When Chrysler's 300 sedan came out, it certainly turned heads. The rear-wheel drive V6 sedan had aggressive lines and unabashed bulk. But, let's be honest, Chrysler's flagship sedan is starting to look a little dated -- after all, it rolled onto dealer lots when DaimlerChrysler was still running the show.

That's why, according to the Detroit Free Press, the revamped 2011 version of the 300 may hit the market early -- earlier even than the manufacturer's new Dodge Charger -- before the end of 2010.

Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has been pushing for new models -- and for good reason. The lack of new sheet metal on dealer lots has been killing the brand as other domestic badges like Ford and GM rolled out new, acclaimed models... and reaped a bump in sales as a result. Chrysler, on the other hand, has been in free fall. 

The long-awaited 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon has been unveiled by General Motors. As expected, the car manages to blend the functionality of the long-roof Cadillac with the blistering speed of the CTS-V sedan to create a whole new level of family-hauling awesome. GM’s engineers have managed to squeeze the same supercharged LSA V8 from the sedan under the hood, which means buyers will have 556 horsepower to play with -- all of them sent to the rear wheels. Even better, all of the performance suspension bits and the meaty Brembo brakes have also been carried over, meaning this is one wagon that would have no problem hustling around a track. 

We're a little late to the party on this, though it doesn't change the basic facts: On Sunday, Chinese conglomerate Geely inked their deal to buy  Volvo from Ford.

Not only that, they spoke of the Volvo brand as a tiger that should live in the jungle, but doesn't, and needs to be liberated.

A little tough to tell, based on that analogy, whether Geely employees have the ability to grasp the straightforward subtlety of Swedish design.

That being said, Li Shufu, founder of Geely, had a cogent point behind his metaphor. That is, Volvo is currently reliant on Europe for its manufacturing, and Europe and the U.S. for sales. But the global marketplace -- something of which Chinese companies are particularly aware -- can provide far more opportunities. 

As people (and, more significantly, legislators) are speaking out about the dangers of distracted driving, companies are stepping in to provide devices and applications that make it easier to communicate without actually picking up a phone. Easier, harder, or impossible, that is -- which was the original aim of ZoomSafer, a Virginia-based company that allows parents, fleet operators, or just safety-minded drivers to do everything from completely blocking all incoming messages to auto-replying and notifying those on the other end of the call that the person they're trying to reach is currently behind the wheel.

The technology combined GPS and cell phone tower signals to automatically engage the application when the phone is in a car that is in motion. Now, ZoomSafer has added the VoiceMate app. The program mimics applications in, say, Ford's Sync system, that allow drivers to receive and respond to both e-mail and incoming text messages via voice recognition software. 

Pretty much every manufacturer has dedicated themselves to eco-friendly models. But the nagging question remains: Which type is best?

For now, the answer depends mainly on which market you're talking about. In Europe, for example, clean diesels aren't only mainstream, they're a dominant force; in the States, on the other hand (and thanks to lingering memories of the belching, noxious diesels sold here in the 1970's), green drivers favor hybrid powertrains, be they gas-electric models such as the Toyota Prius or upcoming plug-in iterations.

CNN has picked the luxury segment to be the battleground for an example of each type of technology: The clean diesel Audi A3 TDI, overwhelmingly popular in Europe and critically acclaimed everywhere else, versus Lexus' dedicated hybrid model, the HS 250h. Let's see the results of the face-off: 

Can this thing really be a Mercedes? That’s a question I've asked myself when I drive one of Benz’ road-torching AMG models. A company that was once satisfied with syrup-smooth luxury cars is now slathering hot sauce on a range of limited-edition versions from its AMG performance division.

 

The E63 sedan is the latest. It’s also one of the best, a 518-horsepower sports sedan that easily matches -- and may top -- the BMW M5 or Cadillac CTS-V.  On the surface, a casual observer might assume that this Mercedes is just another sleepy, four-door luxury saloon, perhaps on its way to the dentist’s office. Then you mash the gas, and suddenly onlookers realize there’s a Deutsche hooligan in their midst: First, the E63 fires off an ear-smacking cannon shot that’s more NASCAR than Mercedes luxury sedan. Next thing you know, you’ve eclipsed 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and clipped the quarter-mile in 12.5 seconds. Add the optional performance package, and Mercedes will generously dial up the electronically-limited top speed from 155 to a blistering 186 mph.

Unlike AMGs of yore, this Mercedes is about more than warp-speed autobahn cruising in a cushy package. Compared to the previous-generation E63, this version is barely more powerful -- only 11 additional horses from the previous version's 507. But with its unique front axle, with a 2.2-inch wider track; a quicker steering rack and a suspension that's twice as stiff as the standard E-Class; and the greased-lightning AMG Speedshift 7-speed automated manual transmission, the E63 has added the handling reflexes and sensitive steering needed to let you attack curves like a Hun on wheels.

 

Hyundai is getting in the hybrid game, with a lithium-ion battery-and-gasoline drivetrain (dubbed "Blue Drive") in a slightly tweaked version of its new Sonata sedan.

The car will be revealed in the flesh at the New York auto show on Wednesday (so far, only this teaser shot has been released). A turbocharged Sonata will also be in New York.

So, it looks like the hybrid market is reaching the tipping point. It's hard to believe that just a few years ago there was really only one hybrid option: the Prius (well, Honda's Insight was there, too, but, really -- did you know anyone who had one of those?). 

From the glad-it-isn't-me file comes this video of a massively blown clutch. How bad, you ask? How about bad enough to take the entire front end off the car?

Of course, the circumstances were a little more, er, stressful than your average commute. The car in question is the "Baby Burrito" Honda CRX -- a drag strip regular.

As Jalopnik points out, this is exactly what transmission shields are for.

The 0:13 mark is the "oh s4!t" part, after the jump.