VOLVO TO UNVEIL DIESEL ELECTRIC HYBRID IN GENEVA

Current gasoline-powered hybrids can barely manage to keep ahead of small diesels in the mpg wars that will shape our future transportation structure, but in theory a diesel hybrid would rule the roost -- for the moment, at least. That's what Volvo will be showing off in Geneva shortly, promising a whopping 124MPG from the V60 plug-in diesel hybrid it announced a few weeks back. The car uses an internal combustion engine driving the front wheels and an electric one to spin the rears, meaning 2WD efficiency but AWD grip -- and a combined 285hp to handily blow the doors off any Prius that dares step up at a streetlight. Volvo is saying the car will take about five hours to charge on a standard household outlet and that you'll be able to monitor that status from your iPhone. Check it out in the video below.

VOLVO FAILS IN PR DEMO...AGAIN!

Volvo, considered one of the safest vehicles on the road today, just can't catch a break when it demonstrates it's new pedestrian avoidance system.  For the second time, the technology has failed during a press conference to show off the innovative system.  To Volvo's credit the system did work a number of times before the crash happened.  Volvo has blamed the problem on improper dummy placement, try using that excuse to a cop..."gee officer the guy I just ran over wasn't in the proper place for my new fangled Volvo pedestrian avoidance system to see."  I'm sure that would go over really well! I hope this isn't what we have to look forward to now that Volvo is Chinese owned. [Engadget]