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Mercedes shows the future of crash protection

By Mark Nichol Motor Industry 09 June 2009 10:00 It might look familiar, but the Mercedes ESF 2009 concept is about as futuristic as they come. Ostensibly an S400 Hybrid, the car showcases the very latest Mercedes safety technology, some of which will be in mainstream models soon, and some of which is, frankly, pure fantasy mollycoddling. The concept will be officially unveiled next week, but CAR has already been to the company’s Stuttgart base for a sneak preview.

Hyundai Curb Concept at Detroit

Hyundai Curb Concept - on show at Detroit Whatever your opinion about Hyundai - and Kia, for that matter – we’d bet that it’s changed in the last few years. From dismissing Hyundai as the Lada for our age, you’ve probably come to accept, as have we, that they are churning out cars that deserve a place in the market. Hyundai’s offerings may not be up your street – you may prefer something with a posher badge – but what’s on offer with Hyundai’s latest models does need to be considered alongside much of the best from Japan, if you’re looking to buy in that market.

Hood-ornament quiz--the answers

Were you able to separate the Cadillac from the Packard in our hood-ornaments challenge in the April 5 issue of AutoWeek? We wanted to know whether you could identify eight classic cars solely by their hood ornaments. Here's the place to confirm your car-knowledge prowess, or to recalibrate your hood-ornament history.