Mitsubishi Minicab 1992 Driver Seat [0070500] on 2040-parts.com

Autoweek in review: What you may have missed

It was a slower week in the newsroom as 2012 winded down. On Monday, we learned how motorcycles were coming back and got some ideas for last-minute holiday gifts. In the racing world, the Trans Am Series announced that it’s expanding the 2013 race schedule.

Volvo XC90 grabs IIHS Top Safety Pick+ on its way out

The Volvo XC90 may be the oldest car in Volvo's lineup, with 2013 being the last year for the XC90 before it's replaced by an entirely new model, but it has just captured the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick+ award. The award is a relatively new title, requiring a car or truck to achieve "Acceptable" or "Good" ratings on each IIHS test. Crucial to the Volvo XC90's achievement of this award was its performance in the new small overlap front tests, which test how a vehicle behaves in an front offset crash with a stationary object at high speeds.

Chevrolet Spark EV revealed

The Chevrolet Spark EV – an electric version of the Spark – has been revealed ahead of the Los Angles Auto Show this week with a 130hp electric motor. Key to the appeal of the new Chevy Spark EV is the sort of power and performance you’d normally only see in a little hot hatch. The Spark EV comes with an electric motor that churns out 130hp and a massive 400lb/ft of torque.