ON THE MOVE: It seems likely that three-time IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish Jr. will move to the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series next season. Hornish will not change teams, simply move from Penske Racing’s Indy-car operation to its stock-car team. All Penske Racing teams are housed in the same North Carolina facility. “The league has not said two words to me about it,” Hornish said. “You feel like they don’t need you sometimes.”

FIRST TIMER: Robert Doornbos won his first Champ Car World Series race Sunday at Mont Tremblant, Quebec. In the process he may have started a new rivalry, something the series could definitely use, between himself and three-time champion Sebastien Bourdais.

DIED: Longtime NHRA official Bob Daniels, who is credited with returning O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, to prominence during the '80s and ’90s, died following an extended illness. Daniels was 76.

HONORED: IndyCar Series point-leader Dario Franchitti was recognized with the second quarter Driver off the Year. Franchitti outdistanced NASCAR Nextel Cup Series point-leader Jeff Gordon for the award.

TEAM CHANGE: Tony Eury Sr., a longtime friend of Dale Earnhardt, and the man responsible for much of the success of Dale Earnhardt, Inc., has left the team and gone to work for Dale Earnhardt Jr., as director of competition for JR Motorsports, which fields Busch Series and Hooters Pro Cup Series teams.

A FIRST: Dale Blaney gave Toyota its first Nextel Cup Series pole Friday at New Hampshire International Speedway.

NEW SITE: National Speed Sport News will debut its redesigned website July 25. While the site will still offer the same password-protected information for subscribers that is offered in the hard copy of the nation’s oldest auto-racing publication, it will also offer daily news stories and features, along with reader interaction.

TOP RUNG: Indy Racing League IndyCar Series point leader Dario Franchitti won his third race of the season Saturday at Richmond International Raceway and jumped to the top of the National Speed Sport News Power Rankings. The IndyCar Series visits Watkins Glen (New York) International this weekend.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. To subscribe to National Speed Sport News, click on the following link for a special industry rate: http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/subscribe.html?pid=NQ%2BVfhkepT4%3D.

NEWS NUGGETS

DEUCES WILD IN NORWALK: All four winners at the inaugural Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, were second-time winners in 2007. Tony Schumacher in Top Fuel, Mike Ashley in Funny Car, Dave Connolly in Pro Stock and Andrew Hines in Pro Stock Motorcycle each garnered the all important wins to firmly plant themselves in the top eight of the Countdown to the Championship. The biggest surprise was Ashley, who had failed to qualify for the last two races after winning in Topeka, Kansas. Schumacher made it to the winner’s circle from the number 14 qualifying position. Connolly, the hometown favorite from Elyria, Ohio, was a crowd pleaser. Hines was the slower motorcycle off the line, but earned the win when opponent Matt Smith coasted to a 10.961 at 70.13.

K&N ENGINEERING SPONSORS K&N HORSEPOWER CHALLENGE: NHRA announced that the K&N Horsepower Challenge for Pro Stock drivers will be held in 2008.  The K&N Horsepower Challenge is a special race-within-a-race bonus program for the top Pro Stock drivers in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The $76,000 K&N Horsepower Challenge will move venues in 2008 and will be conducted at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. The race features a special elimination pairing with the eight quickest Pro Stock drivers who have accumulated the most points in qualifying during the 23-race Challenge series. Drivers began earning 2008 K&N Horsepower Challenge points at this past weekend’s event in Norwalk and will continue to accumulate points through the race prior to next year’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals. The winner of the K&N Horsepower Challenge will earn $50,000, and the runner-up will earn $10,000. The two semifinalists will earn $3,000 each, while the four first-round finishers will receive $2,500 each.

