autos sport

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

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

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

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

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

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.

We discovered the weird looking Chrysler 300C Hollywood limo “hiding” somewhere between Chrysler’s main stand and Jeep’s indoor 4x4 test course. We don’t have any official information on the car other than it was also seen at the Detroit Show last month.

Apart form the longer wheelbase that helps the two rear passengers stretch their legs into infinity, the 300C Hollywood limo also features a partially exposed cabin over the driver and his companion. Thing is, while the rear cabin is enclosed, there’s no cover for the front passengers who are left to deal with whatever mother nature has in store for them. –More pics after the jump