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Insurance group lists its Top Safety Picks

After increasing its standards for 2011 models, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that 66 vehicles--more than double the 2010 total--rate as best in the industry at protecting passengers from front, side, rollover and rear crashes. Only 27 vehicles qualified last year after the group, funded by the insurance industry, required that vehicles pass a roof-strength test to earn a good rating, claiming that stronger roofs would reduce the risk of serious or fatal injury by 50 percent in a rollover accident. The most mentioned carmakers on the 2011 list are Hyundai/Kia and Volkswagen/Audi, both with nine vehicles to get the Top Safety Pick designation.

Mercedes S Class production cut as sales fall

Mercedes is cutting production of the range topping S Class to a one shift operation as sales fall ahead of the new 2013 S Class. But there are now plenty of signs that even premium car makers are not immune from the economic climate – particularly in Europe – as sales start to slide. We recently commented that Jaguar sales are not as strong as they were and now it seems Mercedes is starting to feel the punch as sales of the range-topping S Class falter.

Rolls-Royce expands Bespoke operation

Rolls-Royce has decided to expand its Bespoke operation due to increasing customer demand for bespoke items, a company trademark. The Bespoke operation team, based at Goodwood, West Sussex, consists of designers, engineers and project management staff and will be doubled by the end of this year, bringing the number of Bespoke experts to over 50. Already in 2011 Rolls-Royce has seen a growing demand for bespoke additions to their cars, leading to the need to recruit more staff in key areas to match growing customer demands.