Motorists Worried About Safety On Smart Motorways

THE IAM is calling for more information and advice on ‘smart’ motorways for drivers. The call comes after a poll conducted by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) discovered that seventy-one per cent of drivers said they would feel less safe on a motorway with no hard shoulder than a motorway with one. One of the main concerns of respondents is the plan to increase the distance between safety refuges with forty-eight per cent believing that safety refuges should be no more than 500 yards apart.

Ford reveals S-Max concept ahead of 2013 Frankfurt motor show

Here's another one that'll probably go straight into the “not bound for United States shores” file: the Ford S-Max concept, which will make its grand debut at the 2013 Frankfurt motor show. Ford says the S-Max previews a “future sport activity vehicle,” which may, in fact, be contemporary PR-speak for “mini-minivan.” Look beyond the carbon-fiber interior detailing (and add some door handles) and you'll see a vehicle that looks more or less production-ready. The S-Max concept isn't too wildly sculpted, sharing styling cues with current Fords (including the Fiesta, Escape/Kuga, C-Max and Fusion/Mondeo) -- from the creases on the hood to the high, hexagonal grille to the stainless steel trim surrounding the greenhouse.

Jumpin' Jeeps: Jeep Design and Mopar roll out new treats in Moab

Jeep and Dodge treat the annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, the same way Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Porsche approach the Frankfurt motor show--it is a serious event deserving of its own concepts and visits by top executives. The fact that Moab, perhaps less so than Frankfurt, is also a ton of fun is purely coincidental. So every year, Jeep and sometimes Dodge roll out concepts in Moab to gauge customer interest and to thrill the faithful.