1999 Volkswagen Beetle Interior Rear View Mirror 2522811 on 2040-parts.com

Active safety features: What your next car needs to have

Car safety used to mean double buckling your seatbelt when you squeezed three people into the front row. Now, with electronic stability control (ESC), cross-traffic alerts and adaptive headlights, it's a bit more difficult to sort through all of the available options. Of course you want to choose the safest car you can for yourself and your family.

GM to modify Chevrolet Volts to guard against battery fire

General Motors will add a structural reinforcement and devices to prevent overfilling of the battery cooling system in the Chevrolet Volt hybrid sedan to prevent the possibility of a fire after a side crash. The changes come seven months after a Volt caught fire three weeks after being crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The government agency in November opened a defect investigation into the Volt because of the battery fire.

Apple and Ferrari—What could be better?

Recently a press release popped into my email (remember when we used to say “came across my desk”?) that said Eddy Cue, Apple's head of Internet software and services, has joined Ferrari's board of directors. The statement said while on the board Cue, a Ferrari owner, will “aid with his experience in Internet-based commerce.” My two cents: It's a brilliant move for both parties, and the ramifications could be huge. Think about it: Does this mean Apple wants to make stuff for cars?