The Mercedes-Benz SL63 may have been picked as the official safety car for F1 but its little brother, the new C63 AMG, was chosen for the role in Europe’s Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) series. The new car will start its role as the official safety car in the second DTM race of the […]
The redesigned 2009 Subaru Forester has earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick award, earning the highest rating of ‘good’ in the Institute’s front, side, and rear tests. The tough criteria of the tests of the IIHS safety rating has been designed with the intention carmakers will continue to improve safety of […]
The hype surrounding F1’s first ever night race is growing but the top priority for organizers of the Singapore Grand Prix remains ensuring safety for the drivers and crowds especially in regards to poor visibility. This means that drivers will be getting a little help in the form of electronic flag displays throughout the race […]
In yet another blow for UK motorists the government is considering the rollout of ‘average-speed’ cameras on hundreds of miles of motorway under its plan to actively control speeding instead of just measuring it. The system uses a number of linked cameras mounted at intervals along a roadway. They detect your car and record the […]
Update: Chrysler has just announced its dual-clutch transmission - developed in partnership with Getrag – will make its debut by the middle of the year in international markets. The advanced gearbox will be available on the 2009 Dodge Journey, Avenger and Chrysler Sebring models and is claimed to reduce fuel-consumption and carbon emissions by 6%.
It […]
A study undertaken by the American Automobile Association (AAA) has found car crashes involving 15-17 year old teenagers cost the U.S. over $34 billion each year. The study takes into account a number of quantifiable factors related to crashes including the cost of medical expenses, lost work and property damage as well as other related […]
Tests undertaken by America’s Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reveal that a number of popular 2008-model midsized sedans have shown marked improvements in their side-impact safety ratings. However, the news isn’t all good as the majority of cars tested saw only marginal improvements in their rear-crash results, a segment which costs the insurance industry […]
Ford has unveiled two new features designed to aid visibility, the first a simple blind spot side-view mirror and the second is a new radar based blind spot monitoring system. The new side-view mirror will be fitted as standard equipment from next year onwards and features an integrated convex spotter mirror aimed directly […]
A new system has been developed that measures driver inputs and determines if they are ‘aggressive’ or not. The system, developed by US company GreenRoad Technologies, works by measuring g-forces acting on a car and compares them to pre-determined ’safe’ driving limits. The software in the system can recognize around 120 driver actions and can […]
Scientists from Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) in Germany have revealed a major flaw in vehicle keyless entry systems by demonstrating a new device that can ‘learn and record’ radio codes used to lock and unlock car doors. In the same way that a universal remote control can mimic commands from your TV and DVD controller, […]
The usual methods of winding down the window or turning up the stereo to stay awake on long journeys are mediocre at best, but carmakers are working hard to develop new safety features to prevent motorists from falling asleep behind the wheel. Mercedes-Benz is testing a system that uses face-recognition software to detect if a […]
Incredible demand has created a waiting list for buyers trying to get their hands on a Smart ForTwo in its first year of official U.S. sales. Strong fuel efficiency, easy urban maneuverability and a very positive image have all contributed to the sales success, but now that the NHTSA’s first round of tests are out, […]
Ford has made a commitment to fit 80 to 90% of its future vehicles with electric power steering (EPS) systems by 2012. Currently the 2008 Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner, and their respective hybrid models are fitted with EPS, and next in line to receive the fuel-saving device are the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln […]
We’ve all sped up at a yellow light only to slam the brakes upon seeing a traffic light camera ahead, or at least we’ve seen someone else do it. A new study has found that this phenomenon often leads to more accidents and injuries than would be caused without the cameras present.
Study author Barbara […]
The U.S. Supreme court asked a California appeals court to review the amount awarded to a woman who was paralyzed when her Ford Explorer rolled over. An inordinately weak roof structure was to blame for the injury, and according to the appeals court’s review, the award will stand. Of the $82.6 million awarded, $55 million […]