Earlier this week, Volvo revealed their goal to begin selling diesel hybrid vehicles in both the European and U.S. markets by 2012, signalling the unofficial end of Volvo’s famed V8. In light of that news, a renewed emphasis has been placed on the Volvo XC60’s impending debut in April, as it will most likely carry with it two turbo diesel variants. Released in Europe in 2008, the 2009 Volvo XC60 will hit North American dealer showrooms in April of ‘09 and offer direct competition to other similar luxury crossovers like the BMW X3 and the Acura RDX.

As of today, the only model that has been confirmed for introduction in the U.S. is the Volvo XC60 T6 AWD. Unlike its two diesel cousins, the XC60 D5 and 2.4D, the XC60 T6 AWD is standard gasoline dependent, yet still boasts an impressive fuel consumption average of 33 mpg city/27 mpg hwy (est). Under the hood, the surprisingly fuel efficient XC60 carries a 3.0L I6 engine mated with a 6-speed Geartronic transmission, producing 285 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Not nearly as powerful, the XC60’s diesel options, the D5 AWD and the 2.4D AWD, are available with either a 6-sp Geartronic or manual transmission and only produce an average of 185-hp/295 lb-ft of torque and 163-hp/251 lb-ft of torque, respectively. Marginally less gas thirsty than the T6 AWD, however, both diesel engines consume an estimated 22 mpg city/35 mpg hwy (Geartronic), 24 mpg city/38 mpg hwy (manual).

Full XC60 photo gallery after the jump

On his way to work this morning, TheTorqueReport ’s Marc Carter caught an impromptu glimpse of the highly anticipated 2010 Z4. Definitely bigger then the current Z4, preliminary specs indicate the next-gen Z4 will ride on the 3-series platform and will most likely feature similar engine options. Like the model spotted this morning, Z4 prototypes have been glimpsed wearing retractable hard-tops, though word out of Germany confirms a soft-top option will be available as well.

The impromptu photo shoot was snapped via Carter’s iPhone, apparently during the morning L.A. grind, so cut him a break on the quality.
Full gallery after the jump

The current Ford Taurus bears a downright uncanny resemblance to the Ford Five Hundred, and Ford design chiefs have been working overtime to change that. Unusual for any automaker, Ford has announced the Ford Taurus will get a makeover for 2010, which Ford CEO Allan Mullay describes as ““the one we should have made originally.”

Despite heavy camouflage that makes it anyone’s guess, Ford has revealed that the new Taurus will draw heavily from European inspiration, sharing very little with previous models. Cloaked under slimming black, spy shots snapped by Brenda Priddy (via LeftLaneNews) reveal that Ford wasn’t kidding - this new beast from the East looks nothing like the Taurus of legends told.

Full gallery after the jump

Unlike RideLust’s previous salute to the Auto Show Girl, this titillating pictorial is completely tame enough to avoid an awkward Monday-morning chat with HR, yet still guaranteed to take your mind off the daily grind.

Enjoy, and as I said before, you’re welcome in advance.

Full gallery after the jump

Today, Mazda released official photos of the production Mazda3, the new Expected to debut next month at the 2008 LA Auto Show, the 2010 Mazda3 is expected to aid the Mazda6 in ushering Mazda into its new design era. Sitting on the Ford Focus C1 global car platform, the next generation Mazda3 will be longer, wider, and just a touch more powerful than current models.
Trading in its current 2.3L DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder for a 2.5L, power output will get anywhere from a 20-hp to 30-hp boost from the current 156-hp rating. An increase in fuel efficiency has also been projected for the new model as well, but its current EPA estimate of 24 mpg city/32 hwy isn’t too shabby to begin with - we wouldn’t be heartbroken if those specs didn’t change.

Originally slated for introduction during the later half of 2009, revised agendas have tentatively scheduled to 2010 Mazda to hit dealer showrooms in the summer of 2009. Official pricing has yet to be announced, but we expect it to fall somewhere within the current $15,000-base range.

Full gallery after the jump

The infamous Wall of Death, which used to be called the silodrome back in the early 1900s, is an old carnival sideshow consisting of a huge drum shaped cylinder with tall straight walls where motorcyclists perform tricks. The audience views from the top of the drum, looking down. The bikes start at the bottom, in the middle, and drive up the curved section until they gain enough velocity to drive horizontal to the floor. In India and other parts of the world, performers even use small cars.

There is a similar act called the Ball of Death, where riders zip around inside a wire mesh sphere rather than a drum.

Well, apparently, back in the day, some carnival performers didn’t think the trick was dangerous enough, so they took a lion from the “dangerous animals” section, and let him ride in the sidecar with the “dangerous motorcyclists”, creating the first “dangerous animal motorcyclist”. Groundbreaking. Here’s the complete lion picture and some videos of the trick:

Ford has released part trois of the 2010 Mustang teaser pictorial, giving us a sneak peek of the next-gen Mustang’s dashboard/instrument cluster. The new preview photo accompanies an already pretty expansive, pre-existing photo spread, the bulk which features the 2010 Mustang posing à la Death Row Records in muted lighting.

Too gangsta 4 print, full 2010 Mustang teaser gallery after the jump

Spied by KGP, posted by Autoblog, Nissan’s highly anticipated update of the current 350Z, the Nissan 370Z, was caught cruising near the Nurburing in Germany in the nude. Photographed free of any clever disguise, the new Nissan 370Z is a decidedly more masculine coupe than the 350Z. Sporting beefier C-pillars, and bigger fender flares, photographic evidence suggests the 370Z widened its entire stance in accommodation of its new, more powerful engine. Scheduled to debut at the LA Auto Show next month, the Nissan 370Z will be flexing a brand new set of specs in the form of its new 3.7L V6 engine, expected to net well over 300 horsepower.

More spy shots after the jump

Through an exhaustive array of sneak peaks and photo leaks, the 2010 Camaro wore out its welcome a full six months before its official debut. Already sick of the stock options, aftermarket mock-ups of über Camaro’s have already hit the web, most of which are the product of bored 14-year old boys looking to pass the time in 5th period algebra. Some are pretty impressive though, like the renderings of a Camaro Z28 created by Camaro5 forum lurker and admitted fanboy, Jinx. Designed with dreams of a 550-hp, 6.2L LSA engine under the hood, Jinx’s mock-ups feature a hood bulge to accommodate the massive engine as well as a ZR1-esque clear opening - for checking out the gun show. A bigger air intake is designed to feed the massive intercooler, and the requisite quad exhaust tips were added to the rear.

Full gallery after the jump

Caught by KGP Photography and offered as feast to our motor-hungry guys at AutoBlog, two Audi RS performance monsters were spotted laying it down on the Nurburgring in Germany. The tinier of the two, the Audi TT-RS, appears to be flaunting its production-ready form, sporting two massive front-mount intakes and chunkier fender flares. The sporty revision doesn’t stop with the bodywork either - when the TT-RS hits the market it will feature a twin-turbo 2.5L 5 cylinder engine expected to net between 350 and 390 horsepower.

Full TT-RS and RS5 gallery after the jump