With the departure of Mazda's design chief Laurens van den Acker comes the end of Mazda's Nagare design language. Mazda's new designer Ikuo Maeda is bringing a new design theme to the brand named "Kodo". Kodo, which is Japanese for soul of motion will debut on the Shinari concept at the upcoming Paris Motor Show.

The four-door Shinari concept shows off the new styling direction for Mazda, which is ditching the smiley face look of the current Mazda lineup.

Yup I guess it's more than just a rumor. Nissan is set to debut a convertible version of the Nissan Murano at the 2010 LA Auto Show later this year. It has now been confirmed that the drop top version of the Murano crossover will be named the Murano CrossCabriolet. The Murano CrossCabriolet will be the world's first AWD crossover convertible.

Toyota has announced a voluntary recall of 1.13 million 2005-2008 Corolla and Matrix vehicles to address and issue with the 1.8L four-cylinder engine. According to Toyota some of the engine control modules have been improperly manufactured.

The engine could stall in effected vehicles due to cracks that could develop on the ECM's circuit board. There have been at least three accidents related to this issue.

Beginning next month, Toyota will replace the ECM on the recalled vehicles.

Don't forget that the Pontiac Vibe was built on the same platform as the Corolla/ Matrix. GM has also issued a recall of the 2005-2008 model year Vibes.

Toyota has unveiled the 2011 Highlander which is getting a midlife facelift. The 2011 Highlander gets a new face, which includes a new hood, fenders, grille and headlights. Out back there are new taillights and a revised bumper.

The Highlander pictured here is going to debut at this year's Moscow Motor Show. Toyota has yet to confirm that these changes will also make it on the US version, but you can expect them to.

Stay tuned...

The Mazda2 is finally being offered in the US and now Mazda has released the first official photos of the European model that is getting a facelift.

The refreshed Mazda2 will appear at the 2010 Paris Motor Show with a new face, upgraded interior and powertrain and a new automatic version.

Nissan has released the official photos of the refreshed 2011 Murano. The 2011 Murano gets a refreshed grille, restyled bumper, new taillights and new 18-inch wheels. Inside there is a new white meter color, new center stack colors and added equipment.

For 2011 there are also two new models, the SV FWD and SV AWD, which brings the total to eight models. The Murano comes standard with a 260-hp 3.5L V6 that is mated to a CVT.

"With its contemporary exterior design, 'mobile suite' interior, advanced technology and refined, premium driving feel, Murano stands out as a modern crossover SUV like no other," said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. "With the enhancements for 2011, there are even more reasons for consumers to put Murano on the top of their shopping lists."

The 2011 Nissan Murano will be available this October.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has announced that the 2011 Cadillac CTS and Infiniti M have earned its top rating of good in roof strength tests. The new roof strength tests, test how well a vehicle will protect its passengers in a rollover crash.

The CTS and Infiniti M beat out the Lexus GS and Audi A6, both of which only received acceptable ratings and the Acura RL, which only received a marginal rating.

The Cadillac CTS and Infiniti M received the institute's Top Safety Pick Award after receiving a good rating in all four of its safety tests.

Infiniti is expanding the G lineup this fall with the introduction of the G25 sedan. The G25 joins the G37 sedan and will be powered by a 2.5L V6 that puts out 218 horsepower and 187 lb-ft. of torque and is mated to a standard seven-speed automatic. The new entry-level sedan starts at $30,950.

"With the new G25 Sedan, we're broadening the appeal of the G Line with a model designed to provide an additional choice for buyers looking for a true luxury sedan, but who might not need the higher levels of performance provided by our larger engine-equipped G37 models," said Infiniti Vice President Ben Poore, speaking at a media event at the 60th annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. "The G25 is positioned in the heart of the luxury sport sedan market, allowing us to bring Infiniti's Inspired Performance to a wider selection of buyers."

The G25 sedan is available in both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive. Three models will be offered: G25 Sedan, G25 Sedan Journey and G25x Sedan AWD.

Up until now, Infiniti has lacked a performance line to go against the best from BMW's M division and Mercedes' AMG models. Infiniti has just announced the first vehicle from its new, Infiniti Performance Line, the 2011 Infiniti Performance Line G Coupe.

"IPL was conceived to create a new premium performance envelope, going beyond equipment upgrades to accelerate the very soul of Infiniti's Inspired Performance," said Infiniti Vice President Ben Poore. "IPL brings all the elements together, styling harmonized with performance, exhaust note with acceleration feel, ride comfort and confident handling. It's the perfect formula for unmatched driving exhilaration."

The IPL Infiniti G Coupe builds upon the G37 Coupe and on the outside it gets a dramatic front and rear bumper. fascia design, sculpted side sills, rear spoiler and chrome exhaust tips. It also gets 19-inch IPL 7-spoke graphite-finish wheels. It is only offered in two colors: Graphite Shadow and Malbec Black.

Inside there are two available color treatments: Graphite and Monaco Red.

Under the hood is what matters most and the IPL G Coupe is powered by the 3.7L V6, which now puts out 348 horsepower, 18 more than the non-IPL G Coupe. The engine can either be mated to a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.

"When you drive the IPL G Coupe, the first thing you notice is the surge in sound and acceleration feel. The inspiring swell of sound is in complete harmony with the acceleration feel as engine speed increases," said Poore. "The sound is clean and inspiring, adding to the fun-to-drive sensation provided by the 348 horsepower under the hood."

Nissan has announced the pricing for the 2011 Nissan Juke, which will go on sale in the US in October 2010. The base Juke S CVT FWD starts at $18,960. According to Nissan the Juke combines the best attirbutes of a sports car, such as a sporty driving position and powerful engine with the best aspects of an SUV.

The Juke will be available in eight models, all of which are powerd by a 1.6L direct injection turbocharged engine that puts out 188 horsepower and 177 lb-ft. of torque. The engine can be mated to either a CVT or a 6-speed manual transmission. The Juke is available with either FWD or a torque vectoring AWD system that splits torque up to 50:50 between the front and rear wheels.

Kelley Blue Book has announced the results of its latest Market Intelligence Brand Watch study, which contains the five most-considered auto brands. For Q2 2010 Ford remains on top, but the big news is that Hyundai has made a significant jump into the top five, pushing Nissan out.

"According to the Q2 2010 Brand Watch Study, over the past quarter Hyundai consideration has surged nearly six percentage points in the non-luxury coupe/sedan/hatchback segment, now garnering 29 percent of the total consideration among shoppers of this segment and bested only by Honda (45 percent), Toyota (42 percent) and Ford (38 percent)," kbb said in a statement.

Ford held the number one spot followed by Toyota, Chevy, Honda and then Hyundai.

Honda has announced the recall of 197,000 Accord, 117,000 Civic and 69,000 Element 2003-2004 model year vehicles in the US to fix the ignition interlock feature. Honda has received complaints that the ignition interlock has been failing. The ignition interlock mechanism can become damaged or worn during normal use resulting in the possibility of the ignition key being removed when the shift lever is not in Park. If the vehicle is not in park and the parking brake is not set, the vehicle could roll away, leading to a possible crash.

Honda will begin notifying owners in September 2010.

Nissan has yet to officially unveil the all-new 2011 Quest minivan that is set to debut here by the end of the year, but we have our first look at the Quest thanks to the Elgrand's debut in Japan. The JDM-spec Elgrand has been revealed and it looks very close to the teaser shots that Nissan has released of the new Quest.

Although the Elgrand is very close to what we can expect for the next Quest, expect the front and rear fascias to be slightly tweaked based on what we've seen from the teaser photos. The Elgrand is available with either a 3.5L V6 or a 2.5L four-cylinder. There is also an optional AWD system

Yes, Honda is a Japanese automaker, but that doesn't mean that all of its production is based in Japan. Honda has had factories in the US for years and according to The Detroit News, Honda produced more cars in the US than Japan in the second quarter of this year. Honda built 236,819 vehicles in the US compared to 236,559 in Japan. Although its a very small difference it may signify a growing trend.

"In the long term, there are more growth opportunities in the United States than there are in Japan," said analyst Jesse Toprak at TrueCar.com in Santa Monica, Calif.

"There's not much growth in Japan, where there's a population decline. In the United States, sales can only get better."

Toyota recently held a very private press event where the JDM only Noah and Voxy minivans were being displayed by G's, the sports division of Toyota Japan. Although the event was meant for the minivans, the FT-86 did come up in conversation.

According to 7Tune, who was luckily enough to get an invite, the Toyota FT-86 is still on for a November 2011 introduction. Dr. Shigeyuki Hori, Project General Manager for the Sports Vehicle Management division and Kazuo Okino claimed that the recent reports of a 2013 introduction are false. Pricing is expected to start at 2.5 million yen (around $29,000 USD) for the mid-level FT-86. The base model is expected to be closer to the $20,000 mark.

The final design of the FT-86 is supposed to remain virtually unchanged from the concept. Lastly it has also been confirmed that Toyota has no plans for a hybrid version of the FT-86.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has given the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer its top safety award. The Mitsubishi Lancer was also the first Mitsubishi to ever pass the new roll-over test.

In order for a vehicle to be named a top safety pick it must earn the highest rating for front, side, rollover, and rear crash protection.

Subaru has a very loyal, but somewhat small following in the US. Subaru's are constantly known for their great engineering (all-wheel-drive, boxer engines), but styling has always been something simply described as "quirky." In the past few years Subaru has been one of the few brands to actually remain strong and to actually gain more market share in the harsh economic climate. But now Subaru has decided that it wants to broaden its appeal.

Osamu Namba, the newly hired manager from a small independent styling studio, stated, "We want to broaden the appeal to make it accessible to more than a small, loyal crowd. We need to add a more contemporary element."

Although Subaru styling as always been behind Subaru's engineering, sales have actually increased with sales up 35 percent through June this year. This will most likely be Subaru's second straight year of record sales. But Subaru hopes to do even better with models that are more eye-catching.

Namba's goals are to keep Subaru's utilitarian spirit, but to add a stronger overall presence with a more pronounced front fascia, more defined bumpers and a stronger side accent line.

"We have to show the function through design with simple, clean lines," says Namba, who counts the compact, no-frills Renault 5--remembered in the United States as American Motors' Le Car--among his all-time favorite rides. "I want a very simple design that exhibits strength."

Nissan has released more teaser photos of the next-gen 2011 Quest minivan that is set to go on sale in early 2011. It looks like the minivan segment is going to get a new lease on life with the recently introduced Toyota Sienna and the upcoming Honda Odyssey this fall.

The 2011 Nissan Quest will officially debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show this December.

Nissan has been slow to jump on the hybrid bandwagon and has relied on technology from Toyota. But Nissan is finally ready to get serious about hybrids and has developed its first in-house system. Even better, according to the latest reports the Nissan Fuga Hybrid (Infiniti M) will be Nissan's first hybrid and will have nearly double the gas mileage of the gasoline version.

According to Koichi Hayasaki, chief engineer of Nissan's rear-wheel-drive hybrid system."Typically, carmakers say the fuel economy improvement on their cars using a 'strong' or 'full' hybrid system is roughly 30 percent, while for 'mild' hybrids, it's 15 percent."

Nissan's hybrid system will differ from its competitors by featuring twin clutches and a lithium-ion battery pack.

Honda has unveiled the changes to the 2011 Accord sedan and coupe.

The bulk of the changes include new front fascias that are more aerodynamic and improvements to the powertrain to improve the Accord's fuel economy numbers.

"For 2011, the Accord evolves again with sharpened styling inside and out, fuel economy gains and a broader application of popular features," said Erik Berkman, vice president of Corporate Planning and Logistics for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "The Accord is designed to deliver a consistently rewarding ownership experience in the areas that matter most to sedan and coupe drivers."

The Accord 4-cylinder now gets an improvement of 2 mpg in the city and 3 mpg on the highway (23/34) over the 2010 model. The V6 equipped Accord sedan gets a bump of 1 mpg on the highway bringing it to 19 mpg city and 30 mpg on the highway.

The revised 2011 Accord will be in showrooms this August.

Honda has announced the pricing for its newest hybrid, the CR-Z. The 2011 CR-Z will begin showing up in showrooms in August with a starting price of $19,200 plus $750 for the destination and handling charge. The CR-Z EX starts at $20,760 and if you want the EX with navigation and the CVT it will start at $23,210.

The CR-Z is powered by a 1.5L four-cyl mated to Honda's Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system. The total output of the system is 122 horsepower and 128 lb-ft. of torque. The CR-Z is available with either a six-speed manual or CVT. When equipped with the CVT, the CR-Z gets 35 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway.

Some of the standard features on the CR-Z are an AM/FM/CD/USB audio system with six speakers, automatic climate control, power windows and door locks, remote entry, and cruise control. The CR-Z EX adds a 360-watt audio system, Bluetooth and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The Honda S2000 was recently killed and Honda hasn't officially announced any replacements for the roadster. According to Motor Trend Honda is working on a new model that would fuse the S2000 and the 1991 Beat minicar into a new compact roadster.

According to the latest sources, Honda working on a new project that would produce a mid-engined roadster that uses a modified Fit platform. It's not known if the mid-engined setup will feature a hybrid, fully electric or fuel cell powertrain.

If the sources are correct don't expect to see the roadster on the street until 2014.

Honda has officially unveiled the all-new 2011 Odyssey minivan. As expected the production version of the fourth-generation Odyssey stays true to the concept that was unveiled earlier this year.

The 2011 Odyssey is 1.6 inches lower than the 2010 model and also features a wider track. The new lower body is now sleeker and more stylish (for a minivan) than the last generation. The new Odyssey will continue to be powered by Honda's 3.5L V6, although final specs have not been released. According to Honda the Odyssey will get 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

Stay tuned for more details.

We're still waiting for Toyota to release the production version of the rear-wheel-drive FT-86 Concept, but according to the latest buzz, the production version may be called the FR-S.

Toyota recently filed a trademark fro the "FR-S" name in both the US and Canada.

At this point do we really care what it's called? Just hurry up and release it!

Last week Nissan's CEO Carlos Ghosn stated that the 2011 Nissan leaf electric car is sold out since it has already received 13,000 orders for the car, which is its entire allotment for the US in 2011. Now according to Nissan Division Vice President Al Castignetti, more than half of the 130,000 hand-raisers who have expressed interest in the Leaf have been previous Toyota Prius owners.

"That's a pretty significant signal to us," Castignetti said. "It tells us that there is a segment of eco-friendly consumers who are interested in going to the next level. They own a hybrid vehicle. But if the next step is available, they want to take it."

The Leaf is powered by a 107-hp electric motor. When it is fully charged the Leaf has a range of 100 miles. The Leaf starts at $32,780, but after federal tax credits the price can be as low as $25,280.

According to Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, the all-electric 2011 Nissan Leaf is already sold out. Since Nissan started taking orders for the Leaf it has already received 13,000 orders, which is equal to the amount that has been allotted to the US.

The Leaf can travel up to 100 miles on a single charge and has a top speed of 90 mph. It takes about eight hours to charge on a 220-volt outlet or 20 hours on a 110-volt outlet.

The Leaf comes in two trim levels. The base SV model is priced at $32,780, but would actually cost as little as $25,280 after the federal tax credit up to $7,500. The higher trim level starts at $33,720.

The Leaf will go on sale in select markets this December.

Toyota is set to expand the Prius range with a new compact minivan, which is reportedly going to be named Alpha. The Prius based minivan, Alpha will be the first Prius model to get lithium-ion batteries. The Prius Alpha is based on the current Prius platform, but will have an extra row of seats. The extra seats mean that the Alpha will be about 300 mm longer than the Prius.

The Prius Alpha will be powered by the same 1.8L Atkinson-cycle petrol engine and THSII hybrid system, but its fuel economy numbers will be slightly less than the combined 50 mpg rating for the Prius sedan.

The Prius Alpha is set to debut in March 2011.

