Nissan Logo - Lapel Pin (pb1) on 2040-parts.com

Euro NCAP tests for C4, Swift, CR-Z and iX35

The results from the latest round of Euro NCAP crash tests are in, and - surprise, surprise - every car tested came away with a maximum five-star safety rating. The new Citroen C4, Suzuki Swift, Honda CR-Z hybrid and Hyundai iX35 were all put through their paces, and each passed with flying colours. The latest results, while highlighting how far car safety has come in recent years (remember the notorious Rover 100 fiasco of 1997?), are bound to reignite the growing debate that the tests - or at least the marks awarded - need to show more differentiation between models.

Volkswagen e-Golf: MK 7 Golf EV leaks ahead of Geneva debut

An electric version of the MK 7 Volkswagen Golf – the VW e-Golf – has leaked out ahead of a debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. Even though car industry bosses are sure that battery electric cars have no realistic chance of becoming a mainstream option – and the best-selling EV, the Nissan LEAF, has only sold 50k since 2010 – VW are rolling out an electric Golf at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. The VW e-Golf – with pretty much the same underpinnings as the new Mk 7 Golf with an ICE engine – comes with an electric motor driving the front wheels and offering 115bhp and 199lb/ft of torque, enough to get the e-Golf to 62mph in 11.8 seconds and on to a top speed of just 84mph.

2013 Ford Escape hit with two additional recalls

Ford Motor Co. today said it is issuing two additional recalls of its 2013 Escape crossover after receiving reports of fires in 13 more vehicles. They bring the total number of recalls of the 2013 Escape to seven, five of which involve fire risks on models equipped with a 1.6-liter engine.