I got to spend some time behind the wheel of the new Passat CC last week, and got a few surprises. The regular Passat may have a loyal following, but it's never been one of my favorites. Bland exterior styling and a Spartan interior bring it in a distant fourth behind the Accord, Camry and Mazda 6, in my mind. So I wasn't really motivated to test out the latest addition to the line.

But the CC is more it's own car than just a trim line option. It has a bolder exterior, a sleeker profile and more toys than it's older brother. (See the pics after the jump.) And it brings far more excitement than the standard Passat.

Here's what it offers:

Eyeball: Plenty.
The most striking thing about the CC is it's resemblance to a certain other German luxury sedan. One that would set you back two to three times as much. So if you're looking for that Euro-lux look, without paying Euro-lux bank to get it, look at the CC. The roofline is lowered and sweeps towards the rear, and it has dramatic lines flowing on the side panels.

Inside, the first thing you'll notice is the twin sport front seats. Which are even more noticeable if you opt for the two-tone leather. They're seated low, with great lateral support when you attack the curves. (And the car is comfortable enough that a couple of hours behind the wheel on a long trip are a breeze.) The two-tone dash also has a generous amount of brushed aluminum trim, and the steering wheel and shifter get skinned in leather.

Ballsy-ness: More than you'd expect. Even in the base model.
The CC comes standard with a 2.0L, inline turbocharged four, that pushes out a very respectable 200 horsepower. Move up to the 3.6L VR6 Sport model and you get treated to 80 additional horses at 5100 RPM. All mated to a six-speed manual, or six-speed auto with Tiptronic and paddle shifters, and a sport-tuned suspension.

Features and Gadgetry: Enough to keep you on the right path.
Besides the optional power 12-way heated front seats, oversized moonroof, pull-up sunshades on three windows, bi-xenon headlamps, and premium sound system, is VW's new touch-screen navigation system. It's got 32GB of hard drive space to store tunes and has a rear cam (hidden behind the rear "VW" badge, that flips up when needed), with a parking assistance system to make sure you don't back into the garage door. The CC also comes with ...There's more

I've been in Chicago all week test driving the just-launching VW Passat CC. I'm flying home in a few minutes, so a full review is coming tonite, but I'll tell you that the four-seat CC looks and drives like a Euro-lux sedan costing two to three times as much.

It's got sleek exterior styling, a loaded interior with 12-way power sport seats and premium sound system, and a 2.0 turbocharged four that pulls 200 horses and will still get you 31-mpg on the highway. Not bad for $26,790. Actually, ridiculous for $26,790.

Stay tuned for the full review and pics.

When I was in Dallas last week, I got a chance to see the production model of the much anticipated and much hyped Chevy Volt. And I have to say, I was disappointed.

I saw the concept version last year in Detroit and New York, and it had a serious aggressiveness mixed in with just enough Blade Runner futuristicness (not a word, but you get me), to make its form as exciting as its function. The production version I saw looks more econo-bubble than cutting edge tech. Check out the comparison pic. The concept is on top, production version is below. Not even close.

Gone are the muscular fender flares. Gone is the sleek, low roof line. Gone is the Camaro-ish front fascia, replaced with one that's more Malibu with narrower headlights. Gone are the sharp, raked side mirrors. What's left is a shape that engineers say is more aerodynamic and helps get more miles out of the on-board battery, but it's one that doesn't come close to inspiring the excitement the concept did. The concept said "Badass Future Vehicle". The production version says "Nice Little Green Car".

Don't get me wrong, I'm still excited to see a viable, all-electric vehicle hit the road. I just wish it had retained more of the concept's look.

Here are some pics, including some shots of the techie interior, which may help to redeem the car's futuristic mantra.

She was the object of Nicholas Cage's overacted desire in the movie Gone in 60 Seconds. The one car that was unattainable. The car that gave him serious wood, and gave him serious headaches. (Like any other female.)

Now you can have Eleanor parked in your garage - without having to boost her in the middle of the night. (Though you might possibly have to rob a bank.) Classic Recreations has created the only licensed, true-to-the-movie, replica.

Starting at $139,900, this limited edition, handcrafted, '67 Mustang Fastback supercar pulls 535-hp ($50k more gets you an additional 215 horses), and comes with a sport suspension, and a host of other auto-techno toys, that make her handle the road like a modern sports car. And as you take the turns, the 5-point Simpson camlock racing seat belts will keep you firmly planted in the rally series seats.

If you didn't like the mirror-finish Pepper Gray paint with black racing stripes, they offer four other color combos. And if you're looking for more luxury than was available in the late 60s, there's the top-shelf Panasonic sound system, and available in-dash DVD and satellite navi. Which you'll definitely need to elude the authorities.

See pics and complete specs at www.eleanormustang.com