May bids to build Mecanno motorbike

TOP GEAR star James May must be getting Meccano for Christmas because he is using the classic toy to build a motorbike and sidecar to race the Isle of Man TT circuit for a new show. The episode of his Toy Stories series, called The Motorcycle Diaries, sees May get to grips with a construction kit to try to build a vehicle capable of carrying him and co-star Oz Clarke around the 37-mile course. In previous episodes James May and his team have built a giant slot-car racing track, a full size Airfix replica of a Spitfire and a giant toy glider.

Opel Insignia Sports Tourer wagon spotted near GM's proving grounds

Just like my parents used to say, “You can't get anything by us, we have eyes everywhere.” Ominous threats aside, GM's European unit Opel tried to sneak an Insignia Sports Tourer station wagon onto the roads of Michigan. Luckily our roving eyes spotted the car--complete with turbo badges--and sent some photos back to the mothership. A wagon version of the European sedan has been spotted on Michigan roads before.

Henrik Fisker resigns from Fisker Automotive

Henrik Fisker, founder and executive chairman of struggling plug-in hybrid vehicle maker Fisker Automotive, has resigned. In an email today to Automotive News, Henrik Fisker, referring to himself in the third person, said: "The main reasons for his resignation are several major disagreements that Henrik Fisker has with the Fisker Automotive executive management on the business strategy." Fisker confirmed his resignation in a phone interview and declined to comment further. Tony Posawatz, who became president and CEO of the company in August, said this morning that he had just been made aware of the resignation.