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Crash avoidance technology 'can cut crashes by a third'

GROUND-BREAKING rear-end crash avoidance technology can cut the likelihood of these accidents by up to a third, according to the latest crash test results by European safety body Euro NCAP. The Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) systems were trialled by Euro NCAP, which independently tests the crash safety standards of new cars in Europe. It tested the cars by driving them towards a dummy car made of an airbag to see which would stop before a collision occurred.

Confirmed: Kia’s new GT super coupe

Back in 2011 Kia’s Frankfurt show car was the inspiring GT Concept. Now we can report, directly from Korea, that Kia management intends to bring that concept to a street near you in two years. Kia is on something of a roll, with a portfolio of good-looking models built under the design guidance of German Peter Schreyer, the guy behind the original Audi TT.

Drivers 'concerned' by automatic speed limit technology

THREE QUARTERS of drivers say they are concerned about new technology that automatically changes the speed of a car. These Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) systems are designed to force cars to drive within the speed limit and can automatically reduce a car’s speed without the driver’s input. The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) says 75% of drivers it asked thought ISA systems would compromise safety, while 78% did not want to see this technology retro-fitted to older cars.

FBI hunts £1.8m eBay car fraudster

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the USA has issued a wanted poster for Nicolae Popescu, a Romanian man they suspect of leading a “sophisticated internet fraud scheme where criminal conspirators, posted advertisements on internet auction sites for merchandise for sale”. The scam – predominantly carried out using eBay Motors – convinced would-be buyers to part with money for cars that didn’t exist. On Bing: see pictures of car fraud 15 car-selling scams every car buyer should know about The conspirators posed as eBay sellers and then sent fraudulent invoices, that appeared to be from legitimate online payment services, with instructions for payment to bank accounts held in the United States.

Nissan teases all-new 2014 Qashqai crossover

Nissan has revealed a teaser image of the next Qashqai, the all-new second-generation version of its ground-breaking crossover, which is due to go on sale in 2014. The real thing is set to be unveiled on Thursday 7 November 2013, and Nissan is promising the new Qashqai will “redefine the crossover sector and set new standard across the board.” On Bing: see pictures of the Nissan Qashqai Find out how much a used Nissan Qashqai costs on Auto Trader This is no small matter for Nissan – in fact, the firm describes the new Qashqai as the most significant car in its modern history, the original version having defined an entirely new sector of the marketplace. If the Qashqai didn’t strictly invent the crossover concept, it certainly made it popular beyond even Nissan’s wildest dreams, offering buyers an SUV-style image with the running costs and driving dynamics of a conventional family hatchback and the practicality of a people carrier.

Woman ticketed for driving with Google Glasses

A Californian woman is thought to be the first ever motorist to receive a ticket for driving while wearing ‘Google Glass’ computer spectacles. Cecilia Abadie was written up under a state law banning drivers from watching TV behind the wheel, which the officer in question believed Ms Abadie’s transgression fell under. But there’s a twist… On Bing: see pictures of Google Glass Google driverless cars ‘safer than humans’ Ms Abadie claims the augmented reality device – which displays information on a tiny screen in a smartphone-like hands-free format in front of the wearer’s eye – was actually switched off at the time.

JLR announces £16.3m Evoque_e research project

Jaguar Land Rover has announced it will invest £16.3 million into an ‘Advanced Powertrain Research Project’ – which could lead to an electric Evoque_e version of its small SUV. Jaguar Land Rover will work in conjunction with British technology company and race car manufacturer Zytek Automotive to develop new hybrid and battery-electric vehicle technology. On Bing: see pictures of the Range Rover Evoque Find out how much a used Range Rover Evoque costs on Auto Trader Although the collaborative research project has been named ‘Evoque_e’, neither organisation has yet confirmed if an alternatively-fuelled Evoque off-roader is in the pipeline.

Social media could put your car at risk of theft

USING TWITTER, Facebook and other social media could alert thieves to you being out of your house and allow them to break in to take keys and steal your car. The threat of thieves using Twitter to spot car owners who are out for the night or on holiday has been highlighted by Tracker, a company that specialises in stolen vehicle recovery. Its Police Relationships Manager Stuart Chapman said: ‘The changing face of car theft means that owners have to take more precautions than they would a few years ago.

Webber beats Vettel to pole in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Mark Webber is on pole for 2013 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Mark Webber may be about to end his F1 career, but that hasn’t stopped him competing. And compete he has at the Yas Marina Track by beating team mate Sebastian Vettel in to second place and claiming pole position at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Behind the two Red Bulls is the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg followed by Lewis Hamilton (who spun on his final qualifying lap) with Kimmi Raikkonen – who is far from a happy bunny – starting tomorrow’s 2013 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in fifth place.

Mercedes want more Tesla-powered EVs. A-Class & CLA EV?