PONTIAC-GMC RETURN AS OFFICIAL VEHICLES OF NHRA: NHRA officials announced that it has signed a multi-year agreement with Pontiac-GMC to return in 2008 as the Official Car and Official Truck of the NHRA. It will be the 13th consecutive year that Pontiac has served as the Official Car of the NHRA and the 19th for GMC as the Official Truck of the NHRA, the world’s largest motorsports sanctioning organization.  “Pontiac-GMC has become synonymous with the sport of NHRA Drag Racing,” said Tom Compton, president, NHRA.  “Clearly, over the last two decades, they have seen the incredible value of association with NHRA and the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series and, in turn, we are proud to be associated with Pontiac-GMC and look forward to a mutually rewarding relationship in the future.”  Since becoming the Official Car of the NHRA in 1996, Pontiac has earned a winning reputation for amassing No. 1 qualifying awards, national event victories, performance records and series championships. Pontiac is the all-time win leader among auto manufacturers in the competitive world of NHRA Pro Stock racing, and a 10-time winner of the NHRA’s prestigious Manufacturer’s Cup.  As the Official Car of the National Hot Rod Association, Pontiac provides support vehicles for administrative and on-site personnel of the NHRA. As the Official Truck, GMC also provides support vehicles for NHRA staff, and GMC Sierras and Yukons for the NHRA Safety Safari, allowing them to perform their important trackside duties.

DOUG KALITTA SR. PASSES: Doug Kalitta Sr., father of NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Top Fuel driver Doug Kalitta and brother of drag racing legend Connie Kalitta, lost his battle with cancer Tuesday at the age of 67. Kalitta passed away at his home in Mount Clemens, Mich.  “Senior,” as he was known to the drag racing community, was a staple of the Kalitta Motorsports team even though he generally remained behind the scenes. He could usually be spotted at the racetrack working the pits in search of a joke and a cup of coffee. His laugh was unmistakable and could often be heard over the roar of his son’s 7,000-horsepower Mac Tools dragster. His standard reply to questions, “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” became a trademark, as did his habit of resting his eyeglasses on his forehead.  A tribute decal was displayed on all of the Team Kalitta race cars in Norwalk.

MORE NHRA PASSINGS: Two men who were influential to NHRA’s history died in recent days. Former NHRA Division 3 director and former O’Reilly Raceway Park general manager Bob Daniels died June 30. Daniels served as Division 3 director for 20 years, and then spent 12 years as general manager at the venerable Indianapolis facility, the home of the U.S. Nationals since 1961. The track was known at the time as Indianapolis Raceway Park. Daniels' many contributions to the sport include the establishment of prominent dragstrips in the North Central United States and significant advancements and renovations at ORP. Also, passing on June 30 was Don Gay Sr. He was known for his and brother Roy’s line of Infinity Pontiac race cars. Gay began his driving career in his teens with a Pontiac stocker and later switched to altered-wheelbase machines that ultimately became today's Funny Cars, and brother Roy later took over the helm.  In later years, he was active in the family automotive business, known as Gay Pontiac, Buick and GMC as well as Houston Raceway Park, where he had been a co-owner. Two of his sons, Don Jr. and Shane, followed their father to the cockpit on the dragstrip. Don Jr., had a successful career in Alcohol Funny Car but retired from the cockpit after an accident in a nitro Funny Car. Shane also had a winning career in the Super classes and in Alcohol Dragster.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

O’REILLY NHRA THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS, BRISTOL, TENNESSEE, BRISTOL DRAGWAY, JULY 6–8: Rescheduled from its original date due to track surface conditions, this favorite stop for drivers never fails to produce an exciting weekend for racing. Defending event winners include Doug Kalitta, Ron Capps and Jason Line. 

MOPAR MILE-HIGH NHRA NATIONALS, DENVER, BANDIMERE SPEEDWAY, JULY 13–15: The 13th stop on the 23-race schedule, Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle drivers will head to the “Mile-High” city to compete in the fourth of a “six races, six weeks” schedule. Defending event winners include J.R. Todd, Gary Scelzi, Dave Connolly and Andrew Hines. 

LAS VEGAS NHRA SPORT COMPACT NATIONALS, THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, JULY 13–14: The mid-season race in Las Vegas for the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series is sure to provide some exciting night racing when the drivers race The Strip. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

12: The average number of points separating the number eight and number nine position in the four professional categories of the POWERade Series for the Countdown to Eight in the Countdown to the Championship.  The top eight drivers will continue on towards the championship after the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals in Reading, Pennsylvania, August 16–19.