Toyota and Tesla have announced a partnership to develop electric vehicles in northern California.

Toyota is going to purchase $50 million of Tesla's common stock and Tesla has purchased the former NUMMI factory in Fremont, California that used to produce the Toyota Corolla and Tacoma.

"I sensed the great potential of Tesla's technology and was impressed by its dedication to monozukuri (Toyota's approach to manufacturing)," said TMC President Akio Toyoda. "Through this partnership, by working together with a venture business such as Tesla, Toyota would like to learn from the challenging spirit, quick decision-making, and flexibility that Tesla has. Decades ago, Toyota was also born as a venture business. By partnering with Tesla, my hope is that all Toyota employees will recall that 'venture business spirit,' and take on the challenges of the future."

Production of the Model S will take place at the NUMMI plant and will bring back 1,000 employees that will produce up to 20,000 vehicles a year initially. The plant has the capability of employing up to 10,000 employees.

"The Tesla Factory effectively leverages an ideal combination of hardcore Silicon Valley engineering talent, traditional automotive engineering talent and the proven Toyota production system," said Tesla CEO Elon Musk. "The new Tesla Factory will give us plenty of room to grow."

According to Inside Line, Nissan execs have discussed the idea of expanding the Infiniti M lineup to include coupe and convertible versions. Mercedes has sedan, coupe and convertible versions of its latest E-Class and BMW is also working on coupe, sedan and convertible versions of its next 6 Series. It only makes since that if Infiniti wants to remain competitive that it offer other versions of the new M.

If Nissan does decide to create a coupe and convertible version of the M its expected that both M37 and M56 variants would be offered.

The current generation Honda Civic has been on the market since the end of 2005 and normally we would expect the next generation to be on the market by the end of this year, but its been delayed.

According to John Mendel, American Honda Motor Co.'s executive vice president, the redesigned Honda Civic won't arrive until 2011. Mendel claims that changing market conditions and tougher fuel economy regulations have effected the development of the next Civic. Mendel failed to release any other details other than saying that the next Civic will be unveiled sometime next year.

Hopefully we won't have to wait until the end of next year...

Acura has announced the limited edition TL- A-Spec for our neighbors up north. The TL A-Spec gets 19-inch wheels with special summer tires, a full aero kit, midnight chrome grille and A-Spec badging.

The TL A-Spec also features Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system and can be equipped with either the 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission.

Canadian buyers can get the TL A-Spec for $51,290.

The much anticipated Toyota FT-86 is set to go on sale in 2011. Originally Toyota wanted the car to start below $20,000, but development costs have run way over budget, meaning that the car will definitely cost more than $20k. Now there are rumors that Toyota is working on a milder version of the FT-86 that will be $5,000 cheaper than the FT-86.

The "baby" FT-86 is expected to be about 150 inches long, and be powered by a 109-hp 1.5L engine. It will retain a front-engine/ rear-wheel-drive layout.

If the rumors are true, expect the smaller and cheaper coupe to launch sometime in 2012.

Consumer Reports has announced that it has removed the 2010 Lexus GX 460 from its "Dont Buy" list since Toyota has fixed the handling problems that the publication discovered during its emergency handling tests.

Toyota corrected the issue by fixing the software that allowed the stability control system to not prevent the vehicle from sliding during certain maneuvers. Consumer Reports originally labeled the issue as a safety risk since the vehicle could roll over if the vehicle were to slide and hit a curb or slide off the pavement.

Toyota recalled approximately 10,000 units to fix the issue and suspended sales until a fix was found. On April 29th sales of the GX 460 resumed. It's important to note that there were no injuries reported due to this problem.

Acura has announced a recall of 167,000 TSX sedans to replace a power steering hose and o-ring gasket that could deteriorate prematurely. The recall involves the first generation TSX (2004-2008).

If the power steering hose becomes to deteriorated a crack in the hose could develop which could lead to fluid leaking on the exhaust, potentially generating smoke or a fire.

Acura has only received notice of one incident resulting in a fire.

Mitsubishi, Citroen and Peugeot have announced a partnership based around Mitsubishi's newest crossover, the ASX (RVR in Japan). The partnership involves Mitsubishi supplying the platform of the ASX to Citroen and Peugeot so that the automakers can use it as the basis for their own crossovers.

The European automakers will use the same platform as the ASX, but their models will have different bodies and use their own engine. Peugeot and Citroen will use a 1.6L HDI diesel engine.

The partnership should move an additional 50,000 units per year.

It's only been a few days since Nissan has started taking reservations for the all-electric Leaf, but already more than 6,600 people have given their $99 deposit to reserve the vehicle.

The 2011 Leaf starts at $32,780 and after available tax credits the price drops as low as $25,280. You can also lease the Leaf for $349 a month.

Nissan hopes to have 20,000 orders by the time the Leaf goes on sale in select markets.

The Leaf is powered by an electric motor with a driving range of 100 miles.

The much anticipated Toyota FT-86 hasn't even been released yet, but Autocar is reporting that Toyota is going to raise the price of the RWD coupe. Rising development costs are the reason for the price hike.

According to a Toyota insider the original goal was to have the price start around £13,000 ($20,000 US) but the base price has now shot up to £15,000 ($23,000 US) with the top model going for £17,000 ($26,000 US).

In addition to the increased price, the insider also claims that Toyota has increased the target age group by 10 years, from the 30s to 40s after research showed that fewer younger buyers would be interested in the coupe.

Honda has released more photos and info about the European-spec Honda CR-Z hybrid. The Euro version of the CR-Z is essentially the same version that we will see here in the US, except for the fact that the hybrid features two very small back seats, making it a 2+2 coupe (the US version will only be a two-seater).

Either way the CR-Z is powered by a 1.5L four-cylinder that is mated to an electric motor. Together the setup puts out 122-hp and 124 lb-ft. of torque. The CR-Z also features the first application of a six-speed manual in a hybrid.

Although the top CIvic in the US is only the Civic Si, buyers in the Japan have been lucky enough to get the even more fun Civic Type R. Well it's a sad day because Honda has announced that the four-door Civic Type R is being discontinued. Production of the Civic Type R is expected to end this August.

In Type R form the Civic puts out 225 horsepower. There is no word if a new Civic Type R is planned.

Toyota has announced that the automaker has agreed to pay the $16.4 million fine that was demanded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on April 5th.

"We agreed to this settlement in order to avoid a protracted dispute and possible litigation, as well as to allow us to move forward fully-focused on the steps to strengthen our quality assurance operations. This will allow us to focus on delivering safe, reliable, high quality vehicles for our customers and responding to consumer feedback with honesty and integrity. These have been core Toyota values for 70 years, and we pledge to make an even greater effort to adhere to this philosophy now and in the future. We also welcome a new, more transparent chapter in our relationship with NHTSA, consistent with our commitments to Congress and the American people."

Although Toyota agreed to pay the $16.4 million, the automaker is denying any wrongdoing.

"We believe we made a good faith effort to investigate this condition and develop an appropriate counter-measure. We have acknowledged that we could have done a better job of sharing relevant information within our global operations and outside the company, but we did not try to hide a defect to avoid dealing with a safety problem."

Toyota has issued a recall of approximately 600,000 first and second generation Sienna minivans (1998-2010) to address potential corrosion in the spare tire carrier cable.

The voluntary recall affects Siennas that have been operated in cold climate areas with high road salt use. Prolonged exposure to road salt could corrode the spare tire cable, which could cause the cable to fail and the spare tire could fall of the vehicle.

Toyota is currently working on a remedy for the problem, but until then owners can bring their Siennas in to their local dealer for an inspection.

Steve St. Angelo, Toyota Chief Quality Officer for North America, said: "Toyota is listening to its customers attentively, and we want to make sure their voices are heard. As part of that commitment, we are providing free inspections of the spare tire carrier cable even in states that are not included in this recall. We are also working diligently to develop a remedy as soon as possible."

Following the surprise "do not buy" rating that the Lexus GX 460 received from Consumer Reports, Toyota has decided to conduct safety tests on all of its SUVs. Toyota has stopped sales of the Lexus GX 460 due to the report of a rollover risk.

Consumer Reports discovered that the rear of the SUV can slide sideways during testing before the stability control kicks in. Under certain conditions if the vehicle were to slide it could potentially lead to a roll over.

Toyota has sold 5,400 2010 GX 460 models in the US and Canada, but has suspended sales of the SUV in the US, Canada, the Middle East and Russia until a fix is found. According to Toyota none of the 5,400 owners of the 2010 model have reported any issues, but Toyota is taking the issue seriously.

Consumer Reports has given the all-new Lexus GX 460 SUV a "dont buy" rating due to problems that came up during routine handling tests, which could lead to a rollover in real world driving.

During a test of the SUV's performance the rear of the vehicle was able to slide until the vehicle was nearly sideways at which point the stability control finally kicked in. Due to the fact that the stability control took longer than normal to correct the situation and the fact that a similar situation in rear world driving could lead to a rollover, the publication has labeled the GX 460 as a safety risk.

Toyota has yet to issue a comment.

Honda has yet to commit to a redesign of the Honda Ridgeline pickup and now sources have told PickupTrucks.com that Honda is not going to replace the truck after its current lifecycle ends around 2012.

Sadly it kind of makes sense, since Honda had high hopes of selling 50,000 units a year, but in 2009 Honda only managed to move 16,464 units.

Honda hasn't released any statements about the Ridgeline other than the statement at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show: "There would be no significant change to the Ridgeline through the 2011 model year."

A Honda insider recently revealed to Motor Trend, that the automaker is hard at work on a next-gen hybrid sports coupe that will be bigger and more powerful than the yet to be released Honda CR-Z (pictured above).

According to the source the new Honda hybrid sports coupe will mate a 2.5L four-cylinder gas engine to Honda's IMA hybrid system. The coupe is expected to be around the same size as the Accord Coupe and will seat four.

In addition to the hybrid sports coupe, Honda is also at work on a V6 hybrid system for use in US-spec minivans and SUVs. The source also told Motor Trend that Honda is working on a plug-in hybrid system that is similar to the Chevy Volt. The plug-in system would be used in Honda's medium to large cars and SUVs.

The rumors were true. Renault-Nissan and Daimler AG have announced a new alliance today that will involve sharing and cooperating on the development of diesel and gasoline engines. The new partners are also going to combine their efforts to develop a new platform for the Smart ForTwo, a new Smart four-seater and the next-generation Renault Twingo.

The partnership also involves Renault-Nissan supplying three and four-cylinder engines to Daimler for use in some Mercedes models. In return Daimler is going to provide gasoline and diesel engines that will be used in some Infiniti models.

Lastly Daimler will now hold a 3.1% stake in Renault and Nissan and the two partners will also hold a same stake in Daimler.

Well the third month of 2010 is officially over and although most of today's news is surrounding the New York Auto Show, we can now report the sales totals for last month.

It looks like the dismal sales of 2008 and 2009 are behind us, since March 2010 was a great month for most of the automakers. Buick actually had the highest percentage increase of almost 76 percent compared to March 2009, which helped GM's core brands post a 43 percent increase over the same month last year. Everyone has been wondering how Toyota is doing with all the recalls, but don't worry, Toyota had a great month with almost a 41 percent increase, which was largely attributed to some aggressive incentives. Ford sales improved by almost 40 percent and Honda posted a 22.5 percent increase. Sadly the Chrysler Group posted an 8 percent drop last month.

For a breakdown of the top 10 best-selling cars last month check out the list after the jump.

Lexus is going to release its second dedicated hybrid the CT 200h in the US early next year. Lexus hopes to reach the young, progressive, energetic and tech-savvy buyer with the CT 200h and is going to launch a campaign film, Lexus Dark Ride that will launch on May 13th.

Check out the teaser after the jump.

Subaru has unveiled the 2011 Impreza WRX STI, which brings back the four-door version of the WRX STI after being gone for three years. Along with bringing back the sedan version, Subaru has also outfitted the WRX STI sedan with a huge rear wing, that is reminiscent of the wing on the last sedan.

"The continuous evolution and development of the WRX STI is driven by the strong, loyal and vocal support from thousands of enthusiastic owners of this exciting high-performance vehicle," said Tom Doll, executive vice president and COO of Subaru of America, Inc. "The 2011 4-door WRX STI will expand the appeal of this iconic performance model to a wider range of driving enthusiasts."

The WRX STI is still available in the five-door version as well. For 2011 The WRX STI gets a revised suspension with a lower ride height, higher spring rates and thicker front and rear stabilizer bars. The new standard 18-inch alloy wheels weigh 17.6 lbs less than the previous standard wheels. The power ratings of 305-hp and 290 lb-ft of torque remain unchanged.

Toyota has officially confirmed the iQ minicar for the US, which will be sold under the Scion brand in 2011.

Toyota claims that the 2011 Scion iQ meets the needs of a new trendsetting generation of urban drivers. It features a 3+1 seating design making it the world's smallest four passenger vehicle. It's overall length is only 120.1 inches and it has a width of 66.1 inches, which should make parking it in tight parking spaces very easy.

The iQ is powered by a 1.3L four-cyl with 90 horsepower that is mated to a CVT. The iQ will also come standard with 10 SRS airbags, including the world's first rear-window curtain airbag and a Scion-first driver seat-cushion airbag.

The iQ is already on sale in Europe and Japan, but the release date for the US has not been released.

Mazda has announced the pricing for the much anticipated 2011 Mazda2 hatchback. The Mazda2, which shares its platform with the Ford Fiesta is going to start at $13,980 when it hits showrooms this July.

The Mazda2 will be available in two trim levels, the entry level Sport and top grade Touring. Both trim levels are powered by a 100-hp 1.5L four-cylinder that can be mated to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. Even though the Mazda2 starts under $14k, it comes standard with traction control, 15-inch wheels, power windows, locks and mirrors, air conditioning and a four-speaker stereo. If you step up to the Touring model, which starts at $15,435 you get upgraded seat fabric, 15-inch alloy wheels, fog lights and an upgraded stereo.

Acura has officially unveiled the 2011 TSX Sport Wagon, which is essentially the same thing as the Euro only Honda Accord Wagon.

The TSX Sport Wagon is powered by the 2.4L four-cylinder mated to a five-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters. Acura estimates that it will get 30 mpg on the highway. Unfortunately Acura has no plans to offer its SH-AWD system in the TSX, so buyers have to make due with front-wheel-drive. Acura also hasn't stated if the V6 from the sedan will eventually be offered in the wagon.

The TSX Sport Wagon will be available late in the fall.

Scion has unveiled the all-new 2011 Scion tC in New York.

For 2011 the Scion tC gets all-new aggressive styling and more power under the hood. It is now powered by a 2.5L four-cylinder that puts out 180-hp, which is 19 more than the 2010 model. The engine can be mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The second-generation tC now also rides on a new platform with a new suspension that rides lower than before. 18-inch wheels and large 16-inch disc brakes are also now standard.

Inside the "driver-focused" cockpit has three-spoke steering wheel that features a flat bottom. An AM/FM/CD/USB audio system that features eight speakers is also standard.

Infiniti has officially unveiled the all-new 2011 QX56 SUV at the New York Auto Show. The large eight-passenger SUV is now built on the same chassis as the Nissan Patrol.

"We're excited to be here in New York for the global debut of the Infiniti QX, a world-class vehicle that spotlights Infiniti's inspired design, performance, technology and craftsmanship," said Ben Poore, vice president, Infiniti Business Unit. "The new QX gives us an incredible presence in full-size performance luxury SUVs - perfect for buyers seeking style, comfort, roominess and driving exhilaration."

The 2011 Infiniti QX56 is powered by a 400-hp 5.6L V8 that is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. Infiniti claims that horsepower has increased 25 percent and fuel economy has increased by 10 percent compared to the 2010 model.

The new QX56 will be available this summer starting at $56,700 for the QX56 2WD and $59,800 for the eQX56 4WD.

