4wd Actuator Platinum# 1430006 on 2040-parts.com

Top Global Car Brands 2012: Toyota, Mercedes, BMW, VW, Honda, Ford & Hyundai

Interbrand has released its 2012 Top Global Brands rankings for 2012 with Toyota, Mercedes, BMW, VW and Honda the top four car brands. Last year, when we had the 2011 Top Global Brands revealed, Toyota managed to come at the top despite a year beset with the woes of the Tsunami. And for 2012, Toyota has hung on to its top automotive brand gong with a brand value of $30.28 billion.

Rinspeed microMAX

Rinspeed has revealed its microMAX concept car as its latest Geneva-bound offering, which it hopes will revolutionize urban congestion. The microMAX, designed by Rinspeed boss Frank Rinderknecht, explores the idea of car sharing and is designed to be small enough so that it can easily navigate city environments but uses upright seats to maximize space. The five-seater concept is apparently no bigger than a Mini Cooper and has space for a stroller or shopping cart as well as a coffee maker and refrigerator.

Dacia won’t build a car smaller than the Sandero

The Dacia Sandero (pictured) will remain Dacia’s smallest model In austere times, budget buys sell. Which is why Dacia is having so much success with its compact Sandero and Duster SUV. With prices on the Sandero starting at just £5,995 and Duster SUV prices as little as £8,995 (although you’ll have to pay £10,995 for a 4WD version), car buyers are buying Dacias as quickly as Renault can build them, with sales in a European market that shrank by 7 per cent last year up by 18 per cent to 90,000 cars for Dacia.