DRIVERS TELL ALL

CHECKER SCHUCK’S KRAGEN FUNNY CAR DRIVER DEL WORSHAM DESCRIBES HIS HIGHLIGHT REEL EXPLOSION IN NORWALK, OHIO: “It was just trucking, running great, and then BOOM and all I saw was daylight,” Worsham said. “I couldn't believe it, but there it was. The absolutely only good thing that came from it was the E.T., which would have been a lot better had the car not blown apart.”  Worsham crossed the finish line in 4.873 seconds, knocking Gary Scelzi out of the field and put himself in the number 16 spot. Unfortunately, he lost to Robert Hight in the first round of eliminations on Sunday.

For more information, visit www.nhra.com.

• Yokohama Tire Corp. promoted Dan King from director of consumer sales to vice president of sales. King will lead the development and implementation of sales strategies for the consumer sales and commercial truck divisions. King has been with the company since 1988.
  
• Eastern Catalytic announced that in addition to making enhancing its in-house research and development capabilities, it appointed emissions and technology expert, Rob Marino, as director of testing and certification. Marion will head up the company’s R&D testing lab and product-development department.
  
  
• Brenton Productions announced that two of its shows—"Two Guys Garage" and "Truck U"—were both picked up by the SPEED channel for another two years. In addition, each of the shows will air the next two seasons broadcasting in high definition for the first time.
  
  
• In order to expand its engineering and development capacity, Bosch announced that it opened a new technical center in Plymouth, Township Michigan. The new 225,000-square-foot facility houses more than 400 associates and features research and development capabilities and engineering space for its automotive electronics, starter motors and generators and electrical drives divisions.
  

The latest news from SEMA councils and committees:

Professional Restylers Organization (PRO)

• The votes have been tabulated, and PRO welcomes four incumbents and four newcomers to the council's select committee. Incumbents include Bill North, Webasto Product N.A.; Ray Ott, Auto Trim Design of Cleveland East; Karl Stearns, Auto Trim International; and Bob West, Westin Automotive Products. The newly elected members are Jeff Fink, Advantage Truck Accessories; Doug Jacobs, Restyler's Choice; Joey Johnston, Tops & Trends; and Scott Wolin, AC Wolin Group.
  

• The PRO Select Committee has chosen Karl Stearns, vice president of sales and marketing for Auto Trim International, to serve as council chair-elect. A member of the select committee, Stearns will serve as chair-elect for two years prior to assuming the role of chairman. He will serve alongside incoming Chairman Chuck Blum of Chuck Blum Consulting. Former Chairman BJ Leanse will remain on board in an advisory capacity as chairman emeritus.

To learn more about PRO, visit www.sema.org/pro or contact Ellen McKoy at ellenm@sema.org.

Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO)

To learn more about ARMO, visit www.sema.org/armo or contact Jan Desma at jand@sema.org.

Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA)

• Manufacturers are invited to sign-up for time slots for the Hotrod & Restoration Education Day presented by the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA).  Registration is now open exclusively to HRIA member companies. There are seven session times offered and five available sessions per hour. Participants must be exhibitors of the Hotrod & Restoration (HRR) trade show. The exclusive opportunity ends July 1, and registration will then be open to all HRR trade show exhibitors. For a registration form, click here. More information on this educational opportunity contact SEMA, 909/396-0289, ext. 134 or hria@sema.org.
  
  
• HRIA Open General Membership Meeting
  Thursday, July 12, 2007
  3 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
  Ohio Expo Center – Ohio Building
  Columbus, Ohio

To learn more about the HRIA, visit www.sema.org/hria or contact Jan Desma at jand@sema.org.

Light-Truck Accessory Alliance (TORA)

• Kelly Kneifl, Division Manager, Automotive Accessories at Shur-Co, has been elected by the TORA Select Committee to serve as council chair-elect.  Kelly, a member of the select committee, will serve starting July 1st as chair-elect, for two years prior to assuming the role of chairman. He will serve alongside incoming Chairman Ron DiVincenzo, Cap World. Former Chairman Todd Yeoman will remain on the select committee in an advisory capacity as chairman emeritus.
  
• The DVD: “Why Paint Colors Vary?” This valuable resource is now available. TORA members now have a valuable new tool that will help educate consumers about the challenges of the paint color-matching process. Available for dealers and installers to play in their waiting areas, the video is presented in a professional format and brings a consistent message on why paint colors vary. The TORA “Why Paint Colors Vary?” DVD is available to TORA council members free of charge (or $49.95 for non-TORA members). Other tools available from TORA are the CHMSL and altered-height CDs. For details or to place an order, contact Staci Perricone at 909/396-0289, ext. 104, or e-mail stacip@sema.org.