Suzuki has canceled plans for V6 and hybrid variants of its new Kizashi midsize sedan. The V6 was reportedly expected to be borrowed from GM, but since GM has since sold the shares it had in Suzuki, those plans have been scrapped.

Although GM no longer has a stake in Suzuki, VW now does, so it's a possibility that Suzuki could borrow something from VW. In the meantime Suzuki has unveiled the 2011 Kizashi Sport at the New York Auto Show. The new sport variant is only offered on the Kizashi GTS and SLS trim levels. Although the sport trim doesn't add anything extra under the hood, it includes a more muscular front fascia, body side sill extensions, lower body side moldings, a rear spoiler, 18-inch alloy wheels and a 10mm lower ride height.

Nissan is set to debut the 2011 Nissan Juke crossover at the New York Auto Show tomorrow, but today we have more details about the small crossover.

The 2011 Nissan Juke is smaller than other small crossovers like the Toyota RAV4 and Hyundai Tucson. It's curvy styling with its round headlights and turn signals integrated into the front fenders is definitely going to get some people talking. It's powered by a turbocharged 1.6L 4-cylinder engine with over 180 horsepower and 170 lb-ft. of torque. The engine can be mated to either a CVT or a six-speed manual transmission. The Juke also features a torque vectoring all-wheel-drive system that can split torque up to 50:50 between the front and rear wheels and can also can split torque from side-to-side across the rear axle.

"JUKE is about to carve out a unique space in the rapidly growing compact crossover/hatchback segment with its combination of striking design, agile handling and driving pleasure and user friendly technology," said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, NNA. "Add in the convenience, versatility and high seating positioning of a traditional compact SUV - and pricing that is expected to start at just under $20,000 - and you've got a vehicle unlike any other in its class."

Although Nissan decided to drop the Quest minivan from its lineup for the 2010 model year a replacement has been in the works. Nissan has released a teaser photo of the next-generation Quest that will be released in early 2011.

Nissan hasn't released any specifics about the next Quest other than stating it "is the perfect vehicle for buyers needing the size, safety, functionality and comfort that a minivan has to offer, without sacrificing style or driving pleasure."

Nissan has announced the pricing for the Nissan Leaf EV that is going to officially go on sale at the end of the year. The Nissan Leaf is going to start at $32,780, but is eligible for a federal tax credit of $7,500, which will bring the price down to $25,280.

Nissan is going to start taking orders next month and if you want to lease the Leaf, it starts at $349 a month for 36 months.

Check out the press release for more info...

It looks like the wing is back! Subaru has released a teaser photo of the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI that is going to be unveiled at the New York Auto Show this week. Currently the WRX STI is only available in the five-door body style, but for 2011 the sedan version returns...

Stay tuned for more info this week.

Lexus has officially released the details of the Nürburgring package for the LFA supercar, which is aimed at improving the car's track performance. Horsepower has increased from 552-hp to more than 562-hp from the 4.8L V10 engine and gear shifts have been cut to just 0.15 seconds. This yields a 0-62 mph time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 202 mph.

In addition to the power upgrades, the Nürburgring package includes a larger front spoiler, side fin-type spoilers and a new fixed rear wing to provide greater downforce. The suspension has also been modified.

Only 50 LFAs will be available with the Nürburgring package out of total 500 units to be produced.

Mazda and Toyota have reached an agreement for to supply Mazda with the hybrid technology that is used in the Toyota Prius. Mazda plans to combine the technology with its next-generation SKY engine. The resulting hybrid vehicle is slated for a 2013 introduction.

The first images of the all-new 2011 Infiniti QX56 have leaked onto the web right before its official debut at the New York Auto Show.

The 2011 Infiniti QX56 is a rebadged version of the Nissan Patrol that is sold in the Middle East. It's expected to be powered by the same 400-hp 5.6L as the Patrol.

Expect more details from the show this week.

The second-generation Honda Fit is definitely the sportiest of the subcompacts currently on the market, but it would be nice if Honda would release a more powerful version. Well Honda has just announced the introduction of the Honda Jazz Si (aka Fit) in Europe. But don't get too excited. It's not the normal Si trim that we are used to with the Civic, which gets more power and body and suspension tweaks. The Jazz Si basically gets new 16-inch wheels, a chrome sports front grille and a rear spoiler. Blah! Inside the Si label has been attached to the floor mats, boot lid and glove box. The Jazz Si is also only available with a manual transmission.

In Europe the Jazz is available with either a 1.2L or 1.4L engine. The Jazz Si goes on sale April 1.

Subaru has decided to give the popular Impreza WRX models a similar wide-body design like that of the WRX STI for the 2011 model year. The new wide-body design gives the WRX a 1.5-inch increase in front and rear track.

In addition to the new wider track, the 2011 WRX gets firmer rear subframe bushings and wider 17-inch wheels.

"The new wide-body designs mark another major step on the continuous evolution of the WRX to give driving enthusiasts an even more compelling all-wheel drive performance package," said Tom Doll, executive vice president and COO of Subaru of America, Inc.

The 2011 WRX models are powered by a 265-hp turbocharged 2.5L 4-cylinder engine that is mated to a five-speed manual transmission.

Lexus officially unveiled its second dedicated hybrid, the CT 200h at the Geneva Motor Show and at the time it wasn't confirmed if the US would be receiving the new hybrid. Well today Lexus has officially confirmed that the CT 200h is headed to the US.

The Lexus CT 200h will have its official unveiling at the New York Auto show and will hit US dealerships in early 2011.

"The CT 200h is expected to lead the class in fuel economy and deliver low emissions, but the CT 200h isn't just about being a hybrid, it's about having fun," said Mark Templin, Lexus division group vice president and general manager. "The stylish CT 200h has an attitude and driving dynamic unlike any other Lexus hybrid. It will excite eco-conscious, young consumers and symbolize urban, luxury living."

The CT 200h is powered by a 1.8L four-cylinder mated to the Lexus Hybrid Drive technology, which in this case includes two electric motors and a CVT. There are also four selectable drive-modes: Normal, Eco, Sport and EV. Normal. Official EPA numbers haven't been released yet.

Expect more details from the show.

The Lexus LFA supercar is one pricey car. Lexus has announced the pricing for the 552-hp LFA that has a base price of $375,000. It's already been reported that you cannot actually buy the LFA, instead you only have the option to lease the vehicle for 24 months. But don't get too excited, it's not a simple lease payment that you see advertised on TV, the LFA can be leased for a whopping $12,398.44 a month. After 24 months that will total $297,562.56 worth of payments. After 24 months you can finally buy the car for an additional $93,750.

Just wait, it gets even crazier, since the LFA is also only available through Lexus' 1Pay 24 month program, which means that you have to prepay all lease payments in one lump sum to be able to drive the car home. That's in addition to multiple credit checks.

The good thing is that if you are able to actually qualify for one and afford it, you will be getting one of the only 500 units that are going to be produced.

The current generation Scion xB is getting a little old, so for 2011 the xB is getting a refresh inside and out. On the outside the 2011 xB gets a more aggressive front end with a restyled bumper, headlights and grille. Out back the taillights get a small refresh, which basically involves the integration of the rear backup lamp, which was formally not integrated.

Inside the front seats have been redesigned with larger bolsters. There is also a new center console with a sliding armrest.

The 2011 xB starts at $16,000 for the manual and $16,950 for the automatic model.

Honda has issued a recall of 344,000 Odyssey and 68,000 Elements to fix an issue with the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA). Honda claims that owners have complained about brake pedals that feel soft and a longer pedal travel that requires more pressure to bring the vehicle to a stop.The condition seems to worsen over time. The problem is that some VSA modulators are letting in a small amount of air during the VSA self-check mode. Over time the air will accumulate can can lead to the soft brake pedal issue.

Here's a funny video of an Saturday Night Live skit making fun of the current Toyota unintended acceleration issues.

Lexus is set to release a track version of the LFA supercar, dubbed the Nürburgring edition. The track-spec model features a fixed rear-wing, large front spoiler, a stiffer suspension, lightweight alloy wheels and an extra 10 horsepower. It will also be available in four colors, one of which is this orange pictured here.

Expect more details soon.

Yesterday a California Highway Patrol officer helped stop a runaway Toyota Prius on a San Diego County freeway. The Prius had reached 94 mph after the car's accelerator became stuck, but luckily the officer was able to bring the car safely to a halt.

In what is worse news for Toyota, the owner of the Prius, James Sikes, said that he took his Prius to an El Cajon dealership for repairs after receiving a recall notice, but he was turned away.

"I gave them my recall notice and they handed it back and said I'm not on the recall list," Sikes said.

Sikes called 911 around 1:30 pm after accelerating to pass another vehicle on Interstate 8 when he realized that he could not control the Prius.

"I pushed the gas pedal to pass a car and it did something kind of funny ... it jumped and it just stuck there," the 61-year-old driver said.

"As it was going, I was trying the brakes ... it wasn't stopping, it wasn't doing anything and it just kept speeding up," Sikes said, adding he could smell the brakes burning he was pressing the pedal so hard.

Eventually a patrol car pulled alongside the Prius and the officers told Sikes to push the brake pedal to the floor and pull the emergency brake. A steep upgrade also helped slow the vehicle. Once the car slowed to 50 mph SIkes turned off the engine and coasted. The officer eventually maneuvered his car in front of the Prius as a precautionary block.

Acura has confirmed that the new 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon will debut at the New York Auto Show at the end of this month.

The TSX Sport Wagon will go on sale this fall and be sold alongside the TSX sedan. The TSX sedan is available with either a 4-cylinder or V6, but it hasn't been the engine lineup for the Sport Wagon has not been announced.

Lexus has announced the introduction of the very special edition IS 350C F-Sport model. Lexus is only going to produce 100 units at a starting price of $57,500.

"The F-Sport Special Edition builds on the IS 350C and takes the fun of the convertible up another notch," said Mark Templin, Lexus Division group vice president and general manager. "The F-Sport accessories on this car were precision engineered specifically for this vehicle, allowing us to provide sport-tuned performance without sacrificing ride quality."

The special edition 2010 IS 350C is equipped with performance and styling enhancements from the Lexus F-Sport accessories line. It receives 19-inch alloy wheels, front and rear brake upgrades, and F-Sport grille, new shocks and springs and F-Sport logos on the floor mats and shift knob.

The model is only available in two colors, Tungsten Pearl or Obsidian.

"The IS 350C F-Sport Special Edition is a unique package of style and excitement. With only 100 units available nationwide they'll sell out fast to customers who want power, performance and a little more fun under the sun," said Templin.

Toyota has announced the pricing for the "redesigned" 2011 Toyota Avalon. The 2011 Avalon XLS starts at $32,245, while the Avalon Limited starts at $35,485.

The 2011 Avalon gets a facelift with a wider grille and new headlights in the front and out back there are new taillights. The interior has been upgraded with new standard features like Bluetooth, music streaming, XM satellite radio. The Avalon XLS has a standard nine-speaker audio system, while the limited has a 12-speaker 660-watt JBL audio system.

Both models of the 2011 Avalon are powered by a 268 horsepower 3.5L V6 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The Avalon gets 20 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.

Lexus has confirmed that the 2011 Lexus CT 200h, which was officially unveiled in Geneva this week, will have its US debut at the New York Auto Show. Originally it was thought that Lexus would not sell the CT 200h in the US, but now the 5-door hybrid hatchback will be Lexus' second dedicated hybrid alongside the HS 250h.

"When the all-new Lexus CT 200h enters the market it will be the only hybrid vehicle in the emerging premium compact segment," said Mark Templin, Lexus Division group vice president and general manager. "The CT 200h combines luxury features, eye-catching styling, and driving excitement that we know will attract a whole new buyer to the Lexus brand."

The Lexus CT 200h is powered by a 1.8L 4-cyl mated to an electric motor with nickel-metal hydride batteries. It features four selectable drive modes and in electric-only mode it can travel up to 1.2 miles at speeds up to 28 mph.

The Lexus CT 200h will debut on March 31 and go on sale in the US in early 2011.

Mazda is issuing a recall of the 2010 CX-9 crossover to due to faulty seat heaters. Under extremely cold conditions the seat heater control circuit could overheat and fail due to insufficient electrical grounding. If this happens the seat heater could cause the seat cushions to burn or there is a risk of a fire. To fix the issue, dealers will install an additional ground harness on the seat heater control system.

Lexus has announced the pricing for the 2012 LFA supercar. For a whopping $375,000 you can get one, which isn't including the delivery, processing and handling fee.

That price is sure to go even higher when you select options like the Lexus Navigation System, Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound system and Lexus Enform™ with Safety Connect.

Only 500 LFAs are expected to be produced with production starting in December.

The 2012 LFA is powered by a 4.8L V10 that generates 552 horsepower at 8,700 rpm and 354 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 6,800 rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed Automated Sequential Gearbox (ASG) with paddle shifters. It is capable of reaching 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds and has a top speed of 202 mph.

Honda has boasted that the upcoming 2011 CR-Z hybrid will put an end to the belief that hybrids aren't sporty. While although that has yet to be proven by the media, Honda's performance division, Mugen has released what modifications will be available for the new hybrid.

A new bodykit, roof-mounted spoiler, custom grille with LED lights in addition to several carbon-fiber accessories and alloy-wheel designs will be available. Inside there is an available Mugen gear shifter, revised instrument clusters and Mugen floormats.

The 2011 Honda CR-Z will hit dealers in the second half of 2010.

We've already had our first look at the Lexus CT 200h thanks to a brochure leak earlier this week, but here is our first official look at the new Lexus hybrid hatchback that is going to be unveiled next week at the Geneva Motor Show.

The Lexus CT 200h is powered by a 1.8L VVTi engine mated to an electric motor. The car is capable of driving in EV mode for up to 1.2 miles at speeds up to 28 mph.

The CT 200h has retained much of the styling of the LF-Ch concept that debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year.

Toyota is going to continue with its plans to create a Prius family with new Prius-based models in spring 2011 with the launch of a new wagon and minivan that will use the nickel hydride battery launched in the CT200h. The wagon and MPV will be followed up by a Prius coupe that will compete with the Honda CR-Z.

The models will all be powered by Toyota's 1.8L VVT-i hybrid system as it will soon be Toyota's core hybrid powertrain. There are also rumors that Toyota will launch a hybrid sports car, which will be a rear-wheel-drive plug-in based on the next-gen Lexus IS. It will be badged as a Toyota.

In Spring 2012 a hybrid RAV4 is also expected as Toyota plans to add hybrid variants to all of its models.

Lexus is planning on taking on the BMW M5 with the GS-F, which will be powered by the LFA's V10 engine. The GS-F is expected to arrive in 2013 with a detuned version of the LFA's 4.8L V10. Engineers are currently working on bringing the engine size down to 4.6 liters with a final output around 450-hp.

In addition to the V10 engine, the GS-F will also be fitted with Toyota's first torque vectoring differential, which is similar to the system used on BMW's M cars. The system actively apportions drive between the rear wheels to improve handling.

A new SC is also due in mid-2014, which will be a hybrid with a 5.0L V8 mated to an electric motor.

Honda has released a preview of the 3R-C concept that will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. The concept looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. It only has three wheels and it only has room for one passenger. The 3R-C is battery powered with its electric drivetrain mounted low in the chassis to keep the center of gravity low. It also has a clear canopy that covers the driver's seat when it is not in use. When it is in use the canopy becomes an enveloping windshield. The high sides of the provide protection for the driver.

The 3R-C was designed by European designers at Honda's Research and Design facility in Milan.

It looks like the guys over at World Car Fans has got their hands on the official brocure for the Lexus CT 200h that is supposed to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show.

The CT 200h retains much of the styling from the LF-Ch concept and measures 170 inches long, 69.5 inches wide and 56 inches tall. It is powered by a 1.8-liter VVT-i four-cylinder gasoline engine mated to an electric motor that is powered by nickel-metal hydride batteries. The engine and electric motor send the power to the front wheels via a E-CVT (electrically-controlled continuously variable transmission).

