Wilwood Dynalite Single 120-4062 on 2040-parts.com

Study: Hybrids safer in accidents, more dangerous to pedestrians

In the first analysis of its kind, the Highway Loss Data Institute found that drivers of hybrid vehicles are, on average, 25 percent less likely to be injured in a crash than drivers of conventional vehicles. Matt Moore, the data institute's vice president and author of the study, said weight was a big factor in its analysis. “Hybrids on average are 10 percent heavier than their standard counterparts,” Moore said in a statement on Thursday.

Jaguar SUV: The rendering begins

Jaguar SUV - two alternative views So we know that a Jaguar SUV is going to happen. We know because Adrian Hallmark – Jaguar’s vocal and opinionated Global Brand Director – said back in December that Jaguar “…need a crossover and we need to stop being a saloon-based company.” And although Adrian has sometimes managed to speak without engaging brain first, what he says should be taken seriously – even if there are perhaps those at JLR who would rather there was a 3 second live delay on Adrian’s musings at times. So the confirmation that an SUV or SAV or Crossover – or whatever you want to call a high-riding Jaguar – is going to happen means we can all speculate on what it will be and what it will look like.

BMW's quirky new i3

The side view of the new BMW i3 electric vehicle takes some getting used to, with no two windows the same size or shape. The i3 is high-waisted through the front door and then there's a notch for a taller rear-passenger window and the rear-hinged rear door and a narrow, tapering window at the rear quarter. Yet when you look at the underlying structure -- made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic -- an innovative choice for a mass-produced car -- there's a giant side opening from front to rear.