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Rated: self-braking cars that avoid a crash

The most recent advance in vehicle safety has to be the autonomous emergency braking system (AEB) – a sophisticated suite of sensors and electronics that monitors objects in front of your car, automatically applying the brakes for you if it senses you’re heading to hit something. Up until now these auto-brake features have not been rated, but ahead of a new 2014 test that will include AEB systems in its overall safety star scoring, Euro NCAP has put the some of the vehicles already equipped with this technology through their paces. MSN Cars has the results.

Smart Forfour (2015): first official photos

By James Clark First Official Pictures 16 July 2014 19:30 The Smart ForFour is back - and this time it's twinned with the new, rear-engined Smart ForTwo rather than a bitsa Mitsubishi. The second-generation Smart ForFour was unveiled at an event in Berlin tonight, and marks the return of Daimler to the affordable family hatchback segment. With weak sales and an indistinct DNA, the first Smart ForFour was a sales flop and lasted only a couple of years.

UK has 'highest car running costs'

THE UK is the most expensive country in the world for running a car, according to a new survey. Comparing the cost of fuel, insurance, road tax and MOT, on average it costs the UK motorist £3,453 a year, which is £1,000 more than in the USA and Australia, £1,825 than Japan and a full £2,000 more than in China. The survey, conducted by Webuyanycar.com, compared the cost of motoring in 21 countries on five continents, and revealed that on many fronts the UK motorist is paying more than anyone else.