Expect more details from the show next week.

As we wait patiently for the much anticipated Toyota FT-86, Autocar has posted an interview with the senior designer of the concept, Jaromir Cech.

Regarding the design of the final version, Cech claims that the bonnet is a little low and will likely be raised for the production car to meet pedestrian crash protection legislation. The production version is expected to be powered by Subaru's 2.0L flat four mated to a six-speed manual transmission with a conventional rear-wheel-drive layout.

Check out the video after the jump.

Diesels still aren't that big of a deal here in the US as they are in Europe, so Infiniti has announced the debut of a new 3.0L V6 turbo-diesel that will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show.

The 3.0L turbo-diesel will be mated to a seven-speed automatic and in the EX30d it can reach 0-62 mph in 7.9 seconds and the FX30d reaches the same speed in 8.3 seconds.

"The new diesel engine allows us access to a far greater sector of the market without compromising on our core values. More than that, it's an exceptional engine, with impressive torque from very low revs helping to deliver progressive, linear acceleration with none of the typical disadvantages of unwanted noise and vibrations."

"By creating a bespoke sporting diesel, we have been able to maintain the combination of performance and luxury expected from an Infiniti with the added bonus of lower emissions and improved fuel economy. It's a win-win position," said Jim Wright.

Honda's newest hybrid, the CR-Z has failed to impress, but it looks like Honda is working on a more powerful version, a CR-Z Type R. The 2011 CR-Z that Honda debuted at the Detroit Auto Show last month is powered by a 102-hp 1.5L mated to a 20-hp electric motor for a total 122 horsepower. If the rumors are correct Honda is going to bump the power of the 1.5L up to around 150-hp and the electric motor will get a bump as well up to 50-hp for a total output of 200-hp. This will improve the CR-Z's 0-60mph time by as much as three seconds. There were rumors that Honda would put the Civic Type-R's 2.0L under the hood of the CR-Z, but because the coupe was designed as a hybrid, it must keep the same layout.

According to sources the CR-Z Type R will go on sale in late 2011.

Honda has unveiled a very limited edition Civic Type R with exclusive Mugen equipment that is only available in the UK.

The Honda Civic Type R Mugen 200 features Mugen front and rear bumpers, 19-inch wheels, a limited slip differential and Mugen badging. Unfortunately there aren't any modifications under the hood so paower remains at 200 horsepower. As the name suggests only 200 units will be made.

Next month Toyota is going to unveil a redesigned Euro-spec RAV4 at the Geneva Motor Show.

The RAV4 gets a new front end that is basically the same front fascia as the Japan only Vanguard, which is actually the long-wheelbase version of the RAV4. The updates include a new grille, reshaped bumper and a revised hood. Styling updates are expected on the inside as well.

Under the hood the 2.0L engine is going to receive tweaks to make it more efficient and to reduce C02 emissions. Toyota hasn't stated if this front-end will appear on the US-spec version.

Last week Vicki Poponi, Honda's assistant vice president of product planning, was quoted as saying that there would be a new Honda Ridgeline for the 2011 model year, but now it looks like that claim is false.

Honda has released a statement about the Ridgeline, ""American Honda apologizes if there was inaccurate information shared at the Chicago Auto Show about the Honda Ridgeline pickup. I can confirm that there will be no significant change to the Ridgeline through the 2011 model year."

So it looks like the Ridgeline will continue to be one of the oldest vehicles in Honda's lineup. Honda hopefully has a plan for the pickup, since its sales have dropped by 50 percent.

The Honda Ridgeline is one of the oldest vehicles in the Honda lineup, only the Element is older. So for the 2011 model year the Ridgeline will be getting a makeover that will include aerodynamic and powertrain improvements as well as better fuel economy.

According to Vicki Poponi, Honda's assistant vice president of product planning, "a new Ridgeline "is coming in '11, for the 2011 model year."

Sales of the Ridgeline have dropped off significantly. Last year Honda sold 16,464 Ridgeline pickups, down from 33,875 a year earlier.

Toyota has unveiled the 2011 Avalon at the Chicago Auto Show, which according to Toyota has been "redesigned" for the new model year. Most of us would hardly even notice the changes.

The 2011 Avalon gets new headlights and taillights, new lower and rear fascias, a new grille and restyled alloy wheels. The interior has also been redone with a new instrument panel with highly readable Optitron gauges. On the Limited the front seats feature ventilation systems and an enlarged perforation area to help keep them cool. Bluetooth is now standard and each of the three available audio systems can control iPods seamlessly using switches located on the steering wheel and display track information stored in the device. The DVD navigation system has also been revised.

The 2011 Avalon is powered by a 268-hp 3.5L V6 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. It gets 20 mpg in the city and 29 mpg highway on the highway.

The refreshed 2011 Avalon will arrive this spring.

Nissan's newest crossover, the Juke has been officially unveiled before its public unveiling next month at the Geneva Motor Show.

Nissan describes the Juke as being part SUV and part sports car. It's design is based on the Qazana concept. The Juke was created at Nissan Design Europe (NDE) and refined at Nissan's Design Center (NDC) in Japan.

"It takes the best elements of an SUV and sports car and combines them," says Pierre Loing, Vice President, Product Planning, Nissan Europe. "It's roomy yet compact, robust yet dynamic and practical yet playful. These are qualities that seem to contradict each other, yet come together in Juke to create something that's genuinely unique."

The small crossover is available with either front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive. In Europe there will be a choice of three engines: a 1.6L Direct Injection Gasoline turbocharged engine with 187-hp, a 113-hp 1.6-liter and a 110-hp 1.5L dCi commonrail diesel.

It's not known what will power the US version. The US-spec Juke is going to be unveiled at the New York Auto Show in April.

Honda has used the Chicago Auto Show to show off the Odyssey Concept, which is pretty close to what we can expect to see when the next-generation Odyssey is released by the end of the year.

The Odyssey has been the best-selling minivan in the US the past two years, but that doesn't mean that Honda is going to play it safe with the next model. The concept moves away from the current conventional minivan styling with its low and wide stance. Honda claims that the concept is 1-inch lower and 1.4-inches wider than the current Odyssey, which gives it a sleeker, stronger and more dynamic presence.

Honda didn't release any specifics about what we can expect under the hood of the new Odyssey, but did state that the 2011 Odyssey is expected to achieve an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 19 city/28 highway.

Nissan has officially confirmed that the Juke crossover is going to be offered in the US this fall. The European version of the Juke will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next month, while the US-spec. Juke will debut at the New York Auto Show in April. The Juke was inspired by the Qazana concept car and according to Nissan is it's a sporty alternative to traditional small hatchbacks.

According to Publication Holiday Autos, Toyota has decided to move forward with a different design for the upcoming FT-86 that is different than we saw at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show and the 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon. It is being reported that Toyota has chosen a new alternative design by Toyota's North American design studio (Calty Design Research). The new design has yet to be unveiled, but the sketch above should provide some hints of the new design direction.

It seems that the original design was rejected the month after it was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show. The new design is said to have less aggressively carved and curved surfaces, will feature increased overhangs. It will also have a higher front fascia. Although the design has changed the wheelbase and overall dimensions are the same.

Toyota has officially announced the voluntary recall of 133,000 2010 Prius and 14,500 2010 Lexus HS 250h vehicles to update software in the vehicle's anti-lock brake system.

Some owners have complained of inconsistent brake feel during slow and steady application of brakes on rough or slick road surfaces when the ABS is activated in an effort to maintain tire traction. The recall will allow Toyota to update the software in the affected vehicles. Toyota claims that this recall does not affect the first and second generations of the Prius.

"We're committed to doing everything we can - as fast as we can - to restore consumer trust in Toyota, and these recalls are part of this effort," said Jim Lentz, President and Chief Operating Officer, Toyota Motor Sales. "We regret the inconvenience this recall will cause to Prius and HS 250h owners, and will do our best with the support of our dealers to make sure that it is conducted in the most trouble-free manner possible."

In addition to the Prius and HS 250h, Toyota has also announced a voluntary recall of some early 2010 Toyota Camry models to inspect inspect for a power steering hose that may be in contact with a front brake tube. This contact could lead to a hole in the brake tube and cause a brake fluid leak, increased brake pedal stroke and greater vehicle stopping distance.

It's never ending. Yesterday it was reported that the current Toyota Prius is now under investigation after numerous complaints about its brakes. Today Toyota admitted that there was a design flaw with the brakes on models sold before the end of January. Apparently drivers were feeling a momentary lag in braking when traveling over uneven surfaces. Toyota has since fixed the issue, but did not notify owners about the problem.

It's not known if Toyota is planning a recall.

Toyota can't seem to get a break right now. The Japanese government has ordered Toyota to investigate a possible brake defect in the new third-generation Prius after receiving 14 reports of brake trouble.

According to Kenji Sato, a transport ministry official in charge of recall policy, owners have complained about momentary loss of braking power at low speeds. 10 of the 14 complaints occurred in January. In the US, NHTSA has received 111 complaints about the brakes on the 2010 Prius. The drivers have been complaining about their vehicles unexpectedly surging forward or losing braking power after driving over a pothole or other uneven surface.

The Prius is equipped with regenerative brakes, which significantly improve gas mileage on hybrids by recharging the car's batteries with energy from the wheels. It's unclear if there is a problem yet with the regenerative braking system. The third-generation Prius received an overhauled regenerative brake system, which is different from the previous Prius.

Infiniti has announced the pricing for the all-new 2011 Infiniti M. The 2011 Infiniti M37 starts at $46,250, which is powered by the 3.7L 330-horsepower engine. The all-wheel-drive M37x starts at $48,400. Both models come with Infiniti Drive Mode Selector, power-folding side view mirrors, Active Noise Control, RearView Monitor and
Enhanced Intelligent Key memory.

The V8 powered M56 starts at $57,550 and is powered by a 420-hp 5.6L V8. The M56x starts at $60,050. The M56 ad M56x come with the same features as the M37 models, but the $3,350 premium package is standard. This package includes, the Infiniti Hard Drive Navigation with 8-inch VGA color touch screen, Bose® 2-channel 10-speaker premium audio system, 9.3GB Music Box® hard drive, Streaming Audio via Bluetooth®, Climate controlled front seats and Heated steering wheel.

The first month of 2010 is officially over and the final sales numbers have come in. It was a crazy month for Toyota since it was forced to stop selling eight models a few days before the end of the month, which definitely hurt its final sales numbers.

But enough about that. Here are the top ten best selling vehicles from last month. The Honda Accord took over the number one best-selling car spot from the Camry, which dropped to number 7 on this list. It's also interesting to note that with the exception of the two best-selling vehicles on the list, the Ford F-Series and Chevy Silverado the rest of the vehicles on the list are all sedans (the Accord Crosstour was lumped into the Accord's sales). Both the Ford Escape and Honda CR-V are missing from the list this time.

Check out the full list after the jump.

It seems the media is having a field day with all of Toyota's problems related to the unintended acceleration recall. The January sales totals are finally trickling in and the news continues to not be good for Toyota, who was forced to stop selling eight of its models at the end of the month.

Thanks to the recall Toyota's best-selling Camry lost its title last month as the best-selling car in the US to the Honda Accord. Camry sales fell last month by 24 percent to 15,792 units. Meanwhile Honda managed to move 19,022 Accords (20,759 including the Accord Crosstour), which was a gain of 14.7 percent. Nissan also outsold the Camry with its Altima, which sold 18,636 units, a 31.8 percent increase. The Chevy Malibu had the largest gains last month with sales up 76.5 percent to 16,439 units.

It remains to be seen if the Camry will rebound from the disappointing month.

Mazda's popular roadster, the MX-5 has been around for two decades and to celebrate it's 20th anniversary, Mazda is going to unveil a special edition 20th anniversary MX-5 in Geneva.

The 20th anniversary MX-5 will only be available in Europe and only 2,000 units will be produced. The exterior will feature a chrome grille, door handles and headlight fascia, along with silver-look fog lamp frames, specific 17-inch alloy wheels and 20th Anniversary logos. There will be three colors to choose from: True Red, Crystal White Pearl and, specific for this edition, a new Aurora Blue.

Toyota has officially announced how it will fix its sticking accelerator pedals and now Toyota's US President and COO Jim Lentz is making the media rounds. His first stop was The Today Show.

Check out the video after the jump.

Toyota has announced its plan to fix the 2.3 million cars it has recalled due to the the sticking accelerator pedals. In addition to the recall Toyota has suspended sales of eight models due to this problem. Toyota's fix is a precision-cut steel reinforcement bar will be installed into the pedal assembly that will reduce the surface tension between the friction shoe and the adjoining surface.

"Nothing is more important to us than the safety and reliability of the vehicles our customers drive," said Jim Lentz, president and Chief Operating Officer, TMS. "We deeply regret the concern that our recalls have caused for our customers and we are doing everything we can - as fast as we can - to make things right. Stopping production is never an easy decision, but we are 100% confident it was the right decision. We know what's causing the sticking accelerator pedals, and we know what we have to do to fix it. We also know it is most important to fix this problem in the cars on the road."

Honda released the Insight hybrid last spring and hoped to sell 90,000 units in its first year in the US, but sadly only 20, 572 Insights were sold. Meanwhile the Toyota Prius, the Insight's main competitor outsold the Insight seven-to-one. Now Honda's Vice President, Koichi Kondo recently stated in an interview the reasons the Insight has been a disappointment, "I think we compromised too much on size in pursuing fuel efficiency" for the U.S. market, he said.

According to Kondo the Insight is too small and there isn't enough room in the back seat for US customers. Lower gas prices also hurt hybrid sales last year, which is also hurting the development of the upcoming Fit Hybrid.

"There are plenty of people who think that the current Fit meets their needs already" with its fuel efficiency, he said. "A hybrid version might seem expensive. Our engineers are really struggling."

The Fit hybrid is supposed to go on sale by the end of the year.

At the Tokyo Auto Salon, Toyota showed off a range of future and current models in sportier clothes and with performance enhancements as well. These cars wore a G's logo with the words "Toyota G Sports" written underneath. The most notable car at the show was the FT-86 G Sports Concept.

The G's division is a new division for Toyota that is similar pother OEM tuner divisions like Mercedes' AMG and BMW's M. The new division will start showing up in mid-2010 and will consist of complete conversions of Toyota's existing products. The main difference that Toyota's division will have compared to AMG and BMW's M is that customers will have more freedom to choose the level of tweaks to their vehicles.

VW also announced plans this week to create a new sport division, dubbed R GmbH.

Not quite as big or as scary as Toyota's recent recall, but still significant, Honda has announced a recall of 646,000 Honda Fit/ Jazz cars to fix a faulty window switch.

The recall involves a defective master switch, which could cause water to enter the window switch, which can lead to a fire. The recall comes after a child died when fire broke out in a car last year.

Honda is recalling 140,000 Fits in the U.S. and also includes vehicles in North America, South America, Europe, South Africa and Asia, but not Japan.

Toyota has announced that it is including another 1.1 million vehicles connected to pedal entrapment problems. Tuesday, Toyota announced that it would suspend sales of eight of its models that account for 60 percent of its sales until a solution was found.

The vehicles added to the list are:

2008-2010 Highlander
2009-2010 Corolla
2009-2010 Venza
2009-2010 Matrix
2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe

This announcement brings the total to 5.35 million vehicles being recalled due to this issue.

According to Autocar the next-generation Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is set to gain a plug-in hybrid system in place of the turbocharged setup it currently uses. The Evo XI will use the same platform as the PX-MiEV plug-in hybrid concept.

A plug-in hybrid Evo means that the car will be powered by a 2.0L naturally-aspirated engine mated to an electric motor with lithium-ion batteries. The electric motor will power the front wheels, while the gas engine will send its power to the rear. The car will give drivers the option of driving in electric only mode for short distances.

