1957 Chevy Bel Air Chrome Ignition Bezel on 2040-parts.com

NHTSA proposes rules for automakers to add sound to hybrids, EVs

Automakers would need to make hybrids and electric vehicles emit sound under rules that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed on Monday. The rules, ordered by Congress three years ago, are meant to protect pedestrians and bicyclists from vehicles that make little sound when using electric power. NHTSA says that designing the vehicles to make noise at speeds below 18 mph would prevent about 2,800 injuries over the life of each model year of vehicles.

Ford S-Max (2015) second-gen family favourite spied in USA

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 14 February 2014 16:00 The new Ford S-Max won’t reach UK dealers until early 2015, due to a new Ford supply backlog caused by the closure of the firm’s production plant in Genk, Belgium. In the meantime, Ford is pushing ahead with development of the new S-Max, seen testing here alongside the first-gen model that’s been on sale since 2006. These spy shots come from the United States, where the new S-Max has been spied testing for the first time since its concept car outgoing.

Nissan LEAF EV sales top 50,000

Nissan has revealed that sales of the electric LEAF have now topped 50,000 units since the LEAF went on sale in 2010. We’re not fans of the electric car as a replacement for the ICE car, but some electric cars can give a fair impression (at a a price) of a traditional family car, and the Nissan LEAF probably does it better than any other electric car. The LEAF went on sale in 2010 and, although sales have not been exactly huge, Nissan has revealed that the LEAF has now passed more than 50,000 cars sold in the 17 countries it is available, with the U.S.