, an optional Fender stereo system to blow the wax out of your ears, and possibly cause hearing loss. No more flower vase, a mean looking interior meant for drivers and with optional carbon fiber trim, no less. And let’s not forget that flattened roofline, with stronger character lines around the wheel wells, a meaner front face, and some attitude with big wheels to top it all off.