Hot Toys 1/6 Ghost Rider Figure with Bike PREVIEW

Hot Toys is proud to present their MMS133 (Movie Masterpiece Series) 1/6th scale Ghost Rider Limited Edition Collectible Figurine with Bike Set from the Ghost Rider movie. The highly detailed Ghost Rider collectible is specially crafted based on the image of Nicolas Cage in the movie, highlighting the newly sculpted head and skull, light-up functions on skull and detailed weapons. The set also comes with a motor bike with light-up functions in front blinkers and wheels.

 The 1/6th scale Ghost Rider Limited Edition Collectible Figurine with Bike Set specially features: Newly sculpted head with authentic likeness of Nicolas Cage as Johnny Blaze and Ghost Rider in the movie Ghost Rider and is Approximately 30 cm tall featuring TrueType body with over 30 points of articulations with Highly detailed hair sculpture and Movie-accurate facial expression with detailed wrinkles and skin texture.Each piece of head sculpt is specially hand-painted. Interchangeable newly sculpted skull with LED light-up eyes and fire-shaped hair sculpture (orange light, battery operated). Comes with Two (2) pairs of interchangeable palms: One (1) pair of riveted gloved fists and One (1) pair for riveted gloved palms for holding shot gun

Costume: One (1) leather-like black jacket with rivets on shoulders, One (1) black tee, One (1) pair of leather-like black trousers, One (1) pair of dark-brown boots, One (1) pair of front arm armor with rivets
Weapons: One (1) long metal chain, One (1) shotgun

Accessories: Specially sculpted 1/6th scale motor bike with LED light-up functions in front blinkers and wheels (orange light, battery operated), Figure stand with Ghost Rider nameplate and movie logo

Artists: Head Sculpted by Eom Jea Sung (GOX), Head Painted by JC. Hong, Head Art Directed by Kojun, Skull Sculpted by Joseph Tsang, Motor Bike Sculpted by Joseph Tsang

**Battery included for collectible figure, AG1 batteries (3 pieces) are provided**Battery not included for motor bike, 3A batteries (3 pieces) are required

Release date: Q4, 2010 – Q1, 2011

Hot Toys The Terminator: 1/6th scale T800 Figure Preview

Hot Toys is proud to present their MMS136 Movie Masterpiece Series 1/6th scale T800 Collectible Figure from The Terminator movie. The T800 collectible is specially crafted based on the image of Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie, highlighting the newly sculpted head, muscular body, detailed weapons and accessories, as well as the additional interchangeable damaged head.

 The 1/6th scale T800 Collectible Figure specially features: Authentic and detailed fully realized likeness of Arnold Schwarzenegger as T800 in the movie The Terminator, Approximately 30cm tall, Muscular body with over 30 points of articulations, Dark brown colored hair sculpture, Movie accurate facial expression with detailed wrinkles and skin texture

An additional interchangeable left eye damaged head, Seven (7) pieces of interchangeable palms including: One (1) pair of relaxed palms, One (1) pair of gloved fists, One (1) pair for holding gun, One (1) damaged right arm, Each piece of head sculpt is specially hand-painted

Costume: One (1) dark grey colored jacket with metal chain on left shoulder, One (1) black colored patterned under vest, One (1) pair of khaki colored pants, One (1) pair of black colored boots with chain on left side
Weapons: One (1) long slide pistol, One (1) machine gun, One (1) long shot gun

Accessories: One (1) medical pincer, One (1) medical knife, Four (4) pairs of medical scissors, Figure stand with T800 nameplate and the Terminator movie logo

Artists: Head Sculpted by Yulli, Head Painted by JC. Hong, Head Art Directed by JC. Hong
Release date: Q4, 2010 – Q1, 2011

Hot Toys TRON Legacy Sam Flynn Figure with Light Cycle PREVIEW

Having teased us earlier on the TRON Legacy Light Cycle, Hot Toys is proud to present their MMS142 ~ Movie Masterpiece Series ~ 1/6th scale Sam Flynn Collectible Figure with Light Cycle from the TRON: Legacy movie. The set is specially equipped with the Light Cycle with LED light-up function, together with the highly detailed Sam Flynn collectible which is specially crafted based on the image of Garrett Hedlund in the movie, highlighting the newly sculpted heads and light-up Tron Warrior suit.

The 1/6th scale Sam Flynn Collectible Figure with Light Cycle specially features: Two (2) newly sculpted heads with authentic likeness of Garrett Hedlund as Sam Flynn in the movie TRON: Legacy, including one with undetachable helmet, Approximately 42 (L) x 16 (W) x 18 (H) cm (Light Cycle with Sam Flynn Collectible), Body with partial movability, Highly detailed hair sculpture, Movie-accurate facial expression with detailed wrinkles and skin texture, One (1) pair of gloved palms for driving the Light Cycle, Three (3) pieces of legs including: One (1) pair of bending legs for riding position (left leg is interchangeable), One (1) extra piece of interchangeable straight left leg for braking position. Each piece of head sculpt is specially hand-painted

Costume: One (1) one-piece undetachable black-color Tron Warrior suit with LED light-up function (white light, battery operated) with data disc at the back, One (1) pair of undetachable black-color boots

Accessories: One (1) black-color helmet, One (1) 1/6th scale Light Cycle with LED light-up function (white light, battery operated)

Artists: Head Sculpted by Jeon Young Tae, Head Painted by JC. Hong, Head Art Directed by Kojun
Technical Support: Light Cycle Technical Supported by Wing Chow and Eddie Lo, Soritis Limited

**Product shown is not final, pending licensor approval
**Battery included for Collectible Figure, button cells are required
**Battery not included for Light Cycle, 3A batteries are required

Release date: Q2-3, 2011

Hot Toys Kevin Flynn Collectible Figure PREVIEW

Hot Toys is proud to present their MMS144 (Movie Masterpiece Series) TRON: Legacy 1/6th scale Kevin Flynn Collectible Figure from the TRON: Legacy movie. The Kevin Flynn collectible is specially crafted based on the image of Jeff Bridges in the movie, highlighting the newly sculpted head, highly detailed costume with data disc at the back, bracelets as accessories and light-up hexagonal figure stand.

