98 99 Mazda 626 R. Side View Mirror Power Non-heated 497312 on 2040-parts.com

IIHS names safest cars for 2013

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has named the safest cars for 2013, including 13 midsize sedans that qualify for a new “top safety pick+” designation. The designation is given to vehicles that earn “good” ratings for occupant protection in at least four of five tests, with no less than “acceptable” in the fifth test. A new test -- the small overlap test -- was added to assess how the vehicles perform during a front-corner collision with another vehicle or object, such as a utility pole.

BMW to offer rear-wheel drive X3 SUV

Most BMW X3s spend a negligible amount of time off road - apart from crunching across Middle England's gravel driveways - so BMW has seen fit to release a version that ditches the all-paw capacity and reverts to classic rear-wheel drive. While it's still going to be some way from a classic rear-drive Ultimate Driving Machine, the X3 sDrive18d is the cheapest and most economical way into X3 ownership. You'll be able to get your hands on one from £28,580 when it arrives in the UK in the autumn of 2012.

Geneva Show 2014: High-tech Lamborghini blows in

PRIDE OF PLACE on the Lamborghini stand at the Geneva Motor Show this year was taken by the brand-new Huracan supercar. Tasked with replacing the popular and long-running Gallardo, the Huracan claims to be faster, more efficient and more high-tech than its predecessor. The biggest change is a switch in the construction, which now uses a mix of aluminium and carbonfibre to create a big increase in stiffness but a lighter structure.