Mitsubishi Ek Wagon 2004 Heather Blow Motor [3867900] on 2040-parts.com

10 great and safe rides for teens

Thinking about what's the best car for your teen when he or she faces the real word of driving? Here are some suggestions: Dodge Caliber BASE PRICE: $17,090 With five-star front- and side-crash ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a hatchback body, the Caliber is among the safest and most flexible small cars on the market. Ford Focus Ford Focus BASE PRICE: $16,690 The car is long in the tooth, but Ford's continuous refinement of the Focus yields a reliable and still fun-to-drive car with respectable crash-safety results.

"Room for debate" on minimum driving age increase

MOTORISTS are concerned about the minimum driving age, according to new research. More than a third of drivers (35%) think the minimum age should be raised, with 40% of those people believing the starting point should be 21, according to the study carried out by British Car Auctions (BCA). Four in 10 of all people questioned said they felt that a reduction in the overall accident rate would be a welcome outcome of an adjustment of the legal minimum driving age.

Button issues Triathlon challenge

Formula 1 star Jenson Button is challenging his McLaren team-mates to down tools and race him - in the annual triathlon he organises. The 2009 world champion driver is signing up his mechanics to take part in the challenge being staged in July for the third year. Button is a keen athlete who has taken part in a number of triathlons over the years.