Mercruiser Alpha 1 (gen 2) 3.7, 4.3 L (v6) Upper Gearcase / Sterndrive (1.81:1r) on 2040-parts.com

Small cars bring higher risk while SUVs are safer, insurance-group study finds

As late as 2007, parents were warned against buying their driving-age teens SUVs because of the rollover risk. Now it seems those are some of the safest rides on the road, according to an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study released on Thursday. The Nissan 350Z sports car and the Titan pickup were on the low end of the list, along with the Chevrolet Aveo and the compact Cobalt sedan.

MINI owners paying TWICE for servicing

Don’y pay to service your MINI twice MINI has been busy launching the New MINI of late, with the bigger – and some would say less ‘Mini’ MINI – now revealed in both regular 3-door and new 5-door guise, and many will be popping off to their local MINI showrooms to spec up their new car. And despite a headline starting price for the new MINI Hatch of just £13,750, many buyers will end up adding thousands to the cost once they’ve been tempted by the multitude of options on offer. But one option that’s a real no-brainer is the MINI TLC Pack.

Ford Ka (2009): more photos and details

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 08 September 2008 17:40 Ford has issued more details and photographs of its Ka city car, the Blue Oval's twin of the cutesy Fiat 500. The new Ka will – for the first time – be available as a diesel in the shape of the 74bhp 1.3-litre TDCI model, which can muster a very sensible 67.2mpg on the combined cycle. But don't forget that few 'mini buyers pick diesel in the UK; an oil-burning city car's price premium appears larger and economy gains smaller when compared with bigger cars, making diesel babies like hens' teeth.