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Insurance group lists its Top Safety Picks

After increasing its standards for 2011 models, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that 66 vehicles--more than double the 2010 total--rate as best in the industry at protecting passengers from front, side, rollover and rear crashes. Only 27 vehicles qualified last year after the group, funded by the insurance industry, required that vehicles pass a roof-strength test to earn a good rating, claiming that stronger roofs would reduce the risk of serious or fatal injury by 50 percent in a rollover accident. The most mentioned carmakers on the 2011 list are Hyundai/Kia and Volkswagen/Audi, both with nine vehicles to get the Top Safety Pick designation.

Volkswagen Beetle Dune concept for Detroit Motor Show

Volkswagen Volkswagen has announced a Beetle Dune concept will take to its show stand at the 2014 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) next week – promising to bring a bit of beach buggy sunshine to the polar vortex chilled show halls of Detroit. So far VW has only released the pair of design concepts pictured here, but together with a few choice details you can clearly figure out what we’re dealing with here. The Dune is a Beetle that’s been given a rugged off-road makeover.

Le Mans champ: laser lights are the future

Three-time Le Mans 24 Hours race champion Allan McNish has told us that technology first trialled at the world famous endurance event often makes it on to road cars – and this year’s big thing will be laser lights. Speaking ahead of Le Mans 2014, McNish said that racing is more relevant to everyday cars than people think – with features from seat belts to windscreen wipers debuting at the race. Audi R8 V10 plus review (2013 onwards) Las Vegas debut for Audi Sport Quattro laserlight concept “The laser light’s on this year’s Audis will make it onto road cars straight away,” McNish told us.