2215319 Scott 217789-0001041 Goggle Recoil Pro Blk on 2040-parts.com

Toyota Auris Hybrid – Frankfurt debut

The Toyota Auris Hybrid will be at Frankfurt Toyota are calling this the first application of their Hybrid Synergy Drive in a mainstream model. Which makes us wonder if Toyota don’t consider the Prius a mainstream model. They’re also calling this a concept, but we know that Toyota will be producing the Auris Hybrid in the UK next year, so take this as a pretty much production-ready car.

A look at Volvo future products

Volvo wants to derive economies of scale from a new front-wheel-drive architecture called SPA, for Scalable Platform Architecture. The redesigned XC90 crossover due in 2014 will be the first to use the architecture. SPA was designed for a new family of four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines that Volvo will begin using on existing models next fall.

HPP turns Challenger into Superbird

Those of you pining for the high-winged days of the Dodge Charger Daytona and Plymouth Superbird can open up your checkbooks and make one payable to Heide Performance Products out of Madison Heights, Mich. The company can turn any Dodge Challenger into a '70s-inspired pavement burner, though they leave the actual pavement-burning modifications up to you: the Superbird/Daytona kit is an appearance upgrade only. The full kit comes with a nose cone assembly ($5,999), three-piece wing ($2,499), functional Shaker hood and scoop ($2,499), rear aluminum louvers ($899), HPP Challenger hood pins ($179), Daytona or Superbird taillight overlays ($189), fender gills ($89), pistol-grip shift lever ($149) and rear diffuser ($1,299), or a total of $13,800.