Volt, Leaf win top safety rating in crash test

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf electric cars won the highest safety ratings in crash tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, putting them in the top 57 percent of models tested so far this year. About 80 of 140 vehicles tested among 2011-2012 models have received the Institute's "top safety pick," the group's award for state-of-the-art crash protection that exceeds federal safety rules, Institute spokesman Russ Rader said. The Volt and Leaf received a "good" rating -- the highest of four rankings -- on each of four crash tests, said the Institute, which is funded by auto insurers including State Farm, All-State and Geico.

USED VALUES HOLD STEADY

THERE was no change in the value of the average used car between October and November 2010, according to new figures from BCA. November values were down £111 year-on-year and remained at £5,792 There was a slight increase in the volume of used vehicles reaching the market in November, but not enough to provoke any change. A seasonal lack of interest on the market is to blame for the lack of fluctuation as well as travel difficulties created by the cold weather, according to BCA, and the drop off in demand is likely to remain into December.

Jaguar F-Type Coupe Configurator now LIVE

Jaguar F-Type Coupe Configurator now LIVE. ‘Our’ F-Type Coupe R cost over £100k It does look like the Jaguar F-Type Coupe – revealed last week at the Los Angeles Auto Show – is all the car we hoped it would be, and more so with the arrival of the 542bhp F-Type R Coupe. With deliveries expected to start in spring 2014, you may have to wait a while to get in to Jaguar’s most appealing car since the E-Type launched 50 years ago, but you can scratch that itch a bit by building your own F-Type Coupe on Jaguar’s new F-Type Coupe Configurator.