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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.

BMW Individual program extends to 4-series Coupe and Convertible

Not that long ago BMW Individual was a little-known client program that offered unique materials and equipment to customer specification. While this may sound like a secret menu with an expanded list of interior options, in reality BMW Individual offered just about anything that buyers of Bentley or Rolls-Royce cars could specify. In the 1990s, for example, BMW Individual was the division responsible for completing the interior and exteriors of clients' L7 limousines, customizing such things as the options on the rear center console, fitting blue strobe packages and communications equipment, and creating interiors per customer specifications.

OnStar tests Facebook updates, text-message reading services

General Motors' OnStar service is launching new features with the latest generation of its technology and is testing applications such as reading text messages and updating social-networking Web sites via voice command. The ninth generation of OnStar's software will let GM car owners use their smartphone to remotely start the engine and lock or unlock their cars. The service is called OnStar MyLink.