To learn more about the TORA, visit www.sema.org/TORA or contact Monica Terlouw at monicat@sema.org.

Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC)

• The 11th annual MPMC Media Trade Conference is set for Tuesday, January 22–Thursday, January  24, 2008, at the Embassy Suites Hotel LAX South in Los Angeles. For more information on the MPMC Media Trade Conference, contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.

To learn more about the MPMC, visit www.sema.org/mpmc.

Manufacturers' Representatives Council (MRC)

• MRC members should mark their calendars for the following upcoming council activity:
  
  
  2007 MRC Rep Conference
  September 26–27, 2007
  Phoenix, Arizona

To learn more about the MRC, visit www.sema.org/mrc or contact Jan Desma at jand@sema.org.

Sport-Compact Council (SCC)

• Tracie Nuñez, Advanced Clutch Technology, was elected chairman-elect of the SCC. Nuñez will start her role on July 1 when current chairman-elect, Eric Breslow, Power Slot/Power Performance Group, takes over as SCC chairman.

To learn more about the SCC, visit www.sema.org/scc or contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.

Wheel & Tire Council (WTC)

• George Gillespie, Safety Compliance Engineer responsible for OVSCs tire-related standards, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), delivered a presentation at the 2006 SEMA Show regarding NHTSA's enforcement activity relative to tires for passenger vehicles and trucks. Gillespie provided overview and status of the agency's recent initiatives to increase tire safety, including compliance and enforcement actions for Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (FMVSS No. 138) and passenger and light-truck tires (FMVSS No. 139). He also discussed the current increased enforcement to address concerns related to imported tires. SEMA members can now get a copy of Gillespie's PowerPoint presentation by contacting Paul Moritz at 909/396-0289, ext. 112 or paulm@sema.org.

To learn more about the WTC, visit www.sema.org/wtc or contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.

SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN)

• Get expert advice on a business-related problem. The SEMA Mentoring program, powered by the SBN, is available to all employees of SEMA-member companies. Ask a one-time question or be matched with an established leader. Visit www.sema.org/mentoring for details.

To learn more about the SBN, visit www.sema.org/sbn.

Young Executives Network (YEN)

• The annual SEMA Show Silent Auction, hosted by the YEN, raised more than $70,000 for the SEMA Scholarship Fund in 2006. If you are interested in donating an item or becoming involved in the 2007 Silent Auction, visit the YEN website at www.sema.org/yen.
  
  
• YEN has more than 500 members networking in the industry and is the largest SEMA committee. If you are employed by a SEMA-member company and are under the age of 39, then you can join the YEN for free. If you are interested in becoming part of the team, visit the YEN website at www.sema.org/yen.
  
  
• Bianca Hennings, Window Canvas, was selected for the YEN Silent Auction Task Force Chairman. Hennings will assume the position when the current chairman, Dave Williams, Rampage Products, finishes his term with the YEN Select Committee in July. The SEMA Silent Auction, that is managed by the YEN, has raised more than $100,000 for the SEMA Scholarship Fund in the past three years. If you are interested in participating in the SEMA Silent Auction on any level, visit www.sema.org/yen for additional information.
  
  
• Did you know that YEN sponsors networking events and mixers at most of the major trade shows and conferences? If you are interested in becoming a member of the SEMA Young Executive’s Network, please visit our website at www.sema.org/yen.
  
  
• Lance Packard, Painless Performance, was elected YEN chairman-elect. Packard will assume the position when current chair-elect, Laurel Dasher, Uni-Marketing LLC, takes over as YEN chairman on July 1.
  
  
• Did you know that the YEN has a Member of the Month Spotlight on the SEMA website and that anyone can be nominated? To view previous selections or to make a nomination, visit our website at www.sema.org/yen.

To learn more about the YEN, visit www.sema.org/yen or contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.