The Mercedes B-Class EV (pictured) could be joined by more Tesla-powered compact Mercedes EVS When Tesla was still trying to be something more than just the Silicon Valley company that put an electric motor in a Lotus to create the Tesla Roadster, Mercedes took a stake with an eye to the future. That deal between Mercedes and Tesla has already reaped some rewards with the Smart EV and electric B-Class, but it seems Mercedes wants more EVs in its lineup and wants Tesla to provide the powertrains and batteries. Speaking to Reuters, Daimler’s CFO, Bodo Uebber, said they were looking at more ways to work with Tesla and that they were looking to fo more in the premium compact arena to appeal to a younger demographic.

2014 Honda Accord hybrid starts at $29,905

The 2014 Honda Accord hybrid goes on sale today, with a base price of $29,905, including destination. The EX-L model goes for $32,695, and the top Touring model will sell for $35,695. All versions of the hybrid get Honda’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine with a two-motor hybrid system.

New Porsche Macan leaks out

New Porsche Macan leaks out Porsche has been on a mission to raise interest in the new Macan, and we’ve had teaser photos of the Macan and video of the new Macan playing on the sand dunes. Now we get the first undisguised photos. The Macan photos (above) are from Auto Motor und Sport magazine and leaked out online with almost three weeks to go until the Macan gets its official reveal in Los Angeles.

Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Editions arrive with first owners (video)

Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Editions arrive with first owners The Alfa 4C seems like its taken a very long time to arrive, but the first 4Cs are now in the hands of their owners with Alfa making a bit of a show of the first deliveries of the Alfa 4C launch edition. To garner a bit of PR from the handing over of the first five 4Cs, Alfa Romeo had a bit of a hand over ceremony at the Balocco Test Centre in Vercelli, Italy. The lucky recipients of the first 4Cs (none from the UK) were Pierluigi De Silvestro from Switzerland, Philippe Walch from France, Carlos Diniz from Germany, Aldo Mariani from the Netherlands and Stefano Zanotti from Italy.

Lexus IS sedan highlights SEMA show display

This is the year of the IS for Lexus at the SEMA show, with seven of the sports sedans all together on different stands scattered around various halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center. But there will also be one LFA and a bicycle. Let's start with the LFA.

Subaru's Levorg concept set for Tokyo

Subaru has revealed the first teaser images of its Levorg tourer concept ahead of its unveiling at next month's Tokyo Motor Show. The concept, which previews a new 2014 model, is designed to blur the line between a tourer's practicality and a sports car's design and will target the Japanese market. Its name is derived from a combination of the words ‘Legacy', ‘Revolution' and ‘Touring'.

Red Bull do doughnuts on the Burj Al Arab Helipad to celebrate F1 title (video)

David Coulthard gives the thumbs up whilst doing doughnuts Sebastian Vettel may be cool, collected and composed behind the wheel of his Red Bull F1, but even an in-control German needs to let off steam when he’s just taken his fourth F1 drivers title in a row. So at last week’s Indian Grand Prix, Seb celebrated his title win by producing a series of doughnuts in his car on the finish line, much to the annoyance of FIA officials who fined him €25k for his celebrations. But the latest doughnuts by an F1 team won’t have the FIA up in arms (probably) even if the stunt Red Bull have pulled to mark their latest achievements will give anyone who’s afraid of heights the heebie-jeebies.

Mitsubishi XR-PHEV, Concept GC-PHEV and Concept AR revealed for Tokyo

Mitsubishi XR-PHEV, Concept GC-PHEV and Concept AR revealed for Tokyo With the Tokyo Motor Show arriving at the end of the month, Japanese car makers are revealing the concepts they hope will steal the limelight at their home show, and today it’s the turn of Mitsubishi to reveal the three new concept cars heading for the show. The three Mistubishi concepts were teased in a moody, shadowy photo in October, but we now get details of the XR-PHEV, Concept GC-PHEV and Concept AR. The Concept GC-PHEV is Mitsubishi’s vision of a next-generation full-size SUV and comes with 4WD and a plug-in hybrid powertrain consisting of a 3.0 litre V6 supercharged engine mated to an eight-speed auto box with a high-output electric motor and high-capacity battery.

One Lap of the Web: XKR-S GT, Honda bikes and a new Bugatti

Journalist Chris Harris got a chance to take the Jaguar XKR-S GT for a spin on the track in the latest Drive video. The GT gets Jag's 5.0-liter V8 making 550 hp and 501 lb-ft, which is the same as XKR-S. However, plenty of improvements are made in the chassis.

McLaren celebrates 50 years at Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance

The company that revolutionized motorsport will celebrate 50 years at the 19th annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance this coming March. Five decades of classic McLaren racers will be on display, including honoree Jochen Mass' 1977 McLaren M23 Formula One racer as a part of the “Cars of Jochen Mass” class. McLaren earned its reputation by not only dominating the motorsport world, but also through relentless pursuit of more speed and technology.