The 1/6th scale Kevin Flynn Collectible Figure specially features: Authentic and detailed fully realized likeness of Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn in the movie TRON: Legacy, Approximately 30cm tall TrueType body with over 30 points of articulations, Highly detailed hair sculpture, Movie-accurate facial expression with detailed wrinkles, skin texture and moustache. Five (5) pieces of interchangeable palms including: One (1) pair of relaxed palms, One (1) pair of fists, One (1) right palm for holding data disc. Each piece of head sculpt is specially hand-painted

Costume: One (1) set of white-color costume, including one (1) long-sleeve robe with detachable data disc at the back, one (1) long-sleeve shirt and one (1) pair of pants, One (1) set of black-color costume, including one (1) long-sleeve jacket with detachable data disc at the back, one (1) long-sleeve robe, one (1) long-sleeve shirt and one (1) pair of pants AND One (1) pair of detachable black-color boots

 Accessories: One (1) white-color and one (1) black-color bracelets, One (1) LED light-up hexagonal figure stand with Kevin Flynn nameplate and the movie logo (white light, battery operated)

Artists: Head Sculpted by Jeon Young Tae, Head Painted by JC. Hong, Head Art Directed by Kojun

**Prototype shown, final product may be slightly different
**Battery included for figure stand, button cells (3 pieces) are required

Release date: Q2-3, 2011

Volvo XC90 SUV by Heico Sportiv

Seeing that Volvo will be holding on to the XC90, which has been in production since 2002, for a few more years, tuning firm Heico Sportiv decided to update its styling offerings for the crossover model.

The newly developed bodykit is made from PUR-R-RIM plastic and consists of six parts. These include new front apron that replaces the series-produced central and side panels and has a stainless steel stay located in front of the cooling air outlet, side skirts that are mounted on top of the original parts and a new rear apron that accommodates the four-pipe sports exhaust system with oval chrome end tips.

"Our new bodykit intends to give dealerships an attractive opportunity to offer additional buying incentives," said Heico Sportiv CEO, Holger Hedtke. "Around the globe, the Volvo XC90 has an unwavering fan club that will certainly applaud the modern, self-assured design from Heico Sportiv."

The tuning firm’s body kit is available for all XC90s made from 2007 and onwards and will be available for order from May 2011.

The aero parts can be complemented by a set of 20-inch alloy wheels shod in beefier tires.

Toyota, PSA and BMW Closest to Achieving EU’s New CO2

Toyota, PSA/Peugeot-Citroen and BMW are the carmakers closest to reaching their CO2 targets next year, according to a report by market research firm JATO Dynamics. The targets are imposed by the European Union, whose objective for 2015 is to enforce a fleet average CO2 level of 130 g/km for manufacturers selling cars in Europe.

In order to reach that objective, CO2 targets are lowered progressively each year. In 2009 the average was 145.9 g/km and in 2010 it went down to 140.9 g/km. Emissions regulations will be imposed starting next year, with significant fines to be enforced to automakers that will not comply with the new emissions limits.

From 2012 to 2018, carmakers will be fined €5 per vehicle for the first g/km of CO2, €15 for the second gram, €25 for the third gram and €95 from the fourth gram onwards. For instance, a company that sells 1 million cars in Europe and misses the target by 1 g/km of CO2 will face a €5 million ($7 million) fine.

Toyota, PSA and BMW need to reduce their overall fleet emissions by 7 percent or less to reach the imposed threshold for this year, but Daimler, Mazda and Nissan are way behind, having to reduce their emissions with values ranging from 19.8 to 17.6 percent.

Fiat had the lowest group CO2 level last year – 125.9 g/km. Still, the Italian company needs to drop down to 116.1 g/km by 2015. That's because the EU calculates individual targets for each automaker according to a weight-based system. Since Fiat mostly sells small cars, it had the lightest average weight for its models in 2010, at 1,067 kg (2,352 lbs).

Opel Ampera

Sure, the Opel Ampera is nothing more than a Chevrolet Volt with some extremely mild cosmetic changes, but doppelgangers have always had a very special place in the wonderful world of General Motors. If Bloomberg’s inside sources are right, GM is currently looking into the development of a Buick-badged version of the plug-in hybrid Opel Ampera. According to people familiar with the project, the Buick model could go on sale in 2013, if the plans goes ahead.

Given that the styling changes over the Chevrolet Volt would be limited to a Buick-specific grille and bumper designs, one of the most significant problems GM faces is how to justify the car and its higher price tag which would be in excess of the Volt’s base MSRP of US$41,000 not including a $7,500 federal tax credit.

Jim Hall, chief of 2953 Analytics Inc., a consulting firm in Birmingham, Michigan, believes that GM may be able to pull it off by adding more special features and upgrading the interior with higher-quality materials and trim, and most importantly, through the use of more advanced components that could reduce weight and improve the car’s electric-only range or driving performance.

GM spokesperson Rob Peterson, declined to confirm or deny the report on a possible plug-in hybrid Buick, simply stating, “We have talked about a variety of ways to leverage the Voltec drive system”.