1961-66 Ford Truck F100-350 Horn Button on 2040-parts.com

NHTSA unveils new safety ratings; BMW and Hyundai first to get five stars

The 2011 BMW 5-series and the Hyundai Sonata were the first two cars to achieve five-star ratings under NHTSA's revised safety ratings announced on Tuesday. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will rate a total of 24 cars, 20 SUVs, nine pickups and two vans for the 2011 model year. The federal agency has significantly modified its rating process and will now grade side-pole testing and crash-prevention technologies such as lane-departure warning and electronic stability control.

BMW & Toyota to collaborate on next-generation lithium-ion battery cells

Toyota & BMW to work together on next-gen lithium-ion batteries BMW and Toyota are to work together to develop next-generation lithium-ion battery technology to try and make battery power more effective. Late last year we learnt that BMW and Toyota are to work more closely to share technology and expertise as the car industry enters a period of consolidation and partnership to try and keep R&D costs under control, and make their products more cost-effective. The result of the BMW Toyota tie-up sees BMW getting access to some of Toyota’s Hybrid nous and Toyota getting access to BMW’s excellent diesel engines.

Ford Motor Company Fund expands driver-education program for teens

Driving Skills for Life (DSFL), a free program sponsored by the Ford Motor Company Fund to teach teen drivers safe driving skills, will be coming to 31 more cities this year as part of the DSFL national high-school tour and community program. New sites for the clinic include Albany, N.Y.; Louisville, Ky.; Atlanta; Phoenix, and Boston. “There is nothing more important than the safety of our young people on the road,” said Jim Graham, manager of DSFL.