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Poor headlights cause 40 cars to miss IIHS Top Safety Pick rating

Over the past few months, we've noticed a number of cars and SUVs that have come incredibly close to earning one of the IIHS's highest accolades, the Top Safety Pick rating. They have great crash test scores and solid automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning systems. What trips them up is headlights. That got us wondering, how many vehicles are there that are coming up short because they don't have headlights that meet the organization's criteria for an "Acceptable" or "Good" rating. This is a revision made after 2017, a year in which headlights weren't factored in for this specific award. This is also why why some vehicles, such as the Ford F-150, might have had the award last year, but have lost it for this year. We reached out to someone at IIHS to find out. He responded with the following car models. Depending on how you count, a whopping 40 models crash well enough to receive the rating, but don't get it because their headlights are either "Poor" or "Marginal." We say depending on how you count because the IIHS actual counts truck body styles differently, and the Infiniti Q70 is a special case. Apparently the version of the Q70 that has good headlights doesn't have adequate forward collision prevention technology. And the one that has good forward collision tech doesn't have good enough headlights. We've provided the entire list of vehicles below in alphabetical order. Interestingly, it seems the Volkswagen Group is having the most difficulty providing good headlights with its otherwise safe cars. It had the most models on the list at 9 split between Audi and Volkswagen. GM is next in line with 7 models. It is worth noting again that though these vehicles have subpar headlights and don't quite earn Top Safety Pick awards, that doesn't mean they're unsafe. They all score well enough in crash testing and forward collision prevention that they would get the coveted award if the lights were better.

2025 Infiniti QX60 ditches V6, gains VC-turbo

The 2025 Infiniti QX60 will ditch its long-running VQ-series V6 in favor of Infiniti's variable-compression turbo engine. There's news beyond the powertrain overhaul too as the 2025 model sees some equipment upgrades and a new Black Edition. The blackout package is not new to Infiniti, but it's a first for this QX60. Let's start under the hood.  With 268 horsepower and 286 pound-feet of torque, the VC-T four-cylinder gives up 22 horses in exchange for 16 lb-ft of torque. That's a bit of a side-grade rather than an upgrade, perhaps, but the new four-cylinder delivers better fuel economy, making the whole pill a bit easier to swallow. The FWD model will return 22 mpg city, 28 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined, the EPA says (vs. 21/26/23 with the V6) while the AWD model improves to 22 mpg city, 27 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined (from 20/25/22). That's a 10% bump in city mileage vs. the V6 — not earth-shattering, but not bad, either. And we know what you're thinking, but fear not; this doesn't mean the QX60 is now saddled with a CVT. The nine-speed auto carries over and yes, it can still pull 6,000 pounds with AWD and the tow package.  For 2025, all QX60s get a new fob with an optional automatic lock/unlock feature. The Black Edition (see the gallery above) will be available on Luxe models and includes the gloss black wheels, grille surround, roof rails and exterior badges; illuminated front and rear kickplates; "radiant" grille badge; welcome lighting and a black headliner. The base price of the Pure model is up just $550 from 2024, however the FWD variant of the Autograph has been dropped, making it $4,300 more expensive to get into the trim. However, the AWD variant only increases by $50. Here's pricing information for the entire 2025 QX60 lineup with front-wheel drive (including destination). AWD is $2,000 more on every trim but the Autograph, which bakes it in as standard equipment for 2025.  Pure: $51,550 Luxe: $58,150 Sensory: $60,450 Autograph: $67,500 Related Video:  2023 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek walkaround This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Production Infiniti QX50 will mostly look like the concept

At this year's Detroit auto show, we got a look at the nearly production-ready Infiniti QX50 concept. Now we get our first look at how close to production the concept was, thanks to new spy photos. The overall shape remains very similar to that of the curvy concept. However, the greenhouse looks taller with more glass. While it isn't quite as low and aggressive-looking, we're sure drivers will appreciate the small compromise for better visibility. At the front, there are more changes that are a little less subtle. The grille looks a bit smaller all around, and even looks a tad lower than the concept. The headlights also don't stretch as far back, and they aren't as narrow either. In the front bumper, the two side scoops of the concept have been significantly toned down, and now look like more traditional grilles that follow the shape of the bumper. The lower grille is more open with just a mesh insert instead of the concept's skidplate-style chrome bar. Moving to the back, we find the taillights look nearly identical to the concept's. They're very long and narrow, and they connect into a metal crease that looks a bit like a spoiler. It looks as the though the faux skidplate treatment on the rear bumper will also make it to production, but the integrated exhaust tips have given way to more conventional round tips in bumper cutouts. It also may have lost the concept's air vents on each side of the hatch. Though they may have also just been toned down enough that they don't show through the camouflage. When the QX50 hits dealers, it will be available with Infiniti's fascinating variable compression four-cylinder making 268 horsepower. The crossover will also feature a version of Nissan's ProPilot semi-autonomous technology, which has been implemented in the Nissan Serena minivan in Japan. We expect to see the fully revealed production model very soon, possibly by the end of the year. Related Video: