Volvo fans can rejoice now that the famous station wagon variant, the V60, is back (in North America), but it couldn’t be further from the rugged, mechanically simple station wagons of the past.

The V60 Plug-In uses a 215 horsepower 2.4L diesel 5-cylinder engine to drive the front wheels, with a 70 horsepower electric motor powering the rear axle. Three power modes are available (one pure electric, one for hybrid driving and one for an extra boost, appropriately named “Power”). All-wheel-drive can also be engaged, with both motors driving all 4 wheels when traction is limited.

In electric mode, the V60 can go as far as 30 miles without using any diesel, and can be charged in as little as 3 hours. 60 mph comes up in only 7 seconds, but you’ll have to wait until 2012 to buy one for yourself.

[Source: Volvo]

Gallery: Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid

The Toyota Prius is one of the most polarizing vehicles on the market today, with a legion of fans convinced that they’re doing their part to save the world, and an equal number of detractors deriding it as nothing more than a status symbol for green-obsessed vanity hounds. Strip away the awful rhetoric, and the real issues surrounding the car still remain. Does the car deliver on its fuel economy claims? Are the running costs of the hybrid economically justifiable? And is the battery good enough to survive the long, hard miles that a lot of drivers put on their cars?

Consumer Reports decided to try and objectively measure what a Prius can deliver even after 10 years and 206,000 miles, using a 2001 model they previously tested as a baseline. The results were nearly identical, with a couple tenths here or there to be added or subtracted. This suggests that the battery is also in good shape even after 10 years, and while a new one costs between $2,200 and $2,600 from a Toyota dealer, a used one can be had for about $500. It’s also worth noting that the shocks and powertrain components are all original, which suggests that running costs are fairly low.

Overall, this seems like a bit of vindication for the longevity of the Prius, but as the saying goes “haters gon’ hate”, and we’re sure to see a refutation shortly.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Come its official debut at the Geneva Auto Show next week, there won’t be anything left unseen of Lambo‘s latest supercar, thanks to a second leaked photo.

The first pic came from Evo Magazine Croatia, and this second pic is via Jalopnik, which doesn’t name a source.

Taking design inspiration from the Reventon, with a rear end inspired from the Estoque sedan, the successor to the Murcielago is powered by a 6.5-liter V12 rated at roughly 690-hp. It will be 18 percent more powerful than the Murcielago, while also emitting 20 percent fewer emissions. As for the transmission, Lamborghini will make use of its new ISR 7-speed transmission – the first use of a 7-speed with a V12 in the industry. With five gear settings, (auto strada, auto sport, strada, sport and corsa) the innovative transmission will be able to deliver shift times of just 50 ms in Corsa – which is almost as quick as a Formula 1 car.

Weight is kept to a minimum thanks to a carbon fiber chassis and the LP700-4 will get a pushrod suspension setup, similar to those found on race cars.

As for the rest of the car, it will be more ergonomic than even the Gallardo, with space for larger drivers. The dash will feature a new TFT instrument cluster, meaning that it won’t have traditional physical gauges, but that all instrumentation will be displayed on a screen.

The Aventador is set to debut at the Geneva Auto Show in March. Until then, see AutoGuide’s complete 2011 Geneva Auto Show Preview here.

GALLERY: Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

[Source: Jalopnik]

Anyone who was not comatose in 2009 remembers the Toyota unintended acceleration scandal, which saw millions of Toyota and Lexus products recalled due to what was eventually deemed to be a mismatch between floormats and the accelerator that could cause the pedal to stick.

Now, Toyota is recalling a further 2.17 million cars and trucks to remedy the issue – at least this time they’ve been vindicated by none other than NASA.

The recalled vehicles, along with the number of units, are listed after the jump, as is Toyota’s official release.

[Source: Toyota]

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It’s not often you hear about new jobs being advertised these days, especially in the auto industry, but Daimler AG is doing just that.

The parent company for Mercedes-Benz, Smart and several others plans to recruit more than 10,000 new people worldwide during 2011, around 4,000 in Germany alone. It says that approximately 6,700 skilled workers and 700 graduates will be recruited from all over the world as it plans a big drive to invest in its future, particularly in the areas of staffing as well as skills, research and development.

In an official statement to the press, Daimler’s Director of Labor Relations and Human Resources Management Board member Wilfried Porth, declared that the company can “only deliver top performance with the help of a first-class workforce.” He went on to say that “our human resources policy stands on two pillars: the continuous encouragement and support of young talent along with the recruitment of highly qualified skilled workers and graduates with work experience.”

Porth also stated the fact that Daimler is growing its operations in many parts of the world is another reason for this latest recruitment drive; among other things, the company plans to expand existing production facilities in Hungary, India and Mexico as well as those that serve its commercial vehicle division in North America.

It’s also bumping up training programs – around 600 students in its CAReer training program in Germany will also receive jobs upon graduation, along with a further 200 students currently enrolled in the Duale Hochschule.

For more information on the jobs being offered worldwide, click on the link below.

[Source: Daimler AG]

Televisions biggest motoring loud mouth is undeniably Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear fame. He is known to either really love a car, or hate it to bits, nothing comes in the middle.

