Red apparently meant "Go" to more than 2 million drivers last year, according to a study by the National Coalition for Safer Roads. Its report found that more than 2.3 million drivers in 18 states ran a red light in 2011.

It was the pickup truck equivalent of an uncaged match: The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor up against the Mopar Ram Runner, racing over dunes, ruts and dried river beds in the blistering-hot desert that’s well east of Los Angeles. It was a winner-takes-all timed race to see which of these behemoths could navigate and devour the nasty course that ran nearly five miles long. See which truck took home the trophy.

There's good news if you plan to finance your car purchase: The average credit score for car shoppers dropped to pre-recession lows as auto lenders extended some of the best terms since the financial crisis, Experian Automotive says . In the first quarter of 2012, car shoppers averaged 4.56% for 64 months, representing a lower rate and longer term than year-ago figures. That led an Experian official to note that "automotive lending is as healthy as it's been since the market bottomed out in 2008." Auto-repossession rates and 30-day delinquencies are down this quarter, and lenders see a safer environment to extend credit, which dried up during the recession.

In other news:

On the verge of reaching dealerships, the 2013 Cadillac XTS has big shoes to fill; the model replaces both the DTS livery vehicle and the sportier STS large sedan, both of which are now defunct. The XTS combines an affordable entry-level price, sporty styling and new technology features to take on models like the BMW 5 Series and Audi A6. Continue below for more photos.

There are a slew of minivan alternatives out there for large families who don't want to succumb to the rolling stereotype. Three-row crossovers are the most popular choice, but I'm always looking for something unique that can fit families with more than two children.

BMW has always been more aggressive with its roadsters' styling; check out the avant-garde 2003-08 BMW Z4 for an example. For folks who think the aggressive look of the current BMW Z4 is just too conventional, feast your eyes on the BMW Zagato Coupé Concept. Co-developed with automotive design consultancy Zagato, this one-off design could point toward a more radical-looking Z4 in the coming years. Continue below for more photos.

BMW has always been more aggressive with its roadsters' styling; check out the avant-garde 2003-08 BMW Z4 for an example. For folks who think the aggressive look of the current BMW Z4 is just too conventional, feast your eyes on the BMW Zagato Coupé Concept. Co-developed with automotive design consultancy Zagato, this one-off design could point toward a more radical-looking Z4 in the coming years. Continue below for more photos.

In the growing sea of new and redesigned subcompact cars, Kia's Rio was easy to overlook. Not anymore, says Cars.com Editor Mike Hanley. The Rio 5-Door hatchback model's great gas mileage, appealing styling, decent cargo space and low prices mean shoppers looking in this class should put it back on their lists.

Competes with: Buick Regal , Infiniti G , Nissan Maxima

The Toyota Prius is now the third best-selling car across the globe, according to Bloomberg News . The growth comes from strong sales in both Japan and the United States, Bloomberg News reports. With 247,230 models sold in the first quarter of 2012, the Prius trails only the Ford Focus (277,000) and the Toyota Corolla (300,800); the Corolla remains the best-selling car of all time. Prius sales have nearly doubled over last year on the backs of recent extensions to the Prius-brand lineup like the Prius v, Prius Plug-in and recently launched Prius c (known as the Aqua in Japan). The Toyota Prius remains Japan's top-selling version, with the Toyota Aqua in a close second place. The Prius brand was the fifth best-selling model in the U.S. for April.

As the mercury rises this May, so does the risk of children dying of heatstroke in vehicles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash-related vehicle fatalities of children younger than 14.

The 2013 Acura ILX is the first model from the brand to share a platform with the Honda Civic since 2007. Despite sharing mechanics with the hum-drum Civic, the Acura has better ride quality and handling, a quieter cabin and better materials, according to Cars.com Executive Editor Joe Wiesenfelder. But does the model have what it takes to beat out the more affordable Buick Verano? Continue reading about the Acura ILX, and our other most read reviews of the week, with the links below:

The exhaust on the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth pops, spits and gargles like an aftermarket system rather than something found on a production vehicle, according to Cars.com editor Joe Bruzek. The Abarth's muffler is designed for minimal exhaust gas restriction and maximum power, making it pretty loud. To read more about the Fiat’s noisy exhaust, continue with the link below. Also make sure to check out our other most-read stories.

Competes with: Audi A8, Mercedes S-Class, Jaguar XJ, Bentley Continental

After a rocky start, Cars.com Senior Family Editor Kristin Varela and her busy family loaded up Volkswagen’s Tiguan with all the passengers and cargo it can handle. Although it gets a lower base price for 2012 and has a lot of cargo room, Varela said too many annoying little things add up to make for an overall uncomfortable experience in VW’s compact crossover.

Ralph Gilles tapped the drivetrain's Sport button and held down an adjacent key to deactivate the electronic stability system. We were in a 470-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT8 — Gilles at the wheel, me riding shotgun — about to hug the best four miles of asphalt anywhere in the Midwest: Wisconsin's Road America racetrack.