Europe – the same corner of Europe, actually – claims the first three spots in Mercer Consulting's annual Quality of Living Survey. Vienna, Austria and Zurich and Geneva in Switzerland lead the list, followed by Vancouver, Canada and Auckland, New Zealand in a tie for fourth.

Little has changed for the top half of the top 10. Last year, Zurich nabbed the top spot, and Vienna and Geneva shared the #2 spot. Vancouver is unchanged year-over-year, and Auckland's #5 finish last year is roughly the same as its tie for fourth in 2009.

Not only are the top places to live ostensibly enjoyable, you're more likely to be there for a while. Life expectancies in these cities start at 79 years. It's better than living a nice long life in a dump, I guess.

The United States doesn't appear until the bottom of the top 30, with Honolulu and San Francisco. From Asia, only Singapore picks up a spot in the world's 30 best places to live. South America and Africa are not represented at all. It's strange, I half-expected to see Mogadishu on this list.

Of the 215 places listed, Baghdad has the distinction of finishing last. Sometimes, common sense prevails.

It doesn't get much better than the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. It's got the engine from the Enzo supercar in a package more suited towards everyday driving and is widely regarded as one of the most dynamic vehicles on the road. But Ferrari didn't get where it is today by sitting on their fine-leather laurels, and with that in mind the Italian sportscar company and racing team released a new package for the 599 called the Handling GT Evoluzione.

The tuned suspension on the 599 HGTE features stiffer springs, beefed-up roll bars and retuned magnetic viscosity shock absorbers, resulting in a lower ride height, complemented by new 20-inch split-five-spoke modular wheels wrapped in new tires. The advanced F1-derived transmission has also been updated, as has the exhaust system, while inside the cabin has been revised with leather, Alcantara suede and carbon fiber. No word on pricing, but considering that the existing 599 retails for over $300k, this is definately one of those "if you have to ask..." moments.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Ferrari 599 HGTE

For such a small company, or by any measure, really, Aston Martin certainly had its hands full preparing for this year's Geneva Motor Show. The company currently offers essentially two model lines, but at the Swiss show revealed four new models that didn't step on each other's toes. In addition to the V12 Vantage, the DBS Volante and the seven-figure One-77 supercar, Aston also took the opportunity to revive the long-dormant Lagonda marque. Now celebrating its 100th anniversary, Lagonda has been out of commission for decades, but is now poised to make a comeback. Unfortunately the concept which Aston unveiled to kick off Lagonda's return disappointed what could have been an elegant affair.

Instead of showing a limousine as expected to take on the likes of Bentley, Rolls-Royce and Maybach, the Lagonda Concept is an awkwardly-styled crossover with a huge gaping mouth and unattractive shape, especially in the presence of such classically beautiful Aston sportscars. Company executives hope the production version, whenever it rolls around, will help them expand into new markets like the Middle East, China, India and Russia where luxury SUVs are even more the rage than they are in the U.S. But while this beast may strike a chord with those who have more money than taste, we would have expected a little more from Aston Martin. See for yourself in the gallery of photographs below.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Lagonda concept

This year's Geneva Motor Show had plenty of surprises and a wealth of breathtaking new automobiles on display, but it also had its share of disappointments. Bugatti, for example, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. But instead of marking the occasion in the grand style we expected, Bugatti simply slapped a fresh coat of paint on an existing Veyron and blew out the hundred candles on its cake.

Called the Bleu Centenaire, the special Veyron is differentiated from its "ordinary" counterparts (if you could apply the term to a seven-figure supercar) by a special French Racing Blue paintjob in tone-on-tone matte and glossy finish, complemented by special wheels. Only one will be made, but then just about every Veyron to roll out of Bugatti's Molsheim factory is different from every other.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Bugatti Veyron Bleu Centenaire

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron Bleu Centenaire