Back in 2006, he raved on and on about the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, a car he loved so much, he actually put his money where his mouth is and bought one.

However, his love for it has been gone for a while now because he sold it a year later. Its second owner has now also put this car up for sale. It’s priced quite well also for such a car, asking about $145,000 for this 2007 Gallardo Spyder, which has covered 19,250-miles.

So if you think you are the ultimate Top Gear fan, you should consider buying it and perhaps make your own Top Gear style videos shouting “Pwwrrrr” every 10-seconds.

[Source: J Spec Imports]

Teaser photos that surfaced earlier this week of Brabus’ new Mercedes-Benz CLS have turned out to be the official tuning package, and not quite yet the Rocket we were hoping for. Set to debut at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, Brabus has unwrapped its tuned CLS, with a perfect blend of sportiness and luxury.

Like any respectable tuning package, Brabus’ CLS offering begins with a wind tunnel tested body kit, featuring a front spoiler with optional front apron caps, accented with air inlets and LED daytime running lights with either a dark or chrome surround. The stock fenders are then swapped out for sportier renditions, fully equipped with illuminated Brabus monikers. The kit is then joined from bumper to bumper with a set of side skirts featuring integrated entrance lights that can be activated through a keyless fob or door handles.

Going to the rear of the CLS, Brabus’ rear apron also features LED lights to safely access the trunk while custom-tailored cutouts give the perfect room for Brabus’ quad-tipped exhaust system. Finishing off the aesthetic body modifications is a clean and subtle trunk spoiler.

While Brabus offers several different wheel packages for various Mercedes-Benz vehicles, from 17-inch to 20-inch sizes, they chose to outfit this demo CLS with a set of 20×8.5 and 20×9.5 Brabus Monoblock F in a Liquid Titanium shade.

Suspension components were developed in cooperation with Bilstein, lowering the vehicle 1.2-inch for sport springs, while any AIRMATIC-equipped CLS can be lowered 1.4-inch with Brabus’ suspension module.

Various performance upgrades are available depending on the CLS model you are personalizing. Every CLS model however can be outfitted with their quad sport exhaust system.

Interior upgrades can be met per customer’s request through Brabus from their Mastik leather to Alcantara upholstery.

GALLERY: Brabus Mercedes-Benz CLS

Forget cocaine, Charlie Sheen has found a way to part with his money ever faster – with fast cars. And not for himself either.

In the past month the ‘Two and a Half Men’ star has spent a grand total of $780,000 on four high-priced machines for the many women in his life.

The most expensive of the bunch is a brand new Bentley convertible, which he purchased for adult film star Kacey Jordan. And because he’s Charlie Sheen and simply having one adult film star in his life isn’t enough, he reportedly also bought a $150,000 Porsche 911 Turbo for a second unnamed adult film star.

Sheen then bought two new Mercedes models, an S63 and a CL600, both priced at around $160,000; the first for his girlfriend, the second for his soon-t0-be ex-wife Brooke Mueller.

Now you know why women love Charlie Sheen.

[Source: MSNBC and RadarOnline]

With the debut of the Virage, yet another V12-powered luxury exotic this week, it appears as though Aston Martin might actually be making plans for non-V12-powered cars.

And no, we’re not talking about V8s, like the Vantage, but a return to the straight-six.

According to PistonHeads.com, Dr. Ulrich Bez, the top man at Aston, commented that he’s interested in exploring the use of inline six-cylinder engines, even going so far as to quote a displacement of 2.5-liters, paired with turbocharging and direct-injection.

While a possible option for the V8-powered Vantage, the engine would fit in any of Aston’s cars, says Bez, as they are all based on the same architecture with V12s being offered in every model.

The last Aston Martin to be powered by one of the automaker’s straight-six engines was the DB7. Could that badge make a comeback?

[Source: PistonHeads]

Spyker Cars, a Dutch sports car company no one would know of were it not for its purchase of Saab from GM, has just announced its own sale. Sort of.

The current company known as Saab Spyker Automobiles will retain Saab, but sell off the niche-market Spyker brand for $44 million to CPP Global Holdings Ltd, a coachbuilder based in Coventry, England.

Here’s where it gets interesting.

CPP is backed by Russian billionaire Vladimir Antonov. Sound familiar? It might if you’ve been paying close attention to the Saab-Spyker story. Back in 2009, it was Antanonv’s involvement in Spyker that initially prevented the sale of Saab from GM. As it turns out, Antanov was allegedly tied to the Russian mafia – and with General Motors being majority owned at this time by none other than the U.S. government, well, let’s just say it wouldn’t have been a good PR move for the Obama administration to sell off millions of dollars of taxpayer assets to the Russian mafia.

No connection between Antanov and the Russian mafia was ever confirmed and Spyker Cars CEO Victor Muller has publicly stated that he does not believe there is a connection.

At the time Antanov pulled out of Spyker allowing the sale to go through, which was surprising as Spyker seemed to easily come up with the necessary funds to seal the deal – hinting that Antanov was secretly still involved. Now it appears Antanov is getting his exotic Dutch sports car company back.