01 Jetta Speedometer Instrument Cluster Dash Panel Gauges 128,715 on 2040-parts.com

Volvo celebrates the seatbelt’s golden anniversary

By Freddie Fulton Motor Industry 12 August 2009 10:11 Today marks the 50th anniversary of the three-point seatbelt. It was patented by Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin in 1959, but the Swedes magnanimously opened up the tech to other car makers as they saw the real-world safety benefit of seatbelts in all cars. The design was so effective that in Germany the patent registrars listed it in the top eight inventions which have made an impact from 1885 to 1985.

Porsche Boxster

The Porsche Boxster has been completely redesigned as it enters its third generation since its introduction in 1996. As can be expected from the Stuttgart manufacturer, the design is progressive, evolving the familiar two-seater into a more distinctive proposition within the Porsche range. Its proportions are also altered, with a flatter silhouette and shorter overhangs, while the base of the windscreen has been significantly shifted forward.

Dealer unleashes limited-edition Viper roadster

Before production of the Viper ended earlier this month, Dodge made sure to send out the current generation of the V10 supercar with numerous limited-editions. Versions such as the 1:33, the Voodoo Viper, the ACR-X and dealer-exclusive models all trickled out of Chrysler's Conner Avenue assembly plant in Detroit. Arguably, the track-only ACR-X is the most extreme iteration, but hidden within the group of dealer-exclusive models is another noteworthy special model: the SRT10 Convertible ACR built specifically for Woodhouse Dodge in Blair, Neb.