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VW Passat (2011) first pictures: it's Passat Mk7

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 29 September 2010 20:00 Volkswagen tonight kicked off its now-traditional eve-of-show party at the French expo with an unveiling of its new wares. The new seventh-generation VW Passat is the star on Volkswagen’s Paris motor show stand – and these are the first photographs of the new Passat v7.0.It’s a modest refresh, akin to the jump from Golf Mk5 to Golf Mk6. There’s the latest Volkswagen design lingo masterminded by Klaus Bischoff, a smattering of new tech and the inevitable eco solutions.This is the seventh-generation VW Passat.

Volt, Leaf win top safety rating in crash test

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf electric cars won the highest safety ratings in crash tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, putting them in the top 57 percent of models tested so far this year. About 80 of 140 vehicles tested among 2011-2012 models have received the Institute's "top safety pick," the group's award for state-of-the-art crash protection that exceeds federal safety rules, Institute spokesman Russ Rader said. The Volt and Leaf received a "good" rating -- the highest of four rankings -- on each of four crash tests, said the Institute, which is funded by auto insurers including State Farm, All-State and Geico.

Overhaul of Nissan GT-R includes power boost

The 2012 Nissan GT-R, which arrives in the United States next year, gets its biggest overhaul since the high-performance sports car was relaunched in 2007--with a premium placed on more horsepower and better fuel efficiency. Nissan Motor Co. boosts engine output to 530 hp, from 485 in the current model.