Yamaha 90386-47m22-00 Bush on 2040-parts.com

Nissan tests self-cleaning paint

Well that took long enough. Nanotechnology is here, and Nissan is reportedly using it in the paint on its little Versa Note hatchback. We would have started on something a little more exciting, like the hard-to-care-for matte finish on the GT-R's rear spoiler, but that's just us.

NHTSA safety consultant dies at 64

Miami trauma surgeon and preeminent car-crash researcher Jeffrey Augenstein would often tell the story of the time he was talking to a crash victim who collapsed and died from hidden injuries in the middle of the conversation. The experience led Augenstein to research and then call attention to the unexpected injuries that could occur when drivers interacted with airbags. It's but one example of the achievements of Augenstein, who died recently at age 64.

Porsche 918 Spyder spotted in south LA

The Porsche 918 Spyder is nearing its customer delivery date, which means we're seeing more and more of them on public roads. Observant reader Michael Fuschi spotted an example of the new car heading south from Los Angeles. If you're wondering about the yellow car that the photos are being taken from, it's a Lamborghini Gallardo.