Car Safety
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Volvo is about to introduce a new modular platform called the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) that will underpin all of its models sized from about the S60 up. The first model to be based on the SPA platform will be the all-new 2015 XC90, which thanks to the capabilities of its platform promises to be one of the safest vehicles on the market when it launches late next year. The SPA platform enables significant improvements when it comes to offering protection--either by offering protection through a strong and rigid structure or by avoiding impacts altogether. Starting with the structure...
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Michael Schumacher Tests 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class: Video
Earlier in the year, it was revealed that Michael Schumacher, a seven-time Formula One world champion and former driver for the Mercedes AMG F1 team, would be helping to develop Mercedes-Benz road cars. It turns out one of the first Mercedes cars to be worked on by Schuey is the all-new 2015...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
McLaren 12C Models Recalled Due To Defective Wiper Design
McLaren has issued a recall on certain versions of its 12C supercar. The issue is due to a defect in the wiper’s design, which may cause it to stop working in areas of high ambient temperatures and humidity. The recall affects 12C Coupes and 12C Spiders built from October 10, 2011 through...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Safety Is Nothing New For Audi, Company Has Crash-Tested Cars For 75 Years
Audi predecessor DKW first crash-tested a car in 1938.
Stephen Edelstein -
Tesla Battery Fires: NHTSA Seeking Detailed Info, Germany Finds No Defect
While some see a recent string of three battery fires involving Tesla Motors' [NSDQ:TSLA] Model S electric sedan as nothing more than unfortunate happenstance, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is delving deeper into the matter, seeking detailed records from the two fires...
Nelson Ireson -
Volvo Launches Latest Autonomous Cars Pilot In Sweden
Whatever driving enthusiasts think of autonomous cars, it looks very much like the concept is here to stay. Volvo has now launched a pilot project in the city of Gothenburg, Sweden, where its self-driving vehicles will be tested on real public roads among other, non-autonomous traffic. Volvo calls...
Antony Ingram -
Porsche has issued two separate recalls that affect most of the automaker’s lineup. One of the recalls involves defective wiring harnesses, which may cause an airbag to be deactivated. The other involves a defective fuel gauge, which tends to report a higher level of fuel than what is actually remaining. MUST READ: Man Buys Nissan 370Z Using Proceeds From Sale Of Own Testicle The defective wiring harness recall affects a small batch of 2014 model year Boxster, Cayman and 911 models, including sportier S variants and in the case of the 911 both the coupe and convertible as well as...
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Watch The IIHS Crash Test The 2014 Maserati Ghibli: Video
The 2014 Maserati Ghibli is the latest graduate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s extensive crash safety test program, and the stunning sedan not only passed with flying cars but it was also named one of the institute’s Top Safety Picks. It also scored a perfect five...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
NHTSA Opens Probe Into Tesla Model S Fires
Tesla Motors has asked the NHTSA to investigate the recent Model S fires, to remove doubt about the cars' safety.
Stephen Edelstein -
Third Tesla Model S Fire: Still Not A Big Deal
A third Tesla Model S has caught fire, and while many pundits speculate as to the impact the news will have on Tesla Motors' [NSDQ:TSLA] stock, the future of electric cars, and the length of the current Solar Maximum cycle, we still don't think it's a big deal. Cars crash. Sometimes they catch...
Nelson Ireson -
Unbelievable Survival Story Of The Week: Audi S5 Flattened By Shipping Container
Remarkably, two people survived the flattening of this Audi without life-threatening injuries.
Stephen Edelstein -
Handful Of BMW Models Recalled Due To Faulty Brake System
BMW has issued a recall that affects five different models from the 2012 to 2014 model years. The reason behind the recall is a vacuum pump fitted to the cars, used for supplying brake power assistance, may end up failing. Should this occur, owners will find it difficult to apply full braking...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
When you're on the road, you're out in the world, and the world can get dangerous when you least expect it--especially if your car breaks down or runs into trouble. So what can you do about it? You're (probably) not a mechanic, after all. Fortunately, you don't have to be a mechanic to give yourself a much better chance of getting home or to the nearest repair shop with a small kit of essential tools and equipment--and in the event of an accident or other emergency, you'll even increase your odds of survival. This short list of items encapsulates some of the most functional and likely items...
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Lamborghini Gallardo, Murcielago, And Bentley Continental Carbon-Ceramic Brakes Recalled
Stainless-steel retaining screws on the cars' brake rotors may fail, the NHTSA says.
Stephen Edelstein -
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Models Recalled For Faulty Clutch
Mitsubishi has issued a recall on certain versions of its sporty Lancer Evolution. The recall is due to a defective clutch master cylinder, which could end up failing. Should this occur, owners of manual-equipped models may have trouble shifting the vehicle into or out of gear, increasing the risk...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
High-End Audis Recalled For Faulty Sunroofs, Fuel Leaks
Audi has issued two separate recalls for unrelated matters that concern a handful of its vehicles. The first recall affects the A8 and S8 flagship sedans while the second affects the sporty S6 and S7 models. The first recall is due to a faulty sunroof that may end up shattering. The recall only...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
'Virtual Windshield' Makes Passing Easier By Making Cars Transparent
Videos and dedicated short-range communication could eliminate blind spots caused by large vehicles.
Stephen Edelstein -
Toyota Announces New Autonomous And Pedestrian Safety Tech
Toyota has been treading a slow and cautionary path towards the implementation of autonomous driving technology on its cars; understandable given the recent spate of unintended acceleration claims made against the automaker. However, earlier this year Toyota showed a Lexus LS-based research vehicle...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
When it finally makes its debut next month, the new 2014 MINI Cooper won’t just feature fresh styling, a revamped interior and fuel-efficient three-cylinder engines, but also advanced driver assist systems typically found in the luxury segment. That’s the promise of MINI’s parent company BMW, which wants to bring its MINI family to the forefront of the premium compact car segment when it comes to convenience and safety. For safety, designers have installed a head-up display in the new Cooper, located just above the steering wheel. The information that can be displayed...
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Red-Light Lemmings Traverse A Los Angeles Intersection: Video
My driving skills were originally honed all around New England, where I learned how to quickly parallel park on Boston side streets, handle rear-wheel-drive cars and trucks in the snow, and quickly react to aggressive cabbies who care not for my fenders. It was a great training ground for becoming...
Jeff Glucker -
Are External Airbags The Next Generation Of Car Safety Tech?
An automotive supplier hopes its external airbags will be on production cars by the end of the decade.
Stephen Edelstein -
Massive CT Scanner Will Glean Safety Insight From Wrecked Cars
CT scans could provide insight into how components react under the forces of a collision, researchers say.
Stephen Edelstein -
Owner Of Battery Fire Tesla Model S Says Car 'Performed Very Well,' Will Buy Again
The Tesla Model S fire that we asked everyone not to get all worked up about because it's just like any other car fire is still not a big deal (in fact, it may be less of a deal than an ordinary car fire)--but it's interesting to see that the owner of the car that burned understands that, too...
Nelson Ireson -
Cyclist Says You Will Kill Someone If You Don't Change Your Driving Habits
We've all seen them on the road: tight spandex shorts, brightly colored jerseys, often flocked together like some kind of wheeled formation of tropical birds, migrating from one place to another. Cyclists. They're slow, they get in the way, they put themselves and others at risk just by being...
Nelson Ireson