EBay exotic: 1972 Fiat 850 Sport Spider

Exotic might be a strong term for a Fiat, but when’s the last time you saw a nice 850 Spider? Our friends at Bring a Trailer spotted this gem on eBay Motors in what appears to be surprisingly good condition, particularly since these little Italian roller skates turned to dust upon contact with any form of moisture. The year and Sport moniker indicate that this is the more powerful, revised 850 delivering 52 hp from its rear-mounted 903-cc I4.

Car insurance market condemned by MPs

CAR INSURANCE is a "highly dysfunctional market" in which firms' pursuit of profit has led to higher prices for consumers, a report by MPs has said. In some cases, business practices have not been in the consumer interest and have "inadvertently encouraged criminal activity", the report from the House of Commons Transport Committee said. There was no clearer example of this than "insurance firms' willingness to pay compensation for whiplash claims which they suspect are fraudulent without requiring the claimant to undergo a medical examination".

Umea Institute of Design degree show 2009

Masters students from Sweden's Umea Institute of Design recently exhibited their final-year projects at the university's annual degree show. Featuring the work of both graduating diploma students and those completing the first year of their MA in Transportation Design, this year's exhibition brought together a diverse range of themes, ranging from futuristic interpretations of existing brand DNA to new concepts in car production, usage and forms. These are the highlights.