A Mitsubishi insider told Autocar, "The new electric motor will in effect work like a turbo, only smoother, so there's no need to worry about power delivery."

Honda has announced that the we will get a preview of the fourth generation Honda Odyssey at the Chicago Auto Show next month. The current Odyssey was the best selling minivan in 2008 and 2009.

Honda claims that the next Odyssey will "further enhance its hallmark qualities of innovation, quality, safety and fun-to-drive character while increasing its overall efficiency."

The fourth generation 2011 Odyssey will likely be introduced by the end of the year.

(2010 model pictured here)

Toyota has officially halted sales of eight models due to the ongoing problems with unattended acceleration. At the end of last year Toyota recalled almost four million vehicles due a problem with floormats getting trapped under the accelerator pedals, which also caused unintended acceleration, leading to vehicle crashes and fatalities. It looks like these two issues are apparently unrelated.

Toyota has stopped selling the:

2009-2010 RAV4,
2009-2010 Corolla,
2009-2010 Matrix,
2005-2010 Avalon,
Certain 2007-2010 Camry,
2010 Highlander,
2007-2010 Tundra,
2008-2010 Sequoia

No Lexus or Scion models are included in this announcement. DUe to the sales suspension Toyota is also expected to stop production lines where the effected vehicles are produced during the week of February 1st.

"Helping ensure the safety of our customers and restoring confidence in Toyota are very important to our company," said Group Vice President and Toyota Division General Manager Bob Carter. "This action is necessary until a remedy is finalized. We're making every effort to address this situation for our customers as quickly as possible."

Toyota expects its sales to grow six percent in 2010 as the auto industry recovers from its worst ever downturn. Toyota is forecasting sales of 8.27 million vehicles in 2010, which is still down from the record 9.37 million units it sold in 2007.

"All in all, it's probably an achievable target," said Christopher Richter, auto analyst at CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets.

Excluding sales of Daihatsu and Hino, Toyota expects its worldwide sales to total 7.4 million, up 6 percent. Toyota expects sales in Japan to increase by 9 percent to 1.5 million vehicles, largely due to Japan's own "Cash for Clunkers" program that has been extended six months to the end of September. Sales in the US and China are also expected to rise this year.

Mazda has officially unveiled the redesigned 2011 Mazda5, which will have its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

The 2011 Mazda5 gets Mazda's dynamic and elegant Nagare design treatment with a front end that looks similar to the Mazda3. In Europe the Mazda5 will emit 15 percent less CO2 than the current model thanks to Mazda's "i-stop" idling stop system, a direct injection gasoline engine and other technologies. Mazda also claims that it now has a sportier and smoother ride than the current generation. The Mazda5 can be powered by either a 1.8L gasoline engine or a 2.0L direct-injection gasoline engine.

The 2011 Mazda5 will go on sale this fall in Europe, it hasn't been announced when the US will receive it.

It's quite obvious after its unveiling at the Detroit Auto Show this month, the media is largely disappointed with the Honda CR-Z. Ever since the concept was unveiled many of us saw it as a spiritual successor the much loved CR-X. It brought back so many fond memories of my old 88' yellow CR-X Si. Well the fact that even with a hybrid powertrain it only manages to put out 122 horsepower and 128 lb-ft. of torque left many of us wanting more. The fact that it only manages to get a combined rating of 37 mpg made it even worse. Well now there is a video with one of the engineers that worked on the CR-Z explaining what the inspiration was behind the car.

Some quotes:
-"The basic concept of this car is fun-to-drive."
-"During the development of the CR-Z we have driven many cars and have also bought several cars for comparison and benchmarking - the Mini, the Scirocco, but also a Lotus
Elise."
-"set the body stiffness at a similar level to that of a Civic Type R."

The media has yet to get behind the wheel of the CR-Z, so it's not yet known if it will actually be "fun-to-drive." The only thing going for it now is the available six-speed manual transmission.

Mitsubishi is going to premiere the ASX compact crossover at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The ASX is the European version of the RVR that is set to go on sale in Japan next month.

The small crossover seats five and is going to be powered by a 1.8L turbocharged direct-injection diesel engine with "Automatic Stop & Go" technology.

There's no word yet on when we will eventually get this in the US.

Honda has officially released photos and specs for the HSV-10 GT race car that will compete in the in the GT500 class of the 2010 Super GT Series. The "HSV" stands for Honda Sports Velocity.

The race car is powered by a 496 horsepower 3.4L V8 with 289 lb-ft. of torque.

Toyota's Scion division is reportedly studying the idea of adding small compact pickup to its lineup. Scion's General Manager Jack Hollis told Ward's Auto, Trucks are "not off the table," Hollis says in an interview at the 2010 North American International Auto Show here. "If I said, 'off the table,' I'd like to take that back."

"Toyota has such a strong heritage of doing a very good job with youth and with trucks, when you look at (the Toyota) Tacoma - I'm not trying to be too cocky, but we pretty much have owned that segment for a long time. We have to find a niche. I think there is room for it."

The main issue with introducing a new smaller truck to the Scion brand is what it might do to Toyota's Tacoma sales. The Tacoma is the sales leader in the compact truck market, selling 111,824 units, while the runner up, the Ford Ranger only sold 55,600. Scion feels that today's compact trucks have increased in size compared to the earlier models, so there may be room for a smaller pickup.

If Scion does decide to add a small pickup, it would be interesting to see what it would look like. Maybe a modified version of the Hako concept from the 2008 New York Auto Show? In the meantime Scion is set to unveil a new model at this year's New York Auto Show that will hopefully help it regain some of its sales that the brand has lost in the last few years.

Tokyo's version of SEMA, the Tokyo Auto Salon is taking place right now and this year Toyota is showing off the FT_86 G Sports Concept, which basically is a modified version of its upcoming RWD coupe.

Besides the modifications to the exterior Toyota didn't release any official specs for the coupe.

Make sure you also check out the video of the FT-86 G Sports Concept.

A few days ago it was reported that Infiniti is going to release a 2.5L powered G25 for the 2011 model year. At the time it was speculated that the engine would be a turbocharged version, but upon further research from the guys over at Inside Line, the G25 will not get a turbocharged engine. Instead the 2011 G25 will be powered by the same naturally aspirated 2.5-liter V6 Nissan uses in the Japan-market Skyline 250GT.

In Japan the 2.5L puts out 210 horsepower and 195 lb-ft. of torque. Those numbers put it right in the middle of the lesser powered Lexus IS 250 and the BMW 328i, which has 230 horsepower.

At launch the G25 will only be available as a sedan although if sales are strong enough the coupe and convertible could also eventually be offered with the 2.5L.

When the rumors started circulating last year many of were shocked that Nissan was actually contemplating introducing a drop-top version of its Murano crossover. Inside Line originally reported Nissan's plans to produce the convertible Murano and this week they got confirmation from an inside source that the project is still on. According to a source at the Detroit Auto Show, the Nissan Murano convertible will be a two-door with a soft-top. It is expected to be released by the end of the year as a 2011 model.

Honda has issued a recall of the 2006-2007 Honda Ridgeline due to an issue with the wiring harness connector for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning blower motor. The blower motor is located under the passenger's side of the instrument panel and is accessible to kicking from the front passenger. Kicking the system can cause the connector terminal to overheat, which can cause a short circuit or a fire.

Honda dealers have been instructed to inspect the affected vehicles and install a protective cover over the system.

At the Detroit Auto Show, Honda's CEO Takanobu Ito announced that the automaker is working on hybrid models for the Acura brand.

Ito gave no other details about what models will get the hybrid powertrain, but its probably safe to assume that the TSX and TL will. It's also not known if the hybrid powertrain that the Acura models will receive will be similar to the system currently used in the Civic, Insight and CR-Z hybrids. Honda announced last year that the automaker is working on a new hybrid system for larger vehicles, but it's not known if it will be another mild hybrid setup.

Last week Nissan released a single teaser photo of the upcoming Nissan Juke crossover that is going to be officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show this March. At the time it was expected that the small crossover would only be offered in Europe, but new reports are claiming that it is expected to come to the US as well.

In a meeting with reporters at the Detroit Auto Show, Nissan confirmed that there will be eight new models released within the next year and one of them is the Nissan Juke. Nissan didn't give any further details about the crossover other than saying that more details will be provided next month, most likely at the Chicago Auto Show.

In addition to the Nissan Juke, Nissan is also going to release the Nissan NV 2500, a full-size commercial van, a new Quest minivan, the electric Leaf, the new Inifiniti M37and M56, an unnamed new Infiniti , the Infiniti QX56 SUV and the fortieth anniversary 370Z model.

Although Infiniti didn't officially announce any details about the 2011 G sedan in Detroit, the guys over at Inside Line have learned that Infiniti is going to release a G25 sedan for the 2011 model year.

The 2011 G25 sedan will get a turbocharged 2.5L V6, the same V6 that Nissan uses in the Japan-market Skyline 250GT. The new entry-level G25 will initially only be launched in the sedan body style and will be sold alongside the G37 sedan. in Japan the naturally-aspirated 2.5L V6 puts out 210 horsepower and 195 lb-ft. of torque and the turbocharged version puts out 280 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque.

Honda has officially unveiled the 2011 Honda CR-Z at the Detroit Auto Show. We've seen several leaked photos and brochures of the production version of the CR-Z, so today's unveiling wasn't much of a surprise. As expected the CR-Z finally brings some much needed "sport" to the hybrid segment, but to some the final result may be a little disappointing.

The Honda CR-Z is launching with a 1.5L 4-cyl mated to an electric motor, which together only put out 122 horsepower on tap and just 128 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers don't really make the hybrid seem all that sporty. At least the availability of a six-speed manual may make it a little more enjoyable to drive than the optional CVT. When equipped with the CVT the CR-Z gets 36 city/38 highway miles per gallon. With the manual it only gets 31/37.

Although on paper it doesn't seem like the CR-Z will be that sporty, but lets hope it drives well.

The 2011 CR-Z will be available this summer.

Toyota's big unveiling for the Detroit Auto Show this year is the FT-CH dedicated hybrid concept.

The CH in FT-CH stands for compact hybrid and is meant to show that Toyota is working on new hybrid models offering a wider variety for customers. Compared to the Prius, the FT-CH is 22 inches shorter. The FT-CH is also lighter and more fuel efficient than the Prius.The concept also specifically targets a lower price point than Prius.

This concept is only the first of others that are being considered in the future as Toyota continues to develop a Prius family "marketing strategy" for North America.

Toyota's popular Prius became the top-selling vehicle in Japan last year. It was the first time a hybrid model has held the top spot. Toyota sold 208,876 units in Japan last year, which is almost three times more than were sold in 2008. Hybrid sales account for 10 percent of the market in Japan. According to Green Car Congress hybrids only account for 2.8 percent of new vehicle sales in the US.

The Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris came in second and third. Honda's Insight hybrid only moved 93,283 units bringing it in at fifth place.

Last year Nissan unveiled the interesting Qazana concept at the Geneva Motor Show and now the automaker has released the first teaser image of the Juke Crossover, which has the same basic form of last year's concept.

Nissan is going to unveil the Juke crossover at this year's Geneva Motor Show in March, with sales starting in October. The Juke will fit between the Note compact family car and the Qashqai crossover in Nissan's lineup. It will be manufactured alongside the Qashqai, Qashqai+2 and Note at Nissan's state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Sunderland, Great Britain. It's unlikely that the Juke will be offered in the US.

Expect more details next month.

Before Chrysler declared bankruptcy and Fiat stepped in to hopefully save the barely surviving automaker, Nissan and Chrysler announced a partnership that would yield a new truck that would replace the current Nissan Titan. Well now that, that deal is off Nissan has stated that it remains committed to the full size truck market.

"We 're pretty much going it alone," says Nissan spokesman Scott Vazin. Vazin didn't state when we can expect to see a new Titan, but it is expected soon. It can't come soon enough since Nissan only sold 16,894 Titans in the first eleven months of this year compared to the best-selling Ford F-Series, which sold 365,416 units over the same period.

Just as Honda has unveiled the New Small Concept, Toyota has unveiled its own small vehicle for the emerging markets, the Etios Concept.

The Etios concept, which is expected to be in production by the end of the year will be offered in both sedan and hatchback body styles when it is introduced in India. The small car can be powered by either a 1.2L or 1.5L DOHC gasoline engine, a diesel has been put on hold.

The concept you see here is 90 percent ready for production. In addition to sales in India, the Etios will also be offered in Russia and South America.

Honda has unveiled the New Small Concept at the Auto Expo 2010 in New Delhi.

The New Small Concept is a five-door, five-passenger vehicle designed for emerging markets. Honda expects to introduce a new model based on the concept in 2011 in India and Thailand. It's doubtful that this vehicle would ever be offered in the U.S. or Europe.

Nissan has confirmed that there will not be a 2010 Quest minivan. Nissan apparently needed production space at its Canton, Mississippi where the Titan, Armada, and the Infiniti QX56 are also produced. The Titan and Armada will continue to be produced at the Canton plant, but production of the next Quest and Infiniti QX56 will shift to Japan to make room for a new commercial vehicle.

Nissan isn't abandoning the minivan segment, so you can expect a new Quest in a year or two.

Sadly the Honda/ Acura NSX is dead, but it's going to live on as a front-engined race car, the HSV-10 GT in Japan's SuperGT championship.

The HSV-10 GT has been built to the 2010 GT500 regulations and is powered by a 500+ HP 3.4L V8 mated to a Ricardo sequential manual gearbox. Fortunately Honda had been working on the basis for this race car for two years. It's just sad that we won't ever see the actual NSX version.

Honda has yet to release the official specs for the HSV-10 GT (Velocity Sports Honda.)

Toyota has announced the pricing for the 2011 Toyota Sienna, which will be in dealerships in February. The base Sienna powered by the 2.7L four-cyl starts at $24,260.

The 2011 Sienna is available with either a 187-hp 2.7L four-cylinder or 266-hp 3.5L V6. The V6 powered models will be available in February, with the four-cyl equipped models showing up in April. Pricing ranges from $24,260 to $39,770 for the Sienna Limited all-wheel-drive (AWD) V6. The new "sporty" SE model starts at $30,550. All-wheel-drive continues to be available even though only a very small percentage of buyers actually opt for it.

Toyota has just announced that the automaker is going to unveil a new dedicated hybrid concept at the Detroit Auto Show next month.

Toyota didn't release any details about the concept, but since its being labeled as a "dedicated hybrid concept" it will not be a hybrid version of anything currently in Toyota's lineup. It could however be a concept version of the upcoming Prius coupe or a wagon that has been rumored.

At the LA Auto Show earlier this month Toyota officially unveiled a plug-in hybrid version of its popular Prius. Toyota's Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamad recently stated that Toyota is going to start selling plug-in hybrids to consumers in 2011.

Before they are released to the buying public, Toyota is going to deliver 600 Prius plug-in hybrids to government agencies, corporations, universities and research agencies. The Prius plug-in is Toyota's first application of a lithium-ion battery. Thanks to the stronger battery, the car can travel up to 13 miles on electricity alone and reach speeds up to 60 mph using only the electric motor.

Acura has announced the pricing for the refreshed 2010 MDX.

The 2010 Acura MDX, which is now available has a starting price of $42,230. At first glance the 2010 MDX doesn't look much different from the 09' model. But Acura has changed the front and rear to give it a more aggressive stance. It's immediately noticeable that the front now has a grille that is similar to the rest of the Acura lineup. In addition to the changes to the front grille, tailpipes and taillights, there are also new wheels. Under the hood the MDX benefits from a new 6-speed automatic transmission. The MDX is still powered by the same 300 horsepower 3.7L V6.

Inside there's a new sport steering wheel with paddle shifters, new gauges, and upgraded trim.

