Lotus Elan Ashtray on 2040-parts.com

Fewer people being killed in car-truck collisions, study finds

Death rates in crashes between big trucks and cars dropped 64 percent in 2008-09 compared with 2000-01, according to an insurance-industry study of government data. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety cited changes in vehicle design, particularly for SUVs and pickups, as a key factor in the decline. The number of deaths for car and minivan passengers involved in crashes with larger vehicles fell from 44 per million in 2000-01 to 16 deaths per million in 2008-09, the study found.

Chrysler recalls Jeeps for fire risk

Chrysler has decided to recall 2.7 million 1993 to 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002 to 2007 Liberty models for a potential risk relating to the fuel tank placement between the rear bumper and rear axle. The recall is initiated 15 days after the automaker originally denied a request following a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation. On June 4, one day after NHTSA's finding, Chrysler rejected the request in a media statement, stating the NHTSA's initial conclusions are based on “incomplete analysis of the underlying data.” Chrysler said the impacted models met or exceeded all applicable requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, including the ones pertaining to fuel system integrity.

Autumn issue of Interior Motives magazine out now

The autumn edition of Car Design News' quarterly interior design publication, Interior Motives magazine, is out now. As ever, it features in-depth design development articles on the most interesting and important concept and production vehicles launched in recent months. This issue's cover star is the Buick Riviera concept, first seen at the Shanghai show in April.