The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has added twomore automobile models to its list of top safety picks for2007.

The 2007 Acura MDX luxury SUV and the 2008 Ford Taurus/ MercurySable large family cars were added after earning the highest ratingof good in all three of the IIHS's crash tests -- front, side, andrear. To qualify for consideration, all cars on the list also mustbe equipped with electronic stability control (ESC), which is astandard feature on the MDX and optional on the Taurus and Sablebeginning with 2008 models. ESC will become standard in allautomobiles in 2012, according to a mandate passed earlier thisyear by the National Highway Transportation SafetyAdministration.

Initially only 13 cars, minivans, and SUV s qualified for the2007 awards, the IIHS said. As automakers introduce new models ormake safety changes to existing ones, the Institute adds winnersthroughout the year. With the addition of the MDX, Taurus, andSable, consumers now may choose among 18 cars, SUVs, and minivansthat offer top-rated crash protection and ESC. That list includesthe following models:

Large car

Audi A6

2008 Ford Tauruswith optional electronic stability control

2008 Mercury Sablewith optional electronic stability control

Midsize cars

Audi A4

Saab 9-3

Subaru Legacywith optional electronic stability control

Minivans

Hyundai Entourage

HYPERLINK"http://www.iihs.org/ratings/ratingsbyseries.aspx?id=416"KiaSedona

Midsize SUVs

Acura MDX

Acura RDX

Ford Edge

Honda Pilot

Lincoln MKX

Mercedes M class

HYPERLINK"http://www.iihs.org/ratings/ratingsbyseries.aspx?id=579"Subaru B9Tribeca

Volvo XC90

Small SUVs

Honda CR-V

Subaru Foresterwith optional electronic stability control

More information is available at www.iihs.org.

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