The 2010 MDX is available in five trim levels starting at $42,230 and topping out at $53,755.

According to the guys over at Inside Line, Mazda has some big changes in store for the next generation MX-5.

The 2011 MX-5 roadster is expected to be smaller than the current model and only weigh around 2,200 pounds. Mazda introduced its new SKY-G engine at the Tokyo Motor Show anda version of that engine is expected to be under the hood of the next MX-5. The engine unveiled in Tokyo was a small 1.3L engine is expected to get over 50 mpg without the use of hybrid or diesel technology. It's not known if the MX-5 will get a 1.3L or 1.5L version of the SKY-G engine.

Volkswagen and Suzuki have announced a new partnership which sees VW buying 19.9% of Suzuki. Suzuki will then take half the money it receives from VW and return the favor by buying VW shares.

Although the new partnership involves VW buying almost 20 percent of Suzuki, both automakers will remain independent. The partnership will allow both automakers to collaborate on smaller vehicles.

The guys over at Temple of VTEC have received some photos of a JDM-spec 2011 Honda CR-Z brochure. The photos give us our first look of the Honda CR-Z hybrid, which is expected to go on sale in the US in the second quarter of 2010.

The 2011 Honda CR-Z in JDM-spec will be powered by a 1.5L with 112 horsepower that is mated to a 14 hp electric motor for a total of 128 horsepower. The engine also puts out 107 lb-ft of torque with the electric motor contributing another 57 lb-ft. The engine is mated to either a six-speed manual or CVT transmission. The small hybrid is expected to reach 0-62 mph in 9.7 seconds.

The exterior dimensions have not changed much from the concept version at 160.6 inches long, 68.5 inches wide, 54.9 inches tall.

Mitsubishi has unveiled a new small crossover, dubbed the RVR that is set to go on sale in Japan in the spring of 2010.

The RVR will be powered by a 1.8L MIVEC 4-cyl. It is smaller than the midsize Outlander, but shares Mitsubishi's distinct nose. The RVR is set to be released in the North America as well, but a date has not been given. It's also not known what the crossover will be called here.

The small car segment is getting much more interesting with the introduction of the Ford Fiesta, Chevy Cruze and now the Mazda2. Mazda officially unveiled the 2011 Mazda2 today at the LA Auto Show.

The Mazda2 shares its platform with the Ford Fiesta, which is a good thing considering that the Fiesta is the best-selling car in Europe. The Mazda2 was originally launched in Europe and Japan a few years ago and at the time the media wished that Mazda would bring it to the US. Well our prayers have been answered. The Mazda2 will officially be available in the summer of 2010.

Mazda has unveiled what the Mazda2 will look like when it is released next year, but the automaker did not provide any details of what lies beneath the hood or the interior.

Here it is...the all-new 2011 Toyota Sienna. Before you just dismiss it as another boring minivan, take a closer look. Toyota has gone to great lengths to make the third-generation Sienna "sportier". Just take one look at the SE model with its body kit, 19-inch wheels, and tighter suspension.

The 2011 Sienna looks like Toyota fused the last generation Sienna with the Venza. The non-SE Sienna now features a front grille that is very similar to the Venza's. Under the hood there are now two option choices: the 3.5L V6 remains with 266 hp, but now there is an available 2.7L four-cylinder with 187 horsepower. The 2.7L gets 19/26 mpg compared to 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway for the V6. All-wheel-drive is still available, but only with the V6 engine.

Inside the Sienna can seat up to eight passengers. Second row passengers will now be able to relax thanks to the integrated retractable leg rests. There's also an available 16-inch dual-view LCD screen for the rear seat entertainment system.

The 2011 Sienna will come in five grades: Sienna grade, LE, SE, XLE and Limited. It will be available in February 2010.

Toyota has taken the wraps off the 2010 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, which is debuting at the LA Auto Show. The Prius Plug-in Hybrid is based on the third-generation Prius and features the introduction of a first generation lithium-ion battery. When the battery is fully charged the vehicle is capable of going up to 13 miles on battery power alone and reaching up to 60 mph in electric-only mode. On longer trips the Prius PHV reverts to "hybrid mode" and operates like a regular Prius.

Beginning this month 350 Prius Plug-in hybrids will begin delivery in Japan and Europe in support of model programs with business and government partners aimed at raising societal awareness of, and preparedness for, this important new technology. Early next year 150 vehicles will arrive in the U.S. where they will be given to select partners for analysis and demonstrations.

"This program is a necessary first step in societal preparation, in that it allows us the unique opportunity to inform, educate and prepare customers for the introduction of plug-in hybrid technology," said Irv Miller, TMS group vice president, environmental and public affairs. "When these vehicles come to market, customers must understand what to expect and if this technology is the right fit for them."

November 2009 is officially over and luckily for most automakers the huge declines that were experienced earlier in the year leveled off with a pretty flat month in sales. Hyundai, Subaru and Nissan all saw gains with 46 percent, 24 percent and 21 percent respectively.

It's no surprise that the top two vehicles are the Ford F-Series followed by the Toyota Camry. Overall the list of top ten best selling vehicles last month is pretty much the same as its been most of the year, with the order just changing a little bit. Note that the Honda Civic dropped all the way to the number 10 spot last month.

Check out the full list after the jump.

Infiniti has unveiled the changes to the 2010 G37, which has gotten a midlife facelift.

The changes for the 2010 G37 include a new front grille, fog light clusters and a restyled rear bumper in addition to new 17-inch wheels. Inside there are a few tweaks as well, which include new white gauges, center console, aluminum trim and leather seats. The navigation system gets a new display screen and now also features NavWeather with Real-Time Weather and 3-day forecast, Streaming Audio via Bluetooth and Zagat Restaurant Guide.

The G37 is powered by a 3.7L V6 with 328 horsepower and 269 lb-ft. of torque. The engine can be mated to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission.

For the 28th year in a row, CARandDRIVER has picked the 10 best cars. This year's list consists of a few returning models like the BMW 3 Series and Honda Accord, which have both been on the list 19 and 24 times, respectively.

The publication tested 58 models worth $2.5 million total and logged a total of 12,000 test miles. New to the list this year is the Ford Fusion Hybrid, note that the gas only version isn't though. The Chevrolet Corvette, Infiniti G37, and the Jaguar XF are all off this year's list.

Check out the complete list after the jump.

Lexus has unveiled the second-generation 2010 GX 460, which gets a name change from GX 470. Although the last-generation had a bigger engine, note " GX 470", the new GX 460 has more power, putting out 301-hp and 329 lb-ft. of torque from its V8 engine. Even though there's more power the GX 470 is 13 percent more fuel efficient and gets 15/20 mpg. Lexus decided to not follow the trend that is moving away from body-on-frame SUVs with the new GX 460, which retains its body-on-frame design, but with a second-generation frame.

The 2010 GX 460 is available in two trims, base and premium. Some of the standard features are an eight-way power-adjustable, heated/ventilated front seats; automatic climate control; leather trimmed seats and surfaces; rain-sensing windshield wipers; power moonroof; a wood and leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob; memory system for the driver's seat, steering wheel position and outside mirrors; and an overhead console with integrated HomeLink® transmitter.

Check out the press release for all the details.

Lexus unveiled the LF-CH Concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show and it previewed what a possible smaller Lexus could be like.

Mark Templin, the general manger of Lexus recently spoke with TheDetroitBureau about the possibility of a new smaller Lexus and if it would be sold in the US.

"There is a group of buyers growing up now who won't buy cars by the pound," said Templin. "We have already seen a structural shift" to the compact and more affordable models in the luxury market over the past couple of years.

So, said Templin, "Going forward, there may be a need for even smaller luxury cars," but they won't necessarily be targeting the budget-constrained "entry-luxury" buyer that today goes for such Lexus models as the ES and IS lines.

The LF-CH Concept will be at the LA Auto Show next month and at the Detroit show in January so that Lexus can gauge consumer reaction.

According to Templin if the response is possitive, the LF-CH could appear in Lexus showrooms by 2012 or possibly earlier.

Acura has announced the pricing for the 2010 Acura ZDX that will be available on December 15th. The 2010 ZDX has a starting price of $45,495.

The ZDX will be available in three trim packages, ZDX; ZDX with Technology Package; and the ZDX with Advance Package. All versions are powered by the same 300 horsepower 3.7L V6 that is mated to a new six-speed automatic transmission and Acura's SH-AWD system.

Pricing ranges from $45,595 to $56,045. Check out the press release for more details.

Toyota has unveiled the European version of the Toyota Land Cruiser that is very different and smaller than the version that we have here in the US.

The European Land Cruiser is powered by a 3.0L diesel with 171 horsepower and is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The body on frame design yields 8.5 inches of ground clearance and gives the SUV the ability to wade through 27.6 inches of water.

Toyota will offer the European Land Cruiser in three trim levels with prices ranging from £29,795 to £44,795. Of course we won't get this model in the US badged as a Toyota, but it could be a clue to what to expect from the Lexus GX 460.

Mazda has finally made it official that the small Mazda2 is going to be sold in the U.S. and Canada by the end of 2010. The 2011 Mazda2 will officially be unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show next month.

The Mazda2 shares its platform with the Ford Fiesta, which is also set to have its US debut at the show. Mazda has released one teaser of the subcompact, but didn't release any details about the engine lineup and what body styles we will receive. The preview shows the rear of the five-door hatchback model, so we can at least expect that model.

Lexus has confirmed that the 2010 Lexus GX 460 SUV will debut at the Guangzhou Auto Show on November 23.

Lexus did not provide any details about the redesigned SUV other than the fact that the name changes from GX 470 to GX 460, which means that it is expected to get the same 4.6L V8 that powers the Toyota Tundra and Sequoia. It puts out 310 horsepower in the Tundra. The Lexus GX 460 is based on the same body-on-frame platform as the new 2010 Toyota 4Runner.

The 2010 Lexus GX 460 is expected in showrooms this December.

A new report is claiming that Toyota is planning a new larger Prius, that will be powered by a lithium-ion battery. The new larger version of the Prius will either be a wagon or SUV and it will supposedly launch by the end of next year.

According to the Japanese Yomiuri newspaper, the new version of the Prius will be Toyota's first hybrid with a lithium-ion battery. Toyota of course has declined to comment on the report.

Toyota is also reportedly working on a Prius coupe to go head to head with the upcoming Honda CR-Z hybrid.

Toyota has announced that the 2011 Toyota Sienna minivan will debut at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show.

Toyota didn't release any official details about the third generation Sienna...stay tuned.

Suzuki's much talked about new midsize sedan, the 2010 Kizashi is going to start at $18,999.

Even though the Kizashi S starts just under $19k, it still comes standard with power windows and locks, push-button start, dual-zone climate control and a nine speaker audio system. For $2,500 more buyers can get the Kizashi SE with a CVT, 17-inch alloy wheels and power driver's seat. The GTS model is available with either the CVT or a six-speed manual transmission. It also includes a 425- watt audio system, 18-inch wheels, Bluetooth and a moonroof. The top GTS model goes for $24,849. The top of the line SLS starts at $24,399 and includes leather seats, heated front seats, automatic headlights and wipers and rear parking sensors. The SLS tops out at $26,749. And of course all the prices are subject to a $735 destination and handling fee.

Honda has released the pricing for its controversial new 2010 Accord Crosstour crossover.

The 2010 Accord Crosstour starts just under $30k at $29,670 for the base 2WD EX model. The fully optioned 4WD EX-L with navigation will set you back $36,220. The EPA numbers have also been released and the 2WD model gets a combined 18/27 mpg, while the 4WD model gets 17/25 mpg. The Accord Crosstour comes standard with Honda's 3.5L V6 with Variable Cylinder Management.

Acura has been trying to change its portfolio to become more of a Tier 1 luxury brand, but it looks like those plans have changed. Acura had been working on developing new high-performance vehicles and its first V8 engine, but those plans have been canceled.

There is "a certain level of confusion" about Acura in the marketplace, Honda Motor Co. CEO Takanobu Ito told Automotive News at the Tokyo auto show. "We are in the midst of big changes. We've changed the direction of research and development."

Prior to the collapse of the economy Acura had plans to finally match the other top tier luxury brands with its first V8 engine and rear-wheel-drive, but those plans have been scrapped sending engineers back to the drawing board.

Instead of focusing on going head to head with brands like BMW, Honda CEO Takanobu Ito stated, "I see the future of Acura as a merger of BMW and Audi--something between high technology and high performance." Eighteen months ago Acura dealers were promised five new models, but as a result of the changes Acura will be in a "low-growth period of developing new products."

"We were thinking that we could come up with glamorous, gorgeous products that would sell. Now, our premium products will be expressed in advanced environmental technologies, rather than glamorous things attached to the product," Ito said.

Mitsubishi has released a single sketch of its upcoming compact crossover that will draw styling cues from the 2007 Concept-cX show car.

The new compact crossover, which will be smaller than the current Outlander will be released first in Japan in February 2010. It's expected to be offered in the US later in 2010.

For those of us that have been complaining that Honda didn't choose to offer the Euro Accord wagon in the US instead of the 2010 Accord Crosstour, you can stop your whining. Acura has confirmed that the Euro Honda Accord wagon will be offered in the US in 2011 as the Acura TSX sport wagon.

Acura didn't release any other info about the new sport wagon and it's not known what will be changed from the Euro version, hopefully not much. It is slated to arrive in the fall of 2010.

As we sit here and wait patiently for Subaru to unveil its version of the rear-wheel-drive coupe, that is a result of the collaboration with Toyota, more speculation continues to surface about what we might see. Toyota already unveiled a concept version of its coupe codenamed FT-86, the Subaru version has been codenamed 086A and will supposedly bigger and badder than its twin.

Well the latest reports are claiming that Subaru's coupe will be all-wheel-drive instead of the rear-wheel-drive setup of the Toyota version. The base engine will be a turbocharged 2.0L with 250 horsepower and the STI version will put out 308 horsepower. The Subaru coupe is also going to be bigger than its Toyota twin. Lastly more power, all-wheel-drive and bigger exterior dimensions also means that the Subaru version will be priced higher than the Toyota.

Although Honda now has the Insight and Civic hybrids and the upcoming CR-Z, Honda is missing a larger hybrid to compete with the Fusion and Camry hybrids. Honda did have an Accord hybrid with the last generation, but the fact that it was mated to a six-cylinder, many of us didn't notice it. Well it looks like Honda is finally working on a new hybrid system that will be offered in Honda's larger models like the Accord.

According to the Automotive News, Honda is working on a new hybrid system for its larger vehicles that will be different than the current system offered in the Civic and Insight. The new system will use two electric motors compared to the single electric motor that Honda is currently using.

"That is one major initiative we are working on," COO of automobile operations at Honda Tsuneo Tanai, told Automotive News. "The motor will have higher output. There will be dual motors, with a larger battery that enables the car to be driven in all-electric mode."

Tanai did not reveal when we can expect to see the new system and which vehicles it will be offered in. According to Japan's Nikkei business daily Honda is planning a hybrid minivan in 2011.

The Honda Civic has consistently remained near the top of the sales charts for years, but according to the latest reports, product chief Tsuneo Tanai has told engineers to go back to the drawing board for the next Civic. When gas prices spiked and the economy took a nose dive, the Civic was in high demand. It even managed to become the best selling vehicle in the US in May 2008. But Tanai is obviously not satisfied with the current state of the Civic and has ordered that the new Civic needs to be smaller, cheaper, lighter and more fuel efficient.

The change for the Civic was reportedly ordered last year, so it is not certain what this will mean for the next Civic which was expected to be unveiled at the end of 2010 as a 2011 model. Hopefully there won't be much of a delay since the Civic is going to have to go head to head with the next Focus and Chevy Cruze.

Toyota recently unveiled a concept version of its new rear-wheel-drive coupe in Tokyo. The production version that is the result of a collaboration between Toyota and Subaru is expected to go on sale some time in 2012. Toyota hasn't announced what the official name will be for the coupe, but according to Autocar, the coupe could be named the Celica.

