Senate committee sends auto-safety bill to the floor for vote

The Senate Commerce Committee voted today to pass a far-reaching vehicle safety bill that has largely won both automaker and consumer support, sending the measure to the full Senate. The bill passed without objections from any senators. The legislation, crafted in the wake of Toyota's safety recalls this year, resembles a House bill that also is now on the floor of that chamber.

Porsche Boxster (2012) first official pictures

Porsche only pulled the covers off the new 911 Cabriolet at the 2012 Detroit motor show three days ago, but it’s already unveiling another convertible: the new Porsche Boxster. Faster, lighter, cleaner, more economical, and (most importantly) better looking than its predecessor, it will be officially revealed at the Geneva motor show in March, before going on sale in the UK on 28 April 2012. Let’s start with the new Porsche Boxster’s looks then… It’s still recognisably a Boxster, but the headlights are now more vertically stacked, the doors are scalloped to flow into the bigger side intakes, a strong crease runs between the tail lamps and integrates with the pop-up rear spoiler, and every line and angle is just a little bit sharper and more dynamic.  The Porschephiles amongst you would have also spotted that the folding fabric roof no longer has a panel to drop behind; instead the roof itself now doubles as the cover when the hood is stowed.

BMW 6-series Convertible (2010) first pictures

BMW has today unveiled the new 6-series convertible. Weirdly, Munich has chosen not to show the new Six at the 2010 LA auto show, where it merely showed the 6-series concept car. BMW has chosen to launch the 6-series production car as a convertible first.