Filler for eNews

Dates and locations for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows and activities have been announced. Details are:

>> Aftermarket eForum, Hyatt Regency O'Hare, July 16–18, Chicago
>> SEMA Webinar: Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS), July 12, 10 a.m. (PST)
>> SEMA Webinar: Urban Lifestyle Report, July 26, 10 a.m. (PST)
>> SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, July 27, Irvine, California
>> MRC Rep Conference, September 26–27, Phoenix
>> SEMA Show, October 30–November 2, Las Vegas
>> MPMC Media Trade Conference, January 22–24, 2008, Los Angeles

For association-related travel, contact Manya Petropaki (manya.p@travelstoreusa.com) at Travel Store USA, 949/930-9268.

SEMA-members companies have posted several new listings for job opportunities at www.sema.org/classifieds. Working for a SEMA-member company has many advantages. In addition to working for a company that supports and contributes to the success of the overall industry, being employed by a SEMA-member company enable the employee to participate in webinars, access free market research, join SEMA committees and more. The newest classified listings posted under Positions Available include:

• Purchasing Manager, El Paso, Texas
• Automotive Technicians, Renton, Washington
• Customer Service/Inside Sales, Corona, California
• Customer Service/Receptionist, City of Industry, California
• Toyota Facilitator, Long Beach, California

SEMA members: Have a job opening that you need filled? Members are invited to post classified ads on www.sema.org/classifieds free of charge. Categories include Positions Available, Positions Wanted, Rep Opportunities, WD Opportunities, For Sale, Items Wanted, Business Opportunities and Internships. Visit the site for details.

We saw it a few years ago: young car buyers were accessorizing their rides primarily with "dress-up" parts, such as big wings, race-inspired body kits and a host of dress-up modifications. This may sound like the sport-compact market of yesterday, but that market as we know it today has shifted more toward performance, with appearance almost becoming secondary. So what has happened to that consumer who wants his or her car to look cool and is less concerned with performance? The answer may lie in what is known as the urban-lifestyle market. Much like the divergence of the street rods and lowriders decades ago, enthusiasts are divided among those who build their vehicles for performance and those who are more concerned with style. These consumers modify the cars and trucks they buy to reflect their own unique personalities and spend a lot of money making their rides look different from others on the road. 

The defining characteristic of this market revolves around one central concept: the bigger the wheels, the better. Loud audio systems bumping hip-hop music, aggressive body kits, custom paint jobs and even some performance products make their way into these custom creations that embody the urban-lifestyle market. And the vehicles involved in this segment are as diverse as the many ways to customize them—from Cadillac Escalades riding on 24-inch wheels to Honda Accords fitted with upswing doors.

The cars and trucks urban-lifestyle enthusiasts drive vary quite a bit. The popular DUB car shows that tour the United States provide a glimpse of what the urban-lifestyle market is all about and which vehicles are popular. However, even events such as NOPI and Hot Import Nights, which were traditionally sport compact-themed, now display numerous urban-styled vehicles, such as the popular Chrysler 300s and Cadillac Escalades. Urban-styled Chrysler 300s were just some of the many urban vehicles shown off at the 2006 SEMA Show, illustrating the latest products and modification trends from specialty-equipment companies. In fact, there were 18 highly customized 300s scattered throughout the Show, making it among the top 10 cars displayed. In addition, there were 15 modified Cadillac Escalades shown, making it one of the most popular SUVs at the 2006 SEMA Show.

Taking a look at the numerous types of vehicles owned by urban-lifestyle enthusiasts reveals that pinpointing an exact type of vehicle representative of this market is nearly impossible. Both the Cadillac Escalade and the Ford Mustang—two very different types of vehicles—show up in the top five vehicles owned by urban-lifestyle enthusiasts, according to data gathered from SEMA's survey. The Chevrolet Impala was the third most frequently owned vehicle, and many of the enthusiasts indicated that these rides were modified into what is known as a "hi-riser." Hi-Risers—also known as a either a donk, box, or bubble—represent an extreme example of how urban lifestyles enthusiast are modifying the cars they drive. Industry experts generally agree that hi-risers are defined as the following: Donks—'71-'76 Chevrolet Caprice or Impala; Box Chevy—'77-'92 Chevrolet Caprice; and Bubble Chevy—'96 Chevrolet Impala.