The concept is currently badged FT-86, but the latest rumors are suggesting that Toyota is currently evaluating the Celica name since it has a long history.

Motor Trend has announced the recipient of this year's 2010 Sport Utility of the Year Award and for the second year in a row it goes to a Subaru. The 2010 Subaru Outback has been named the SUV of the Year.

MOTOR TREND editor-in-chief, Angus MacKenzie, said, "The 2010 Subaru Outback offers a unique combination of comfort, efficiency, versatility and value. It boasts car-like refinement, drivability and gas mileage on the road, yet is as capable in the rough stuff as all but the most off-road focused sport utilities. Thoughtfully engineered, cleverly detailed and competitively priced, the Subaru Outback is a terrific all-rounder with broad appeal."

The Outback beat out the Audi Q5, Volvo XC60, Toyota 4Runner and others to take this year's award. Last year the Subaru Forester took home the award.

Motor Trend has announced the list of SUV contenders for its "SUV of the Year" award.

Of course this award is great to whomever wins, due to all of the bragging rights that come along with it. It's usually heavily used in every ad campaign. Last year the Subaru Forester took home the award.

Which SUV do you think should win this year's award?

Subaru has given the details of what we can expect to see in Tokyo next month, but unfortunately we will not see a concept version of its version of the FT-86 coupe that it is working on with Toyota. For now we have to make due with the numerous sketches and spy photos.

More details continue to surface about Subaru's version (086A) and now we have more details of what might be in store for the STI version. According Japanese publication Holiday Auto, the regular Subaru 086A will be very close to Toyota's version, although it will have subtle styling tweaks, but will be powered by the same 2.0L flat-four boxer engine. The STI version gets more exciting by using the 2.5L flat-four with between 240-250 horsepower. The STI version would also get more styling tweaks to make room for a wider track and wheels. The addition of STi only aero parts lke a unique front bumper and rear spoiler are also expected.

Mitsubishi has released the pricing for its top Lancer Evolution model, the Lancer Evolution MR Touring. The MR Touring model starts at $40,990 and easily moves the car into the price range of many luxury models.

The MR Touring comes standard with the all the good stuff as the MR model, which includes the 291-hp turbocharged four-cylinder, six-speed dual clutch transmission, S-AWC all-wheel-drive system, Brembo brakes and 18-inch BBS wheels. What the Touring adds is a standard glass sunroof, a subtle lip spoiler and leather heated Recaro seats.

If those features aren't enough Mitsubishi has a list of extra's that can be added to the car and if you go crazy enough and select all of them you're looking at a price tag of $52,728. Wow!

Who remembers the Subaru SVX from the 90's? The SVX was produced from 1991 to 1997 and was Subaru's first attempt at making GT Coupe. Although the SVX failed to meet expectations, Subaru is reportedly working on a successor.

According to the latest reports, Subaru is working on a new coupe that will be based on the same platform as the Hybrid Tourer Concept that is going to be unveiled next week in Tokyo. The car would be powered by a turbocharged 2.5L boxer engine, although a hybrid powerplant is also a possibility. The SVX successor would target high-end performance models.

The SVX is in addition to the FT-86 coupe that Subaru is working on with Toyota.

Subaru has released more photos of the Hybrid Tourer Concept that is set to debut in Tokyo.

The gullwing Hybrid Tourer Concept is a four-passenger concept that is Subaru's first attempt at a hybrid vehicle. The concept is powered by two electric motors that get their juice from a lithium-ion battery pack and a 2.0L boxer engine with direct-injection.

Here are some more photos of Toyota's FT-86 Concept, thanks to ft86club that is set to debut in Tokyo.

Toyota unveiled a concept version of its upcoming rear-wheel-drive sports coupe, the FT-86 concept a few days ago. The coupe is the result of a collaboration between Toyota and Subaru, so we've all been waiting to see what the Subaru version is going to look like.

Autocar has posted a few sketches of what Subaru's version of the coupe may look like. Although the final design is far from finalized. There are supposedly a few hurdles within Subaru that need to be addressed first. Such as the fact that Subaru has built its brand upon the existence of all-wheel-drive in all of its vehicles. Subaru has never built a small rear-wheel-drive coupe. Subaru may rework the car to feature all-wheel-drive, but it may add weight. Subaru is also having issues sharing its technology with Toyota.

Subaru is supplying the 2.0L boxer engine and the basic platform for both cars. Also both cars are set to be produced at Subaru's facility in Japan.

Toyota is set to unveil it's version of the coupe, but it's not known when Subaru will.

In addition to the unveiling of the Leaf EV at the Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan is also going to show off another electric vehicle, the Land Glider Concept. Nissan boasts that its extremely narrow dimensions will help it maneuver through traffic in urban areas and make it easier to park.

The Land Glider concept holds two passengers in a cockpit that looks like it came directly out of a video game. What is interesting is that the concept has the ability to lean like a motorcycle through turns.

Check out the pics and video after the jump.

Green Car Journal has announced the five finalists for its Green Car of the Year award.

And the finalists are:

-Audi A3 TDI
-Honda Insight
-Mercury Milan Hybrid
-Toyota Prius
-Volkswagen Golf TDI

The winner of the 2010 Green Car of the Year award will be announced at the 2009 LA Auto Show on December 3.

Which car do you think should win?

If you were hoping that Honda was eventually going to release a non-hybrid version of its upcoming CR-Z hybrid, it looks like your hopes are lost. Although a CR-Z with the 2.0L from the Civic Si would have been awesome, according to a source it's not going to happen.

"This will definitely only be a hybrid," a source said. "The whole direction of Honda is hybrids and this car is designed all around a hybrid powertrain. The car isn't boring; it is responsive and fun."

Although the CR-Z has been dubbed the spiritual successor to the much-loved CR-X from the 80's, it's not going to be offered with a high revving conventional engine.

Infiniti virtually unveiled the 2011 Infiniti M at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in August and today the automaker revealed plans for the introduction of the 2012 M35 Hybrid and its JDM equivalent the Nissan Fuga.

Infiniti's first hybrid, the M35 hybrid will not rely on Toyota's technology like the Nissan Altima hybrid, but rather a new internally developed hybrid system. The M35 hybrid will be Infiniti's cleanest and most fuel efficient model. It will primarily be powered by a 3.5L V6 that sends the power to the rear wheels. Infiniti claims that the hybrid components will only add to the driving experience and not take away from it, like most other hybrids. The electric motor is powered by a laminated lithium-ion battery that holds twice the power of nickel-metal hydride batteries and cools twice as fast because it's lamination.

The Infiniti M is expected to go on sale early next year as a 2011 model, with the hybrid following a year later as a 2012 model.

Honda has released interior photos of the controversial 2010 Accord Crosstour.

Honda describes the interior of the Accord Crosstour as "versatile" with its one touch lever, which is used to fold the rear seats from the cargo area and under floor hidden storage area. The dashboard is pretty much right out of the sedan version.

Does the interior help you like this car any better than before?

In addition to the release of more photos, Honda has confirmed that the Accord Crosstour will come standard with a 3.5L V6 with 4-wheel-drive being optional. Honda has yet to release the final specs, but the vehicle will be on sale in November.

We've been hearing for a while that Toyota and Subaru have been working on a new rear-wheel-drive coupe together. Well here is our first look at the concept that is going to be unveiled this month in Tokyo.

The concept is inspired by the Corolla-based AE86 sports coupe of the 1980's and was designed in France. It is powered by a 2.0L boxer engine from Subaru that sends the power to the rear wheels.

The production version is expected to be unveiled sometime next year with sales starting at the end of 2011. The expected starting price is around $20,000.

Honda's CEO Takanobu Ito recently stated that he sees Hyundai as a major threat to the Japanese automakers.

"Hyundai is awesome," said Takanobu. "They are undoubtedly a threat because their products are cheap, and the quality is improving."

Hyundai's sales have been improving, while many of its other competitors have seen its sales decline in the last year. Obviously new products like the Genesis are changing the perception of the brand and it's no longer seen as the throw away car brand of the 80's.

Kinda hilarious. It's a little hard to tell what she is saying throughout the whole commercial.

Nissan has released two sketches of its new Global Compact Car. The new car will be launched in Thailand next March and eventually will be sold in 150 countries. This will replace the current Micra in Europe

Nissan hasn't announced if the car will make it to the US where it would slot in below the Versa in Nissan's lineup. Although from these sketches it's much better looking than the Versa.

Nissan has released the official specs, photos and pricing for the refreshed 2010 Nissan Altima Coupe and Sedan.

On the outside the Altima gets a restyled hood, grille and front bumper and new wheels. Inside there are new fabrics and trim and revised option packages. A new nine speaker Bose audio system and the next-generation Nissan Hard Drive Navigation System with 6.5-inch VGA color touch-screen display are optional.

The powerplants remain unchanged with the 175-hp 2.5L 4-cyl, 275-hp 3.5L V6 and the 198-hp hybrid available only on the sedan.

Pricing starts at $19,900 for the base 2.5S sedan and goes all the way up to $29,600 for the 3.5 SR (no longer named SE) coupe.

Just like almost every other preview so far of the Tokyo Motor Show next month, most of the concepts being unveiled have some sort of electric motor under the hood. Mitsubishi is following suit with the unveiling of the Concept PX-MiEV, which features Mitsubishi's Plug-in Hybrid System in a CUV body.

The Concept PX-MiEV features two electric motors that power the front and rear wheels coupled to a 1.6L DOHC MIVEC gasoline engine that powers the front wheels and also acts like a generator. The new plug-in system allows users to plug into either a 100 or 200-volt outlet. The concept is capable of traveling in EV mode up to 30 miles, which can transfer power between the front and rear wheels when necessary. The Concept PX-MiEV also features the same S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) system as the Evolution X.

Mitsubishi's cocochi-interior "embraces occupants in a pleasantly comfortable cabin environment developed to a Clean, Stress-free and Safe & Reassuring theme." Some interesting highlights of the interior of the Concept OX-MiEV are seats that deactivate allergens and odors as well as bacteria, windows that keep out UV-A radiation so that you don't get a nasty farmer's tan or premature wrinkles from the sun and a negative-ion aroma humidifier.

Next spring, Nissan is going to start taking orders for the Leaf EV, with deliveries starting that fall. Nissan is expecting to receive 20,000 orders, which is well over the 5,000 Leafs Nissan has planned to lease in 2010.

For the first two years of production all Leafs will be imported to the US from Japan. By 2012 Nissan expects to have completed a $2 billion investment in its Smyrna, TN production facility to produce 150,000 electric vehicles and 200,000 lithium-ion batteries per year.

The Leaf is going to launch in Tennessee and Oregon as well as San Diego, CA; Seattle, WA; and the Phoenix/Tucson are of Arizona. These areas have committed to installing 2,500 electric vehicle charging stations.

Subaru is going to unveil the Impreza WRX STI Carbon at the Tokyo Motor Show next month, but some of the details of the car make you wonder...why? The WRX STI is supposed to be the halo performance car for the Impreza brand, so when Subaru decides to put a carbon fiber roof on this edition, we say..great! It will lower the total weight and center of gravity, which means better performance. But wait... Now for some reason Subaru has decided to add a 5-speed automatic to this version...why?? An automatic? Really?? That makes no sense at all! Also who really cares about suede seats?

The third concept to take the Honda's stage at the Tokyo Motor Show next month alongside the CR-Z and Skydeck will be the EV-N Concept. At first glance the small electric EV-N immediately recalls Honda's N360 minicar from the 1960s.

The EV-N features lithium-ion batteries and seating for four. There is a communications system embedded in the front fascia, something that Honda calls HELLO, s solar roof and swappable seat fabrics. The front passenger door also has one Honda's U3-X personal mobility devices tucked in it for when you aren't riding in the car.

Check out the photos...

Subaru will be showing off the Subaru Hybrid Tourer Concept at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show next month.

The gullwing Hybrid Tourer Concept is a four-passenger concept that Subaru describes as "a new proposal for the future of [the] grand touring car."

The Hybrid Tourer Concept is powered by a horizontally opposed 2.0L direct injection turbocharged four cylinder mated to a hybrid motor system with lithium-ion batteries. The hybrid system is a two-motor system with a motor in the front and rear of the car. During normal driving the front motor is primarily used, but at start up and extremely low speeds the rear motor is mainly used.

Subaru of course didn't give any details if this concept will ever see production.

The 2009 Tokyo Motor Show is right around the corner and even though a number of automakers have already pulled out of the show, we can expect to see a number of reveals. Honda is set to unveil a near production ready Honda CR-Z in addition to the Skydeck concept shown here.

The Honda Skydeck Concept is a six seater minivan hybrid. Honda is most likely looking for other areas to apply its hybrid technology and this minivan concept could be a possibility. Of course those scissor doors wouldn't make it to production. Honda hasn't released any technical specs, but we do know that the hybrid system has been moved to the center console.

Stay tuned for more info from the show.

Honda unveiled the CR-Z hybrid concept at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show and now two years later the concept that is hitting the stage at again at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Show. As typical with most Honda concepts, the concept version ends up being very close to the final product. According to Honda officials, the concept that we will see next month is 95 percent of the real thing. The production version of the Honda CR-Z will be officially unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in January.

The spiritual successor to the much loved CR-X, the 2011 CR-Z is a 2+2 coupe powered by a 1.5L i-VTEC inline-4 combined with Honda's IMA hybrid powertrain and mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. Who knows if Honda may eventually broaden the appeal of the CR-Z with the addition of non-hybrid powertrains.

The interior of the concept is near production ready and features a layout that looks somewhat similar to the Insight. The Ni-Mh battery pack is believed to be under the floor like in the Insight, in which the CR-Z is based on.

The 2011 CR-Z is expected to go on sale in Japan in February 2010 and in the U.S. a few months after that.

Stay tuned for more info from the show...for now check out the photos.

Toyota is issuing its largest recall in the automaker's history due to an issue with floormats.

The Federal Department of Transportation has issued an "urgent" warning to owners of several Toyota and Lexus models advising owners to remove the driver's side front floor mats to keep them from getting in the way of the accelerator and brake pedals.

This notice has come out after a fatal crash in late August that involved a 2009 Lexus ES350 that crashed after the front floor mat caused the accelerator and brake pedals to stick.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is urging owners of the affected vehicles to remove the floormats and to not replace them with anything else.

Mazda has released official images of its next-generation SKY powertrains and the Kiyora concept that will be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show next month.

The SKY-D' diesel engine, SKY-G' direct injection gasoline engine and SKY Drive' high-efficiency automatic transmission define "Mazda's approach to developing next-generation powertrains that will significantly improve the eco-friendliness and dynamic performance of all Mazda vehicles."

In addition to the new more efficient engines and transmissions debuting at the show, the Kiyora concept is Mazda's newest take an an eco-friendly, but fun to drive car. It's powered by the next-generation Mazda SKY-G 1.3 engine mated to the new six-speed Mazda SKY-Drive automatic transmission. The Kiyora concept achieves fuel economy numbers of 32 kilometers per liter and its compact body weighs 100 kilograms less than Mazda's current mass production model in the same segment.

Toyota has announced the pricing for the 2010 4-Runner, Land Cruiser, Venza, Tacoma and Prius.

-The all-new 4-Runner was unveiled yesterday and starts at $27,500 for the SR5 4x2.

-The Venza starts at $26,275 for the four-cylinder front wheel-drive model, which is an inease of $300.

-The iconic Land Cruiser starts at a pricey $65,970, an increase of $1,215.

-The Tacoma receives a price increase of $175, with the base model starting at $15,345.

-The new Prius, which was released just a few months ago will see price increases of $400 for the Prius II, III, IV and V models. The Prius I pricing remains unchanged with a starting price of $21,000.

