Call for stronger penalties for texting drivers

DRIVERS convicted of causing death by dangerous driving should be given stronger and more consistent penalties, according to road safety charity the Institute of Advanced Motorists has said. An IAM analysis of eleven recent prosecutions involving mobile and smartphone use revealed that the average sentence for causing death by dangerous driving is four-and-a-half years in prison and a disqualification from driving for seven years. In all of the cases analysed, the convicted drivers were found to have lost their concentration due to using their mobile phone.

BMW X3 reloaded

BMW has revealed the first official details of its second-generation X3 prior to its world debut at the upcoming Paris motor show. Set to go on sale in the United States in January 2011, BMW says the new X3 will be priced close to the outgoing model. The upmarket off-roader has been completely redesigned and reengineered in a move BMW hopes will see it emulate the first-generation model's success, sales of which have now topped the 600,000 mark worldwide since its introduction in 2003.

MG5 leaks out as MG6 starts production

The MG5 - expect the real-deal to be less flowing. We’re back to the Shanghai Motor Show again, with news of what was once an iconic British Marque continuing its revival under Chinese SAIC. Ahead of an expected reveal of theGolf/Focus-sized MG5 at Shanghai later this month we’ve got sketches of what MG’s hatch will look like.