Arias Pistons 12.5:1 Compression 82mm Bore Honda B-series on 2040-parts.com

Continental developing experimental semiautonomous vehicle

A vehicle that drives itself has been a fantasy for many drivers since they encountered their first traffic jam. While a fully autonomous car is not quite here, Continental—yes, the same company that makes tires—has an experimental semiautonomous vehicle that will eclipse the magical 10,000-miles-on-road mark this month. Its unassuming Volkswagen Passat is fitted with a plethora of safety and technology systems that the company has been developing and tweaking over the course of the project.

Iowa distributes thumb bands imprinted with ‘TXTING KILLS'

Thumb bands that read “TXTNG KILLS” have been making their way around the state of Iowa, the Wall Street Journal reports. The bands--which are meant to serve as a reminder to avoid texting while driving--have been distributed at events such as the Iowa State Fair and the Iowa-Iowa State college football game. “A lot of people want them for their kids,” Courtney Greene, spokeswoman for Iowa's Department of Public Safety, told the Wall Street Journal.

Spy shots: Aston Martin DB9 replacement spotted

Fresh from the Autoweek in-box, we bring you these new spy photos of Aston Martin's DB9 successor, lightly camouflaged and frolicking in the snow. To paraphrase digital editor Andy Stoy, the bad news is it that looks like every other Aston. But the good news is that it looks like every other Aston.