1955-1956 Mercury Fender Skirts on 2040-parts.com

Chevrolet to dealers: Let Cruze shoppers test-drive competitors

Chevrolet is asking its 3,000 dealers to prepare for the late September launch of the Chevrolet Cruze compact by purchasing competitors' vehicles for test-drive comparisons. Chevrolet is encouraging dealers to have a Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic on site so prospective 2011 Cruze buyers can immediately measure the car against its segment competitors, said Margaret Brooks, Chevrolet small-car marketing director. At a media event Tuesday in suburban Detroit, Brooks said Chevrolet expects buyers to come away with a favorable view of the Cruze.

Video: A look inside CATLY's studio walls and Toyota FT-1 concept development

Motor Trend has taken a look inside the studio walls of CALTY to produce a documentary of the design development of a star of last week's Detroit auto show, the Toyota FT-1 concept. Toyota's Californian design studio has been responsible for some of the company's best recent work including the Lexus LF-LC concept. In this episode of Downshift, Motor Trend spoke to some of those behind the FT-1's design – Kevin Hunter, CALTY Research president, studio chief designer Alex Shen and William Chergosky, interior chief designer.

Jeep Wrangler: first details of the 2011 facelift

Jeep has facelifted the Wrangler. No, really. It might not seem like it, but the American manufacturer has given its boxy 4x4 a raft of updates to enable it to continue treading water in these modern times.