JR Hokkaido, a Japanese rail firm, is poised to fully launch its dual-mode bus and rail vehicle. The bus-train has both rubber and steel tires, allowing it to switch between regular roads and railroad tracks with ease. The company debuted a test model nearly three years ago, and a set up a test line in the Shizuoka Prefecture city of Fuji late last month — but JR Hokkaido will be conducting commercial tests on the Semmo Line near Shiretoko in April 2007. This crazy dual-use machine is meant to be a way to replace train cars that run on local lines where ridership is down to under 500 people per day (that’s 30 percent of JR’s lines). While you probably won’t be able to get your hands on one unless you’re a running a Japanese rail company, these new hybrids will cost Â¥20 million ($170,735) apiece, which apparently is about one-seventh the cost of a traditional diesel-powered train car. At such bargain basement prices, Japanese rail riders might be seeing these pretty soon — that is, unless the hovercraft-train-bus triple-threat comes to market first.

[Via Engadget Chinese]
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We know what you’re thinking: extreme ski biking is cool now? Or alternatively, who the hell would get on one of these? Just take our advice, next time you find yourself off-piste, keep your eyes peeled for Ktrakers — crazy people who’ve bought a universal attachment that replaces the wheels of a mountain bike with a track drive and an optional front ski. Apparently the Ktrak’s insane appeal comes from its ability to let cyclists ride over previously inaccessible surfaces like snow and sand, as the company’s videos demonstrate. Due for a production run in early 2007 (priced at a reasonable $400 for the track and $140 for the ski), the Ktrak is apparently very easy to install and ride, and adds only 5-pounds to the average mountain bike’s weight. If you can manage to convince your brain that this thing actually exists, your biggest problem is going to be getting your hands on one before everyone else: to that end, you can reserve a kit for $300, as long as you get your pre-order out before January 1.

[Via Spluch]
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Volvo has just unveiled its XC60 concept. This crossover SUV integrates “muscular XC-versatility and the sporty charisma of a coupe.” More pictures after the jump.

Buttons and controls are entirely integrated into the surface, and the invisible screen for information and navigation appears only when it is switched on, starting up with a spectacular pulsating sequence. The screen image is back projected, which makes the centre stack one of the innovative highlights of the interior,” says Steve Mattin.

[via Motorauthority]
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Nissan’s all-new 2008 Altime coupe “comes with increased body rigidity and a redesigned suspension, and remains a front-wheel driver.” More pictures and a video after the jump.

The car comes with a choice of two engines and two transmissions. Nissan’s global 3.5L V6 in “next generation” form and is rated at 270hp and 258lb-ft of torque. Also available is a 2.5L inline four-cylinder, producing 175hp and 180lb-ft of torque. Both engines can be mated to either a conventional six-speed manual or Nissan’s Xtronic CVT

[via MotorAuthority]
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So you’ve seen the Strida, now find out the story behind the bike. Just to recap, it weighs 22-pounds, is constructed of powder-coated aluminium, and has a kevlar belt drive train rated up to 50,000 miles.

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iPod car integration has long since gone from being mythic desire to nearly stock feature, but plugging an iPod in via USB and it just running, that’s still a pretty fresh experience. Alpine’s forthcoming aftermarket iDA-X001 iPod / media-ready receiver promises just that having been “designed and developed with input from Apple.” (Perhaps this is what Steve’s gonna put in his Mercedes SL55 — don’t ask us how we know that.) Expect this too in the CES timeframe, all you iPod modding car audio mavens.

from engadget