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Volt, Leaf win top safety rating in crash test

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf electric cars won the highest safety ratings in crash tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, putting them in the top 57 percent of models tested so far this year. About 80 of 140 vehicles tested among 2011-2012 models have received the Institute's "top safety pick," the group's award for state-of-the-art crash protection that exceeds federal safety rules, Institute spokesman Russ Rader said. The Volt and Leaf received a "good" rating -- the highest of four rankings -- on each of four crash tests, said the Institute, which is funded by auto insurers including State Farm, All-State and Geico.

First Corvette Stingray Convertible sells for $1 million

The first Chevrolet Corvette Stingray to be built has been auctioned for charity by Barrett Jackson  and bought by Rick Hendrick for $1 million. The new Corvette Stingray Convertible was offered for sale this weekend at Barratt Jackson’s auction in Palm Beach, Florida, with GM donating the healthy proceeds of $1 million to the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. The Stingray Convertible was bought by wealthy NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick, who can now add the Stingray Convertible to his collection of cars, which also includes the first of the new Stingrays for which he paid $1.1 million.

Jaguar XFR-S at Paris Motor Show?

It looks like the more powerful XFR planned to take on the new M5 – the 2013 Jaguar XFR-S – could arrive by Paris 2012. We’ve been talking about a new, more powerful XFR for some time – logically, the Jaguar XFR-S – with the underpinnings of the XKR-S. And it looks like it’s almost here.