Are Car Roofs Tough Enough?

Auto industry appears to have solved vexing problem

(NEWSER) - Newer sport utility vehicles are significantly less deadly than those of decades past, according to a new analysis of federal data. From 2008 to 2009, the fatality rate for passengers in 3,000- to 3,499-pound cars or minivans hit by similarly-sized SUVs was 16 per million registered vehicles. That’s down nearly 64% from the 44 deaths per million rate during the 2000-2001 period, and death rates for car occupants during the most recent period were basically the same whether their vehicle was hit by a car or an SUV. More»

Lawsuit from former company lawyer says Toyota concealed documents in hundreds of cases

(NEWSER) - A former top lawyer for Toyota says the company concealed evidence relating to hundreds of rollover accidents that caused death and injury, the Los Angeles Times reports. The attorney, who says he was forced to resign from the firm in 2007, has filed a lawsuit alleging that engineering data that proved its SUV roofs were substandard was destroyed, and that the company forced him to illegally withhold information. More»

With help from Volvo, firm leads with 16 vehicles

(AP) - The insurance industry named dozens of new cars and trucks, led by Ford and its Volvo subsidiary, to its annual list of the safest vehicles today. Ford and Volvo saw 16 of their 2009 vehicles make the list; Honda followed with 13. Some 72 vehicles received the top safety pick designation, more than double the number that received it in 2008, helped by the increased use of anti-rollover technology. More»

Coming soon to a compactor near you

(NEWSER) - The possibility that one of Detroit's Big Three automakers is headed for the scrap heap left US News and World Report wondering which cars Americans could live without. Here are some top candidates:

• Jeep Commander: This boxy model gets 16 mpg and it shows: sales are down 55%.
• Dodge Durango: Even the hybrid version of this SUV hasn't stopped sales from falling an astonishing 54%.

Demand rising for electric alternatives, so makers, legislators must seize moment

(NEWSER) - Sky-high gas prices are finally pushing top US auto-makers to turn out fuel-efficient vehicles, and both Detroit and Washington should keep the pedal down to make a permanent change in how, and what, Americans drive, the US top car salesman tells the Wall Street Journal. "You have to tell the American people the truth," the CEO of AutoNation says. "Energy costs will be higher." More»