Productopia | Midsize SUVs

Recalls this week include several products that do the exact opposite of their intent. By the numbers:

• 900,000 child-proof cabinet locks manufactured by Safety 1^st are recalled after 200 reports of children open secured cabinets.
• 12,000 Easton Sports lacrosse helmets recalled because they could cause facial injury.
• 7,000 Westinghouse ceiling fans recalled of these because of fire and shock hazard.
• 370,000 BMW vehicles have a cable problem that could create a fire risk.

In addition, loss of steering issues made Honda and Chevy/GMC issue recalls this week. For details on these and other recalls, read on. Read more

When it retired the venerated Panther rear-wheel drive platform last year, Ford lost more than the beloved Lincoln Town Car. Panther underpinned the Ford Crown Victoria, which, while discontinued for retail sale after model year 2007, continued to be produced in the all-important Police Interceptor configuration until last year, when Panther production finally ceased altogether.

To borrow a term that is used a little too cavalierly these days, it is entirely reasonable to call the Crown Vic an icon. For many, it and "police car" are interchangeable terms. Anyone who drives knows that sinking feeling you get when your rearview mirror fills with the visage of a Crown Vic wearing the telltale black grille. Suddenly, you discover the speed limit and hope you don't see red-and-blue lights. But with Ford's ubiquitous patrol car accepting the proverbial gold watch after decades of service, how would the automaker follow up? Earlier this week, we drove the two vehicles that will fill the Vic's very big shoes, the 2013 Ford Police Interceptor sedan and SUV. Read more

California's Monterey Peninsula is one of the focal points of the automotive world this weekend, as innumerable classic and exotic cars worth millions of dollars descend upon it for a few days of car shows, vintage races, high-profile auctions, and other related revelry. The main event, as always, is the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where last night, three new vehicles made their debuts. Two of them, from Lexus and Infiniti, you'll be able to buy. The other, a spectacular ultra-luxury concept convertible from Cadillac, is just special. Keep reading for a quick rundown on all three cars, along with photos of each.

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Look around the parking lot the next time you hit your local supermarket or big-box store. Chances are, the spaces are littered with midsize SUVs and crossovers. As family vehicles go, the midsizers cover a lot of territory, accomodating anywhere from five to eight passengers depending on make, model and equipment levels. Often, the most truck-like thing about modern SUVs is their appearance and stance. The reality is that with some notable exceptions, most have become very carlike and road-oriented in their demeanor. With that in mind, it comes as no surprise that the best-reviewed midsize SUVs are generally geared toward practicality and comfort instead of trailblazing off-road capability. Read more