Volvo XC60 SUV: Official Images to be Released on February 20!

It has come to our attention -ok, we actually read about it in the invitation we received to see the XC60 live at the Geneva Motor Show from Volvo..., that the Swedish carmaker will release the first official pictures of its all-new XC60 SUV on Wednesday, February 20.

As you might have already guessed, Volvo hasn’t released any details on its BMW X3 contender other than it will be based on the XC60 concept (picture) that we first saw at the 2007 Detroit Show -click here. So unless someone decides to spill the beans earlier –something very possible, we’ll just have sit tight and wait.

Action Video: Dodge Challenger SRT8 Burning Rubber

Continuing our Challenger SRT8 saga, here’s the second video clip of Dodge’s retro-penned muscle car (see the unveiling at the Chicago Auto Show here). Apart from the exterior and interior beauty shots, this 5-and-a-half minute long promo film includes running footage where we not only get the chance to hear the 425 HP Hemi V8 growl like an angry lion but we also see the Challenger SRT8 smoking its rear tires. Check out the vid right after the jump. -Continued

Chicago Show: 2009 VW Routan Minivan Live Pics

Sure it looks a bit better overall from its Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan siblings, but we still can’t figure out why Volkswagen decided to enter the minivan category now that consumers are pointing there attention to alternative segments like crossovers.

In any case, VW’s minivan proposition will be offered with two V6 engines, a basic 197 HP 3.8-liter unit and a 251 HP 4.0-liter with prices starting under $25,000 when it goes on sale in the US latter on this year. -More pics after the jump

Volvo Launches Limited Edition C30 R-Design

To celebrate the C30's introductory year, Volvo has announced that it will offer limited edition version of its sport hatch in the US market. Only 400 C30 R-Design 2.5 Turbo vehicles have been earmarked for 2008 model year production which accounts to about one car for each Volvo retailer in the States.

The C30 R-Design’s unique exterior features include a matte-silver finish for the outside mirror housings, front grille surround, Volvo grille "strap, sport body kit, tailgate spoiler and large diameter exhaust tips. Customers can select from four exterior colors: Black Sapphire, Titanium Grey, Orinoco Blue and Passion Red. -Continued

Stepping inside the cabin, the C30 R-Design gets seats swathed with off-black Flex-tech while the cushions and backrests are trimmed in contrasting crème-colored leather. The R-Design logo is embossed neatly into the front bucket seatbacks. The C30 R-Design also sports a blue-face instrument cluster, leather-wrapped steering with aluminum inlays, sport pedals, sport shifter, and floor mats and a center console finished with a unique inlay with subtle circular patterns.

Pricing for the Volvo Limited Edition C30 R-Design 2.5 Turbo will be released closer to its introduction date in the second quarter of 2008.

Chicago Show: Lexus ES 350 & RX 350 Pebble Beach Editions

Lexus introduced two limited versions of its ES 350 sedan and RX 350 crossover at the Chicago Auto Show. Both Pebble Beach editions of the RX and ES feature signature colors, extra options and unique badging and their production will be limited to 6,000 vehicles each.

Available from mid-February, the RX 350 Pebble Beach Collection will be offered in three colors: Classic Silver Metallic, Obsidian Black and Truffle Mica. The RX features included new 18-inch wheels, chrome grille, color-keyed rear spoiler, special interior trim combination, customized floormats and exterior badging with Pebble Beach Company's signature logo. The base MSRP of the FWD RX 350 is $37,500 and $38,900 for the AWD model. -Continued

The ES 350 Pebble Beach Edition that will be available from mid-March is offered in the exclusive Truffle Mica color, as well as Tungsten Pearl Silver and Obsidian Black. The 7-spoke 17-inch wheels come with an exclusive liquid graphite finish while the interior of the ES features semi-aniline leather and a wood and leather steering wheel. The ES Pebble Beach Edition also features Pebble Beach Edition logoed floormats and special badging on the front fenders. Prices for the ES will be announced at a later date.

Ferrari FXX Racer Pedal Car: Ultimate Kids Play

For those who think that cost shouldn’t be a factor when it comes to buying a toy for their youngsters, Bergtoys has released the Ferrari FXX Racer pedal car. For €499 or approx $725, you can buy the basic version of the Ferrari inspired pedal car which comes equipped with a seven-speed transmission, an on-board processor, disc brake pedals, semi-slick pursuit tires.

But that’s not all. Parents who can spare “a little’ more cash or to be exact, €1,499 / $2,175, Bergtoys offers a supped up version of their Ferrari FXX Racer pedal car dubbed “Exclusive”. The latter is equipped with a first-class fast bucket seat with a four-point harness, a leather steering wheel, larger alloy wheels and even an aero bodykit. –More high-res pics after the jump

Via: Le Blog Auto , Source: Bergtoys

Chicago Show: The Behemoth of all SUVs – the Alton F650 XUV

Sitting right behind Ford’s Chicago Auto Show booth, was the Alton F650 XUV or in other words, one of the largest –if not the largest, SUV in the world. And we’re not talking big in European standards, but big in the “good old” American way –and you all know what that means…

This thing is so massive that it would probably dwarf a vehicle as large as a Hummer H1! Powering the Ford F650 truck based mammoth, is a straight-six, 7.2-liter Caterpillar diesel engine that has an output of 230 HP and 660 lbs-ft of maximum torque. -Continued

And the price, we hear you ask? Well, the Alton could be yours for approx $200,000 which will get you a flat hardware floor, a custom captain’s chair, a hifi audio system with 42 speakers, a 42-inch TV set at the back along with two, 16-inch drop-down televisions.

Chicago Show: Scion tC RS 4.0 Live Pics

Despite the various problems we had with our photo cameras (the good one decided to take a permanent vacation, the spare one was on-off both days), we did manage to take pictures of the tC RS 4.0 that was on display in the Scion booth at the Chicago Auto Show. And good thing we did as Scion released just one image of the car (see here).

In a nutshell, the Release Series 4.0 (RS) features a tasty DAMD bodykit on the outside while on the inside, it gets gray and black Alcantara seats embroidered with a “tC RS 4.0” logo, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a black leather and dark wood RAZO shift knob. Prices for the tC RS 4.0 start at $17,000. –Pics after the jump

Chicago Show: Ford Edge Sports

In an attempt to give its compact crossover a sportier…edge, Ford introduced a new factory-customized version of the Edge at the Chicago Auto Show. The most prominent features of the Sport model are the standard 20-inch alloy wheels or optionally, a set of humongous 22-inch polished alloy rims complete with low-profile, 40-series Pirelli Scorpion Zero tires and the eight-piece body kit includes a unique front air dam, side skirts, lower door caps and a rear skirt, all finished in body color. -Continued

Other details include custom Sport badging, polished dual exhaust tips emerging from openings in the rear skirt and “foundry gray” smoked headlamp and taillamp lenses. Inside, the Edge Sport gets dark gray leather seats with suede patterned inserts in a combination of light and dark gray along with etched metal effect on the instrument panel center console. Unfortunately that’s all the…sport the Edge Sport gets as there are no mechanical enchantments.