06-13 Impala Driver Wheel Airbag on 2040-parts.com

IIHS names safest cars for 2013

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has named the safest cars for 2013, including 13 midsize sedans that qualify for a new “top safety pick+” designation. The designation is given to vehicles that earn “good” ratings for occupant protection in at least four of five tests, with no less than “acceptable” in the fifth test. A new test -- the small overlap test -- was added to assess how the vehicles perform during a front-corner collision with another vehicle or object, such as a utility pole.

Hyundai ix35 makes it to Harrods

The Hyundai ix35 makes it to a Harrods window display We’re not too sure whether we should take the news that the Hyundai ix35 will take pride of place in one of Harrods’ Brompton Road window displays is indicative of the progress Hyundai has made in the last couple of years, or it’s the new owners’ policy to show its visitors what the proletariat are driving these days. Whichever it is, there will be a top of the range Hyundai ix35 Premium in dazzling white strutting its stuff – well, sitting in the window anyway – in one of Harrods’ window displays for the whole of this week (w/b 7/6). This whole ‘Hyundai in Harrods’ is a bit of PR flim-flam to get some headlines and copy (see, it works) but it does show just how far Hyundai has come.

Jaguar F-Type V8 R planned by Arden

German tuners Arden are planning to deliver a Jaguar F-Type V8 R ahead of Jaguar with the promise of a 550bhp version on offer. The new Jaguar F-Type isn’t going to start arriving in the hands of customers for a few months yet, but that small detail isn’t going to stop the world’s car customisers planning a tweak or three to Jaguar’s new sports car. Arden – German tuners of British cars – has revealed plans to make the new F-Type V8 S in to something akin to what we expect Jaguar’s own top-end F-Type V8 R to deliver when it arrives – around 550bhp.