Before seatbelts became a required safety feature, cars already included several technologies designed to protect drivers and passengers. Automakers experimented with padded dashboards, safety glass, collapsible steering columns, stronger passenger compartments, door locks, hydraulic brakes,…

Few things in car culture stir people like a great engine note. It can raise the hair on your neck before the car even rounds the corner. Sound is not a spec you can measure…

Automatic emergency braking is now standard on almost every new car. Not every system works well, though. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests these systems with its tougher vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention 2.0 protocol.…

Charging speed is the new horsepower. Buyers no longer ask only how far an EV goes. They ask how quickly it gets going again. A fast stop changes road trips completely. The April 2026 results from…

Every year, a handful of new cars barely register on the sales charts. The first quarter of 2026 was no different. Some of these cars are brilliant machines. Others are simply caught at an awkward…

Long before modern automatic transmissions, dual-clutch systems, and computer-controlled gear changes became common, engineers were already searching for smarter ways to transmit power. Vintage cars from the early and mid-20th century featured remarkable gearboxes that…

Modern cars are packed with features that once seemed expensive, unusual, or unnecessary. Anti-lock brakes, airbags, navigation systems, rear cameras, hybrid powertrains, and smartphone connectivity are now familiar parts of everyday driving. Many of these…

Cars usually follow a familiar formula with two front seats, a rear bench, and enough room for passengers to travel comfortably. However, some manufacturers have challenged that conventional layout by placing seats in unexpected positions,…

Most drivers buckle up without thinking. A small group does not. These part-time users are where the danger lies. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has spent years studying them. Its seat belt reminder ratings…

An EV battery is among the most expensive components in any electric vehicle, making its warranty one of the most important ownership protections to understand. Most manufacturers provide substantial high-voltage battery coverage, but the details…

A standard sheet of plywood measures 4 by 8 feet, or 48 by 96 inches, which immediately eliminates most cars and many SUVs from consideration. The challenge is not simply having a large cargo volume.…

A flat tire can quickly turn an ordinary drive into a major inconvenience, particularly when a vehicle comes with only an inflation kit or a small temporary spare. However, some modern vehicles still offer something…

Ralph Lauren’s automotive collection is one of the world’s most celebrated private collections, bringing together prewar Grand Prix cars, legendary Ferraris, important British sports cars, and modern hypercars. Its appeal is not based simply on…

3D printing has moved well beyond concept cars and engineering prototypes. Automakers are now using additive manufacturing to produce selected components that can be installed on production vehicles, while development programs are testing whether printed…

Every car owner dreads the moment a mechanic says the repair will cost more than $500. That figure is small for a heavy-duty truck but painful for a compact sedan. This ranking uses a simple…

Electric vehicle adoption is increasing, but convenient and affordable charging remains a key consideration for drivers. A recent finding highlights a significant gap between awareness and participation in utility charging programs. While 69% of EV…

Modern cars can do far more than transport people. Connected vehicles can communicate with cellular networks, smartphones, navigation systems, apps, and cloud services, creating new streams of information about where a vehicle goes and how…

Luxury buyers pay for comfort, speed, and prestige. Safety should sit on that list too. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety raised its bar again for 2026. The Top Safety Pick+ award is now harder…

Artificial intelligence has moved from science fiction into everyday driving. Modern vehicles can understand conversational voice commands, recognize where a driver is looking, adjust assistance based on driving behavior, and use machine-learning algorithms to control…

Space exploration has produced more than rockets, satellites, and spacecraft. Some of the research created for extreme conditions beyond Earth has eventually found practical uses on American roads and in motorsports. NASA’s technology transfer program…