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Hyundai, Kia, Genesis and Subaru clean up in IIHS 2018 safety ratings

Hyundai, its partner Kia and its Genesis division are the big winners in the latest vehicle safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, accounting for six of the 15 models that earned the Top Safety Pick+ awards for 2018. Subaru was right behind with four, Mercedes-Benz had two, and Toyota, BMW and Ford each had one. Another 47 vehicles earned the Top Safety Pick designation, where Toyota had 10 vehicle models, with Hyundai recognized for nine models. All but one of the seven vehicles in Subaru's lineup, the BRZ, qualified for one of the awards. IIHS strengthened the criteria for the Top Safety Pick+ award for 2018 to require headlights to earn a "good" rating — an "acceptable" rating was previously enough to notch the "plus" award — and good or acceptable passenger-side protection in the small overlap front crash, which replicates a crash involving just the front corner of a vehicle. It also required vehicles to have acceptable or good headlights for the first time to earn a Top Safety Pick award. Most of winners for both awards qualified on the basis of optional upgrades. IIHS in October began evaluating the passenger side of vehicles in its small overlap front crash test after it said it became clear that automakers were neglecting that side of the vehicle as they focused on improving driver-side protections. IIHS first began conducting driver-side small overlap crashes in 2012. It began measuring both how well low and high beams illuminated the road and the amount of glare they produce for oncoming vehicles as part of its ratings in 2016. The Top Safety Pick+ winners are listed below. The list doesn't include any minivans, pickups or minicars, which don't appear on either list of awardees. Small cars Kia Forte Kia Soul Subaru Impreza (sedan and wagon) Subaru WRX Midsize cars Subaru Legacy Subaru Outback Toyota Camry Large luxury cars BMW 5 series Genesis G80 Genesis G90 Lincoln Continental Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan Midsize SUVs Hyundai Santa Fe Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Midsize luxury SUV Mercedes-Benz GLC The full list of Top Safety Pick winners is available here.Related Video: Image Credit: IIHS BMW Genesis Hyundai Kia Lincoln Subaru Toyota Safety Crossover SUV Wagon Sedan crash test

BMW reclaims US luxury sales crown from Mercedes

The numbers, they are in: BMW has reclaimed the luxury-sales crown from Mercedes by a margin of 9,347 cars. Mercedes donned the king's headgear in 2013 after a strong final quarter of 2013 when the new CLA and S-Class poured out of dealerships. This year, led by the 3 Series/4 Series and X5, BMW sold 339,738 units – a 9.8-percent increase year-on-year. Mercedes, led by the C-Class and M-Class, saw its sales go up by 5.7 percent to 330,391 units. We'll have to wait a bit to see if there's another registrations-vs-sales challenge as in 2012, when BMW was anointed US luxury ruler. Behind them, a dark horse named Lexus nudged closer to the leading Teutons, selling 311,389 cars. The Japanese luxury automaker also had the biggest gain among the top three, its sales rising by 13.7 percent compared to 2013. Audi had the biggest sales of anyone among the top five, though, with a 15.2-percent gain to 182,011, which moved it a spot ahead of Cadillac; the Wreath-and-Crest brand dropped 6.5 percent to 170,750. Acura (167,843), Infiniti (117,300), and Lincoln (94,474) took the final positions. Speaking of Lincoln, sales at the once-mighty luxury marque stand as the mightiest jump of any on this list, up 15.6 percent. That's the power of Matthew McConaughey... and better cars and a new crossover, sure. So now that we're back to Round One of 2015, in case no one else has said it yet: "Ok, fight!"

Hennessey’s 600-hp Lincoln Navigator is here

The tuners at Hennessey have begun deliveries of the 2018 Lincoln Navigator HPE600, a full-size SUV that boosts the Navigator's normal 450-horsepower output to 600 hp, announcing its arrival with a video showing the performance 'ute riding a dynamometer. Hennessey said it was a natural decision to turn to the Navigator because it has mostly the same 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine as the F-150 Raptor, which it converted last year to the 602-hp 6x6 VelociRaptor. So it added engine management computer software upgrades, a stainless steel exhaust system, high-flow air induction and large front-mounted intercooler with blow-off valve. Dyno results in the video show the Navigator topping out at around 500 hp and 500 pound-feet of torque at around 3,800 rpm at the wheels; Hennessey says the 600 hp comes at 6000 rpm. The upgrades are good to take the nearly three-ton SUV from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds, about 0.7 seconds quicker than the standard Navigator, and run the quarter mile in 12.9 seconds at 107 mph. The tuning package will set you back $19,950, including installation. Additional options include 22-inch forged monoblock wheels, lowered suspension and Brembo brakes with six-piston calipers and 15.1-inch brake rotors. There are also HPE600 badges on the front door jambs and tailgate, and embroidered headrests. It comes with a three-year, 36,000-mile warranty. Just 200 are planned for the 2018 model. You can order it now through Hennessey or any authorized Hennessey Lincoln dealer. Related Video: Image Credit: Hennessey Lincoln SUV Luxury Performance Hennessey tuner lincoln navigator tuning