Would you buy a Ford Mondeo station wagon?

Last week we asked if you would be interested in a Chevrolet S10 that's available in most countries in South America and the Australian market, among others. A few of you welcomed the idea of a smaller alternative to the Silverado, and the availability of relatively small-displacement gas and diesel engines. There were some fans of the truck's looks and the choice of bodystyles offered.

Concept Car of the Week: GM-X Stiletto (1964)

With dreams of flying cars as the ultimate inspiration, General Motors designers in the ‘60s used every trick possible to make their creations appear as though they were floating – long, straight bodies, wheels pushed in and hidden away, large fins and lights that looked like rockets. As William L. Mitchell took the reins of GM Design, he brought a more high-tech approach, with simpler surfaces, a more restrained use of chrome and a general sense of elegant simplicity.

Car sales rise as shutdown ends

DETROIT -- Combined U.S. sales by the Detroit 3 rose 14 percent last month, helped by strong demand for sedans and pickups and an increase in showroom traffic after the partial government shutdown ended. General Motors reported a 16 percent gain after losing market share in August and September.

Amazing muscle car and rare supercars go to auction

The forthcoming RKM Collector Car Auction at the Charlotte Convention Centre, USA features - as you'd expect - a wealth of American muscle cars. But sift through the catalogue and you'll discover some very interesting lots from Europe and Japan, too. We couldn't help but take a closer look, starting with a McLaren F1 car, formerly driven by James Hunt...

Porsche Panamera Turbo S (2013) pictures, specs, and price

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 01 November 2013 11:00 Four years after hitting the showrooms, Porsche’s love-or-loathe it Panamera limousine is still trying to outrun jibes about its controversial looks. If any model stands a chance, it’s the new Panamera Turbo S, which has received a healthy power increase for its facelifted iteration. The new Panamera Turbo S is the most powerful mass production Porsche currently on sale – only 918 units of the 918 Spyder hybrid supercar are being built, so we won’t count that.

Mitsubishi previews Tokyo motor show concepts

Mitsubishi Motors has released more details on three concept cars at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, which we will be attending, and all three concepts have something in common -- they're all SUVs with hybrid technology. And three weeks before the start of the show Mitsubishi Motors has released more details previewing the concept cars since announcing the concepts earlier in October. First up is the Mitsubishi Concept GC-PHEV, in the center of the photo, which is meant to preview a next-generation full-size SUV with full-time four-wheel drive.

M25 shut again as lorry overturns

TRAFFIC CHAOS has been brought to one of Britain's busiest motorways after the M25 has had to be closed for the second time in three days - again due to a serious accident involving an overturned lorry. Today's incident, which is resulting in long tailbacks, has resulted in injuries to two people, with one in a critical condition, police said. The stretch of road shut is the M25 between junction 23 at South Mimms in Hertfordshire and junction 25 at the junction with the A10 north of Enfield in north London.

VAT-free Alto offer extended

YOUNG car buyers have some early festive cheer to celebrate, with the announcement that Suzuki has extended its ‘VAT-free’ offer on the cute Alto city car model until the end of the year. The deal effectively takes £1,200 off the list price of the entry-level Alto SZ. That makes the five-door runabout just £5,999 to buy, and with a low deposit of £779 it can be driven away for £99 per month.

Porsche reveals Panamera Turbo S

PORSCHE has taken the wraps off its new Panamera Turbo S, built for those who think the regular Turbo is neither fast nor exclusive enough. Prices will start at more than £131,000 for the car, which uses a twin-turbocharged 562bhp V8 petrol engine and four-wheel drive to catapult its two-tonne bulk to 62mph in just 3.8 seconds, on the way to a top speed of 192mph. Fuel economy is recorded as 27.7mpg on the European standard ‘combined cycle’ average, but drivers in the real world should expect around 20.

Driver accused over Google Glass

AN EARLY ADOPTER of Google's Internet-connected glasses plans to fight a fine for wearing the device while driving in California. She says the technology makes navigation easier than smartphones and GPS devices. Cecilia Abadie was pulled over for speeding and a California Highway Patrol officer noticed she was wearing Google Glass and added a ticket usually given to drivers who may be distracted by a video or TV screen.

Public urged to give view on A9 plan

THE PUBLIC have been urged to have their say on the design of the most expensive road project in Scotland's history. The £3 billion upgrade of the A9, which runs from central Scotland to the north coast, to full dual carriageway will cost more than the M74 completion, the new Forth road bridge and the Aberdeen bypass combined. The first public displays setting out the logistical and environmental impact of the first £40 million section of the upgrade, from Kincraig to Dalraddy in the Highlands, will be unveiled this month.