B&j Triple Sprag 3 Speed on 2040-parts.com

Armored Škoda Superb from SVOS has a few tricks up its sleeve

We've all read about armored BMW and Mercedes-Benz cars, and a few of us can even spot them in traffic, but there are plenty of armored options for slightly less flash transportation. Large German sedans make great platforms for armoring, and are one of the most popular choices in countries where there is a need for that sort of thing, but they're far from being the only sedans that can offer security-minded customers the relative peace of mind that comes with ownership of such a car. Besides, if you need to travel discreetly, a Mercedes-Benz S-class isn't always the best option -- which is why armoring companies will gladly modify less-obvious cars like the new Škoda Superb.

Who's Where: Ken Okuyama parts company with Pininfarina

Pininfarina, the Turin, Italy-based automotive styling house, has announced that its design director, Ken Okuyama, has left the company. In a tersely-worded statement Pininfarina said, "The Company's decision comes as a result of the various external activities Ken Okuyama was carrying out beyond his responsibilities within Pininfarina." Ken Okuyama had been Design Director at Pininfarina since July 2005. During this time, Okuyama's most high-profile work was the Maserati Birdcage prototype, created to celebrate 75th anniversary of the Italian styling house.

Bad British drivers 'in denial'

A NEW study has uncovered the extent to which British drivers will stubbornly refuse to admit being wrong or behaving badly on the road. Almost all (98.7%) UK motorists believe they are safe drivers, but only 22.6% of those who had an accident admitted being at fault, which seems to display a degree of denial in British drivers when it comes to behaving badly on the roads. Carrot Insurance, which specialises in providing telematics-based policies to 17-24-year-olds, carried out the survey ahead of this week’s National Road Safety Week campaign and discovered several surprises.