One might think that a vampiric nightcrawler would be prone to drive something a little less practical than a Volvo–the Gemballa Mirage GT Matte Edition would fit the bill quite nicely. Hell, if you can turn into a bat, you shouldn’t need a car to begin with.

However, when the anticipated Twilight sequel hits theaters on the 20th, star vampire Edward Cullen will be behind the wheel of a modified Savile Grey Volvo XC60–a slight change from the S60R (now out of production) that the character drove in the book.

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We’ve seen some of the details and artistic intepretations of the upcoming Volvo S60 sedan, and today Volvo has released the official pictures. Looking quite similar to what we expected, the S60 is strong, attractive vehicle with distinctive lines. The four-door will make its debut at next March’s Geneva Motor Show and production will begin in the summer of next year.

The powertrain behind the S60 is currently unconfirmed, but past speculation has called for 4- and 6-cylinder varieties in addition to efficient versions. One interesting safety feature that is likely to be a part of the S60 is Volvo’s Pedestrian Detection, which senses pedestrians in front of the car and brakes automatically if the driver isn’t swift to hit the pedal. [via Motor Authority]

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Volvo C70

Geely, a Chinese automaker that’s brought us some pretty swank rides, is at the top of Ford’s short list in the bid for Volvo. Ford has confirmed this, and vice president and CFO Lewis Booth said in a press release: “Ford believes Geely has the potential to be a responsible future owner of Volvo and to take the business forward while preserving its core values and the independence of the Swedish brand. But there is much work that needs to be completed in the more substantive discussions that are agreed to take place. We have no specific timeline to conclude the discussions.” Geely is the fourth largest auto exporter in China. Ford intends to work closely with stakeholders including the Swedish government, unions and shareholders in finalizing the sale. [via WCF]

After announcing that it will offer a plug-in vehicle by 2012 back in June, Volvo has been making small but telling announcements as to its plans for getting these vehicles on the road. In the latest news, Volvo U.S. chief Doug Speck has stated that Volvo intends to bring both diesel and plug-in hybrids to the United States. The company also plans to offer more efficient gasoline vehicles. The plans will help the company meet the government’s toughened efficiency standards. No information as to the scope of the efficient wing of the Volvo line or the intended U.S. launch date was offered, but Speck did reassert Volvo’s goal of launching a European plug-in by 2012. It looks like we’ll have some time before seeing the new offerings. [via Motor Authority]

Set to compete with the likes of the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class, the newest Volvo S60 will make its grand debut in the spring of next year. The design is nearly identical to the 2008 S60 concept and should make some design waves in Volvo’s lineup helping to separate the S60  from the S80, which it previously bore an uncomfortably close resemblance to. The S60 will get several engine choices including 4, 5 and 6 cylinder Ford engines and an efficient DRIVe option. Volvo’s first GTDi engine is also expected to make an appearance in the production model . The above image was drawn by a Car Magazine artist with knowledge of the final design. [Car via egmCarTech]

We first saw the Volvo C70 redesign a few weeks ago and were quite impressed with the sportier profile. Redesigning the C70 based on S60 concept, Volvo has provided a bolder, more stylish convertible while still maintaining the safety and performance that Volvo has always been renowned for. Engine choices abound with three gasoline options sporting from 140 to 230 hp and two diesel options of 136 and 180 hp. Volvo has pulled the sheet on the C70 at Frankfurt, so get a little more personal with the convertible in the gallery after the break. Still no pricing or performance info, however. [via egmCarTech]

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The latest Frankfurt sneak peak to make the rounds is the redesigned Volvo C70. Central to the refresh is the more agressive front end, which borrows some styling from the XC60 and the C60 Concept. In the rear the C70 gets new LED taillights. By adding a new instrument panel and other subtle touches inside, Volvo blends a rugged sports coupe with an inviting, comfortable convertible. Of course, it’s still a Volvo so safety is intregal in the design of the 3-piece steel drop top, with structural reinforcements and rollover protection adding strength and integrity. Under the hood, the C70 stays the same as its predecessor with three gas and two diesel engine options. The vehicle will be offered in the luxurious Flamenco Red Pearl, a paint color that will also be debuting at Frankfurt. [via Ride Lust and Auto Guide]

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