Odyssey Performance Series Batteries Odp-agm34r on 2040-parts.com

Call for stronger penalties for texting drivers

DRIVERS convicted of causing death by dangerous driving should be given stronger and more consistent penalties, according to road safety charity the Institute of Advanced Motorists has said. An IAM analysis of eleven recent prosecutions involving mobile and smartphone use revealed that the average sentence for causing death by dangerous driving is four-and-a-half years in prison and a disqualification from driving for seven years. In all of the cases analysed, the convicted drivers were found to have lost their concentration due to using their mobile phone.

Volkswagen NCC concept

Volkswagen's New Compact Coupe (NCC) concept previews the next Jetta, but with two-doors rather than four. The car's front - minus the hybrid-style closed grille - pretty much represents the new face of the sixth-generation production Jetta due on sale this November, and its syling is informed by the latest Polo as well as some recent concepts from the German brand. Read our opinion of the NCC concept's design in our 2010 Detroit Auto Show Highlights, and see more photos of the showcar in the photo gallery below.

Maserati GranTurismo: Excitement is automatic

Having two personalities is not normally desirable, but for the Maserati GranTurismo S Automatic, it works. Grand-touring cars, by their nature, lead double lives, packing in enough performance to satisfy demanding drivers while being practical enough for every day. This latest iteration of the GranTurismo is yet another fine example from Modena.