Redesigned 2013 Honda Accord aims to lead in safety, fuel economy

The redesigned 2013 Honda Accord will go on sale this fall with a shorter overall length, a new engine family and a continuously variable transmission--huge engineering changes for a signature car that has slipped against mid-sized rivals. Honda released the first images of the production version of the Accord sedan and coupe on Wednesday but provided few additional details about the cars. The 2013 sedan--weighing less than the outgoing model, but with more passenger and cargo room--features nearly flush windshield glass, flush-mounted windshield wipers and available LED daytime running lights, headlights and taillights.

New Mercedes B-Class (2012) arrives

2012 Mercedes B-Class – now it’s official It looks like we may have to hold our hands up and confess that we may have been mistaken about the 2012 Mercedes B-Class. On several fronts. Mercedes are calling the new B-Class a ‘Sports Tourer’, which may be stretching the definition of Sport Tourer in our book, but does point out that the 2012 B-Class is a muck slicker and sleeker product than it predecessor, which was, let’s face it, an A-Class on a McDonalds diet.

Volvo could be heading East

Actually, it could be going absolutely anywhere a bid can be found. As we reported last week, Ford is trying desperately to unload its last remaining prestige marque – Volvo. And, as we thought, the disposal of Volvo by Ford is said to be a condition of the help that Ford, along with the other main US car makers, is begging from the US government.