(AP) -- The government's 5-Star Safety Rating System for new cars and trucks is getting tougher.
Only two of the first 34 vehicles tested under the new program have received a top score. They are the 2011 BMW 5 Series and a version of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata.
The Transportation Department is outlining changes to the ratings system beginning with the 2011 model year. The new system takes into account crash-prevention technologies and a new test that simulates a car striking a pole.
The so-called "Stars on Cars" system is getting revamped because so many vehicles have been receiving the highest mark. The ratings range from one to five stars, with five stars being the highest.
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