Toyota fails to land 'top safety pick' rating in insurance-group study

For the first time in three years, none of Toyota Motor Corp.'s vehicles received “top safety pick” ratings from an insurance group, as tougher criteria pared the number of selections from 94 last year to 27 this year. Ford Motor Co. led all automakers for the second year in a row with six 2010-model top safety picks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, including four from Volvo, a brand that's being sold.

Renault Twingo Gordini Renaultsport revealed

The new Twingo Gordini Renaultsport will go on sale in March 2010 It’s only a couple of weeks since we reported that Renault are going to revive the Renault Gordini badge for a new range of sporty cars, a report that was followed a few days later with a confirmation from Renault, and the news that the Twingo Gordini Renaultsport would be the first to launch. And Renault has now revealed the first of the Gordini cars. The new Twingo Gordini stays faithful to the heritage of the Gordini moniker with a Fench Blue paint job, white stripes and quilted leather.

1910 Flying Merkel is top seller at Vegas auction

Auctions America by RM enjoyed a successful debut in Las Vegas this past weekend, selling more than $4.1 million worth of vintage motorcycles, with an impressive 82 percent sell-through rate of all lots offered. The event at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino Jan. 12-14 had strong attendance, with thousands of enthusiasts gathering to see 490 motorcycles and a range of bike-related memorabilia cross the auction block.