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.

Invincible. According to Webster's, the word means "incapable of being conquered, overcome or subdued." The adjective is often used to describe something so superior that it's nearly impossible to overthrow. Want to know what invincibility feels like? Strap yourself into the driver's seat of the 2012 Nissan GT-R, and then press the start button.

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.

With vehicle safety on the forefront of everyone’s minds seemingly more now than ever, no small batch of vehicles with potentially faulty safety components go unchecked – especially when the potential issue involves airbags.

With vehicle safety on the forefront of everyone’s minds seemingly more now than ever, no small batch of vehicles with potentially faulty safety components go unchecked – especially when the potential issue involves airbags.

High End Performance is known around the nation for building some of the world’s top show cars while running a shop that supplies some of the rarest and highest quality parts around. But what sets them apart from the crowd is their custom, hand-crafted wide body kits that can see on many of their show cars. This matte orange Nissan GTR was spotted in the Eneos booth, and is arguably the best creation to come out of High End to date.

The 2013 Nissan Altima, sans disguise.

Nissan is celebrating 30 years of production at its Atsugi, Japan technical center, so it produced a commemorative video (shown below) to mark the event. One problem, though: on its initial release, no one bothered to check the video for cars that shouldn’t be revealed.

The 2013 Nissan Altima, sans disguise.

Nissan is celebrating 30 years of production at its Atsugi, Japan technical center, so it produced a commemorative video (shown below) to mark the event. One problem, though: on its initial release, no one bothered to check the video for cars that shouldn’t be revealed.