2008-2012 Honda Accord Driver Airbag on 2040-parts.com

Ford opens up Sync to app developers

Think you can make a killer app for Ford Sync? Ford just made it a whole lot easier. On the day before the International CES opened in Las Vegas, Ford introduced the Ford Developer Program, which makes the Sync platform available to any and all comers who want to take a whack at it, including other carmakers.

Porsche nearing 900 orders for its 918 Spyder hybrid concept

When Porsche AG showed the 918 Spyder at the Geneva show in March, we said it was a car to “make anyone a believer in hybrid supercar tech.” Well, maybe not anyone, but Porsche now says it has almost 900 potential buyers for the two-seater hybrid prototype as the German automaker gets closer to approving production. Porsche development chief Wolfgang Duerheimer said he is confident the company will soon reach the threshold of 1,000 orders, which is how many the company needs to “make a sound business case.” The 918 has 680 hp and, according to Porsche, will get 78 mpg and run from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds. Porsche said it wants to double its overall vehicle sales to 150,000 in the next five years or so.

Range Rover Sport claims desert crossing record

The last couple months have seen a number of cross-country record attempts, but here's one we didn't see coming, and frankly couldn't imagine taking place. But Land Rover claims to have broken the record for crossing Saudi Arabia's 'Empty Quarter,' starting at Wadi Adda Wasir in Saudi Arabia, and traveling east across the desert to the United Arab Emirates border. The 'Empty Quarter' is known to be one of the harshest and most challenging environments on the planet, and is actually the largest sand desert in the world and the second largest desert overall after the Sahara.