The basic premise behind the hi-riser trend involves the purchase of one of these low-priced used cars and putting an average of $3,000–$10,000 worth of upgrades into them. Disproportionately large wheels are the most distinguishing characteristic of hi-riser, and the wheels usually range from around 26–30 inches in diameter! Lift kits and custom fabrication come into play when wheel sizes reach beyond 26 inches.

RIDES magazine's Brian Scotto says that hi-risers showcased in his magazine usually have $15,000–$40,000 worth of modifications, while those showcased on the magazine cover can have custom work worth over six figures! Nevertheless, Scotto says that he commonly sees young guys purchasing these older Impalas and Caprices, save up for or even rent big wheels, and slowly modify their rides into the hi-riser of their dreams. "The hi-riser trend is so popular because it is cheap to get involved—it allows for a young 17 year-old kid to buy a $600 car and save up for big wheels and accessories," comments Scotto.  Bottom line: urban lifestyle enthusiasts will drive whatever they can get their hands on and customize them to their own personal needs and desires.

Source: SEMA Research & Information Center

General Motors has announced it will sell its Allison Transmission commercial and military business to the private equity firms Carlyle Group and Onex Corp. The selling price is expected to be around $5.6 billion. The agreement will include seven manufacturing operations in Indianapolis along with the worldwide distribution network and sales offices. However, GM will keep a plant in Baltimore, which produces the conventional and hybrid two-mode transmissions used in GM light trucks. Currently, the Allison Transmission is an option on the Silverado 2500 HD with the Duramax Diesel engine. The transaction should be completed by the close of the third quarter, pending union and regulatory approval.

Source: (June 28, 2007). “GM to sell Allison Transmission to Carlyle Group, Onex.” Automotive News. Retrieved June 28, 2007, from www.autonews.com.

As Dan Carney of MSNBC.com points out, Americans have had a tendency to supersize everything, from their food to the vehicles they drive.  However, with the rising prices of gasoline, more Americans have decided to downsize their vehicles.  And the sales of smaller vehicles reflect this change.  Honda, for example, reported the most Civic sales ever during the month of May.  But for some Americans, the thought of going to a smaller car is an uncomfortable feeling, fearing they are giving up safety for better fuel economy.

Americans fearing the lack of safety features of smaller vehicles is not unwarranted.  As the article indicates, decades ago, the ability of smaller vehicles to protect occupants in a collision “left much to be desired.” The article also says that small cars usually “fared poorly in laboratory crash tests and produced grossly higher fatality rates in real-world driving.”  But since then, crash protection, along with the size of the small cars themselves, have been growing.  Between 1985 and 1995, the crash fatalities in the smallest cars on the road fell by 15%, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.  That 10-year span also reflects the period when airbags went from a novelty on luxury vehicles to standard equipment on all cars. Today’s small vehicles feature “an array of impressive technologies” aimed at maximizing safety.  High-strength steel is able to withstand blows with less intrusion on a vehicle’s cabin, and the addition of antilock brakes and electronic stability control helps to reduce the number of crashes altogether.

The small cars of today are actually bigger and heavier than the small cars built decades ago. For example, a '84 Honda Civic hatchback weighed 1,830 lbs., compared to 2,628 lbs. today, with the Si version coming in at 2,945 lbs.  The '85 Chevy Sprint weighed 1,540 lbs., compared to today’s Chevy Aveo which weighs 2,348 lbs. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) identifies the 3,000-lb. mark to be the weight that provides good crash protection on highways populated with large trucks and SUVs.  And Russell Rader of IIHS says that 3,000 lbs. also represents the point of diminishing returns, beyond which each extra pound adds less crash protection.

The federal government has toughened requirements for things such as side-impact protection, mandating more metal in a vehicle’s side.  The Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris received “good” scores (the highest available) from the IIHS’s frontal and side crash tests. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Fit 5 stars in the frontal crash and 5 stars for the front seat in the side impact test, with 3 stars for the back seat in a side impact.

Source: Carney, Dan.  (June 19, 2007). “Driving Small Doesn’t Mean Less Safe: Along With the Size of Small Cars, Crash Protection Has Been Growing.” MSNBC.com, Automotivedigest.com. Retrieved June 27, 2007, from MSNBC.com.