When Mitsubishi showed off the Outlander GT Concept at the New York Auto Show it was pretty obvious that the automaker was planning on adding its "Evo" grille to the production Outlander.

Well here it is. Mitsubishi has unveiled the 2010 Outlander in Australia and it is sporting a grille that looks like it came directly from the Lancer Evo. Was the new grille needed?

Toyota has officially unveiled the 2010 4-Runner. The fifth-generation 4-Runner stays true to its roots with a traditional body-on-frame design and even more rugged looks than the last model. It's longer, taller and wider and is available as in Limited, SR5 and Trail grade configurations.

The 2010 4-Runner offers two engines a 157-hp 2.7L 4-cylinder and the same 4.0L V6 as the outgoing model but that now puts out 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft. of torque. The 4-cyl is mated to a 4-speed automatic and gets 18/23 mpg. Fuel economy for the V6 that is mated to a five-speed automatic ranges from 16/20 - 17/23 mpg. Four-wheel-drive models are only available with the V6, while the 4x2 models are available with either engine.

Toyota is positioning the 4-Runner as being more rugged than the Highlander and more versatile than the FJ Cruiser. It seats up to seven passengers.

Nissan has issued a recall of 26,398 according to the NHTSA. The affected vehicles are being recalled due to an issue with the upper front strut insulators.

The upper front insulators may have been manufactured out of spec. which may cause them to crack, which would allow the struts to come out of their mounting position. This problem could affect vehicle stability and possibly lead to a crash.

Nissan is going to begin notifying owners of the affected vehicles and will replace the strut insulators free of charge.

VW is expected to buy a stake in Suzuki by the end of 2009 according to the German industry publication Automobilwoche report.

The publication quoted an unnamed Suzuki executive, "For Suzuki and VW this connection would be a win-win situation. Suzuki would have access to a variety of VW's technology, while Volkswagen would have a solid supporting leg in India and Southeast Asia."

VW has declined to comment, but last week VW's Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn stated that Suzuki's current product lineup would work well with VW.

There has been speculation about a tie up between the two automakers since August.

When the current Mazda2 aka Mazda Demio was unveiled Mazda had no plans to sell it in North America, although many of us wanted it. Well times have changed and President and CEO of Mazda's North American Operations Jim O'Sullivan has now confirmed to Mazda dealers that the Mazda2 will go on sale in the U.S. by the end of 2010. The Mazda2 shares its platform with the upcoming Ford Fiesta.

O'Sullivan cited that changing attitudes toward small cars in the U.S. is what made it possible for the introduction of the Mazda2. The US-spec Mazda2 is expected to debut at the 2009 LA Auto Show later this year.

Lexus has released info on the refreshed 2010 LS 600h. On the outside the LS 600h gets a new four-bar grille and new air intakes and fog lamps. The headlights have a new running light design as well and are finished in Lexus hybrid blue.

The hybrid powertrain carries over largely unchanged although there are a few updates such as a new ECO mode, which modifies the throttle action and performance of the air conditioning system to support fuel-efficient driving. The hybrid's nickel battery has also been repackaged to allow for more luggage room in the trunk. The Lexus Hybrid Drive system has been revised to meet Euro V exhaust emissions standards. The front brake pads have also been upgraded with enlarged rotors and six-piston Brembo calipers.

Infiniti is set to release a new QX56 SUV for the 2011 model year, but the large SUV was on display in the Middle East and one lucky guy managed to capture two shots of it.

Overall the 2011 QX56 is much smoother looking that the current generation. It features certain styling elements from the smaller FX. The QX56 is based on the Nissan Safari/ Patrol.

The 2011 QX56 should make its official debut at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Toyota has yet to officially release any full photos of the 2010 4Runner, but here are some photos of the body-on-frame SUV that is going to be unveiled in a few weeks.

The fifth generation 4Runner sticks to its body-on-frame roots and gets all-new styling that emphasizes this. The 2010 4Runner will be available with either a 161-hp 4-cyl or a 268-hp V6 engine. The V8 will no longer be offered.

Stay tuned for the official unveiling...

The 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour hasn't received the positive feedback that Honda was hoping...just take a look at the Facebook page dedicated to the new model. Well Honda has released some more photos of the new CUV in red, but does it look any better? Not really...

The sales numbers for August 2009 are in and thanks to the Cash for Clunkers program sales were up for a few of the automakers. Toyota, Honda and Ford saw sales increase by 10.5%, 14.2% and 17%, respectively. Although GM was down 20.2% and Chrysler by 15%.

The Toyota Camry surpassed the Ford F-Series to become the best selling vehicle in the US last month, although the F-Series also had a good month. New to the list for August was the Hyundai Elantra, likely due to increased sales from the Cash for Clunkers program. The Honda CR-V also made a return this month, surpassing the Ford Escape, which is missing this time.

* Toyota Camry: 54,396
* Ford F-Series: 45,590
* Honda Civic: 43,294
* Toyota Corolla: 43,061
* Honda Accord: 39,726
* Chevy Silverado: 32,421
* Honda CR-V: 30,284
* Nissan Altima: 26,833
* Ford Focus: 25,547
* Hyundai Elantra: 21,673

Toyota has released single shots of the vehicles it is planning on unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month.

The more exciting shot is of the Lexus LF-Ch concept which is meant to go head to head with the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 and Volvo C30. Under the hood of the concept is a version of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system.

The LF-Ch will be joined by the Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept, which Toyota claims is the first application of Toyota's full hybrid technology in a mainstream model. Toyota's other hybrid, the Prius will be unveiled in plug-in hybrid form. Lastly two Q show cars (iQ for Sports and iQ Collection) will hit the Scion stage at the show.

Honda's newest crossover the Accord Crosstour has been showing up in spy photos and has lately been teased on Facebook, but here are the first two official shots.

These two shots don't show off the prettiest car, but who knows maybe people will flock to it. What do you think? Stay tuned for more photos and info soon...

Toyota is set to release an all-new 4Runner for the 2010 model year. It's official unveiling is a month away at the State Fair of Texas on Sept 24th, but the automaker has released a single teaser photo of the new SUV.

The body-on-frame SUV is going to get all-new styling, which is more squared off than the current generation (at least what is visible from this shot). According to Toyota the fifth generation 4Runner will be "more rugged than ever." Toyota also claims that the new 4Runner will have more comfort and added roominess.

Expect more details next month.

Toyota has issued a recall of 95,700 vehicles to fix an issue with the braking system that could fail in extremely cold temperatures.

The effected vehicles are the 2009 and 2010 Corolla and Matrix and 2008-2009 Scion xD models. Toyota claims that in very low temperatures condensed moisture from the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) port may seep into the brake system vacuum port and freeze. If the moisture continues to build up ice could form on the brake system vacuum port and eventually plug the vacuum port. The accumulation of ice could eventually reduce braking performance leading to longer braking distances.

Toyota dealers will install a newly designed intake air connector which relocates the brake system vacuum port. Owners in 19 of the coldest states will begin receiving the recall notices next month.

In response to the upcoming Honda CRZ hybrid, Toyota has decided to develop a coupe version of its popular Prius. According to the latest rumors the Prius coupe is being designed in Italy, by an Italian coachbuilder. The final design is expected to be very close to the current Prius.

The production version of the Honda CRZ is expected to be unveiled this fall, with sales starting early next year. Rumors are suggesting that the Prius coupe will be unveiled sometime next year.

Toyota recently launched the new Prius, which has been such a success that the automaker has run into a shortage of batteries. Now it looks like Toyota's next new hybrid the Lexus HS 250h is also running into issues due to high demand. The Lexus HS 250h is in very high demand in Japan, which may affect the supply in the US when it is launched according to Automotive News.

Toyota had originally set a goal of selling 500 units a month of the HS 250h in Japan, but due to government-backed tax breaks and sales incentives 10,000 units were ordered in the first month. Customers in Japan are now seeing a 6 month wait for the HS 250h.

The Lexus HS 250h is scheduled to hit US dealerships next month (hopefully) with a starting price of $35,075.

The current generation Honda CR-V has been a huge success for Honda and for the 2010 model year the CR-V is set to get a mild facelift. Honda's Japanese website confirms that the new CR-V will be unveiled on September 17th, which just happens to be the first day of the Frankfurt Motor Show, but it't not known if it will debut there.

From the single photo of the new CR-V on the website its obvious that the 2010 CR-V is going to get subtle tweaks to its grille and front bumper. There are also new alloy wheels, but other than that it's not known what the other changes, if any, are.

Stay tuned...

Honda is reportedly working on a new electric vehicle to battle the Nissan LEAF and future Toyota EV. Although Honda has mainly focused on hydrogen powered models like the FCX Clarity, future tighter emissions standards and more demand for zero emissions vehicles may be forcing Honda to produce an EV.

Japan's Nikkei business daily claims that Honda's new EV is set for a debut in 2015, but a prototype is expected to be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show this October. The EV is expected to be about the size of a minicar.

Lexus has released a single teaser sketch of its upcoming hatchback that is set to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The new Lexus hatch, which is expected to use the CT name, will go head to head with the BMW 1 Series, Volvo C30 and Audi A3 in Europe. It's not known if the CT will make it to the US, especially since hatchbacks don't normally sell that well here.

Acura has released more photos and info about the upcoming ZDX crossover.

The ZDX is powered by a 300-hp 3.7L V6 that is mated to a new 6-speed auto transmission and Acura's SH-AWD system. It gets 16/22 mpg.

The four-door sports coupe was designed in California and has interesting details such as hidden rear door handles and a panoramic glass roof with automatic sunshades. Although the ZDX has a sloping rear roof line it still manages to have 26.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat and 55.3 cubic feet with the seat folded. An integrated under-floor storage area adds an extra 2.2 cubic feet.

The ZDX is going to hit dealers this coming winter. Acura has yet to release the pricing for its newest crossover.

Nissan has updated the Sentra for 2010 with a revised front fascia, new headlights and taillights and new wheels. Inside the stereo has been updated with a 4.3-inch screen and navigation is now a $400 option.

Although Nissan made some changes and additions to the 2010 model, the price has been lowered by as much as $1,080 on the SE-R models.

Haha... GM announced this morning that the Volt is going to get 230 mpg and now Nissan posts that its upcoming Leaf EV is going to get 367 mpg.

"Nissan Leaf = 367 mpg, no tailpipe, and no gas required. Oh yeah, and it'll be affordable too!"

Nissan claims its 367 mpg figure was derived by using a Department of Energy formula.

We'll have to wait and see when both vehicles are actually released.

Toyota has boosted production of the Lexus HS 250h hybrid due to strong sales in Japan. The Lexus hybrid was launched on July 14 and the automaker had only hoped to sell 500 a month, but has already received over 9,000 orders. Toyota produced 2,000 units in July, but expects to triple that number by October.

The HS 250h will launch in the US in late August or early September with a starting price of $34,200.

Sales attributed to the government's Cash for Clunkers program have topped 180,000 units. The program's existence was put in jeopardy when it blew through most of its cash within in the first week, but now it looks like another $2 billion is going to be added to the vote after a successful Senate vote. Lawmakers agreed to add additional funding to the program which should give buyers until labor day to trade in their older vehicles for new more fuel-efficient ones.

More than 80 percent of the vehicles traded in have been trucks, SUVs and vans, while 59 percent of the vehicles purchased have been passenger cars. The Toyota Corolla recently overtook the Ford Focus as the best-selling vehicle in the program. The Ford Focus holds the number two spot, while the Honda Civic comes in third.

Inifiniti has released a single teaser image of the 2011 Infiniti M that will debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on August 14th.

The image doesn't reveal much about the next-generation M other than a more swooping design that will most likely be in line with the current G and FX vehicles.

Expect more details soon...

The sales numbers for last month are just coming in and now we have the list of the top ten best-selling cars.

As expected the Ford F-150 and Toyota Camry are at the top of the list, but the surprises this time can partly be attributed to "Cash for Clunkers." The Ford Focus was the top vehicle chosen by buyers that traded in their old cars, which added it to July's top ten list. The Toyota Prius also makes an appearance at the number 10 spot.

* Ford F-Series: 36,327
* Toyota Camry: 33,974
* Honda Civic: 30,037
* Honda Accord: 29,774
* Toyota Corolla: 29,593
* Chevy Silverado: 27,617
* Ford Focus: 21,830
* Ford Escape: 20,241
* Nissan Altima: 19,252
* Toyota Prius: 19,173

There have been so many rumors about Toyota/ Subaru's upcoming RWD coupes. The latest reports are claiming that the 086A coupe is going to get a significant power drop to make it more economical with lower emissions and to be be branded as an "eco car" in Japan.

The 2.0L boxer four-cylinder is now expected to put out around 160 hp, which is 40 less than earlier reports. Even though the engine's power is being downgraded, Toyota and Subaru have managed to cut the vehicle's weight, boosting the power-to-weight ratio. Subaru no longer sells the 2.0L boxer engine in any of its US-spec models, so hopefully the US-spec 086A will also be powered by the 2.5L instead of the de-powered 2.0L.

The coupe is expected to be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show this fall, but these latest reports now make it seem like the "green" movement has stepped in and the overall buyer demographic is now going to be older than originally planned. Toyota and Subaru have reportedly revised their marketing plans to target the 30-50 year old target market. Many people in this age range will probably remember the old AE86 Corolla.

The production version is expected to be released by the end of 2011.

Honda had high hopes for the new Insight hybrid and even though the automaker claims it isn't a direct competitor to the Prius, many consider it to be. Especially the fact that it even looks like the Prius. Well it looks like the Insight is winning over very few buyers in the US. It probably has something to do with the fact that the reviews have been less than stellar and the Prius manages to get better mpg. Either way only 2,079 Insights were sold in June compared to 12,998 sales of the Prius. Honda had hoped to sell 90,000 units in its first 12 months, but at the current rate Honda will only manage to sell a third of that goal.

The one thing going for the Insight is that it starts at a lower price point than the Prius. Dealers are hoping that Honda will rework its marketing efforts to call out the price differences between the two hybrids. But it may not work since Toyota is planning on releasing a cheaper Prius that will start around $21k in September.

The Insight has managed to sell well in Japan, but Honda needs to figure something out quick in the US before the Insight is simply forgotten.

Honda, Japan's number 2 automaker posted an 88 percent fall in operating profit, due to the drop in car sales, but managed to beat expectations for a loss.

Honda posted an operating profit of 25.2 billion yen ($267 million) in the April-June quarter, compared to a 210.5 billion yen a year earlier. Honda also raised their full year forecast die to the fact that it expects sales to improve. For the year ending March 31, 2010, Honda is now forecasting an operating profit of 70 billion yen and net profit of 55 billion yen.

Nissan has tasked its engineers with the job of getting more miles for gallons out of its vehicles to attract more buyers that are interested in the government's Car Allowance Rebate System "Cash-for-Clunkers". The program offers more of an incentive for vehicles with greater efficiency.

"We want as many of our products as possible to pop up on the shopping list," Nissan North America spokesman Brian Brockman told Automotive News.

Its been rumored that Toyota has been considering a coupe version of its popular Prius hybrid and thanks to Honda's upcoming CR-Z hybrid coupe, it may become a reality.

The newest reports claim that Toyota is working on a 2+2 hybrid coupe based on the Prius that will feature an upgraded version of the 1.8L engine in the current Prius with around 136 horsepower. More horsepower obviously means that the coupe version will have slightly lower mpg numbers. The overall length of the coupe is expected to be about 100mm shorter than the regular Prius. The interior will also largely carryover.

The Prius-based coupe is expected to be released in mid-2012.

Lexus is expected to unveil a new concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show this fall and according to reports the vehicle is set to be a five-door hatchback. The hatchback is expected to be a head to head competitor with BMW's 1-series and Audi's A3.

The production version is likely to carry the 'BS' or 'CS' name and it will be powered by the same 2.4L hybrid powertrain as the HS 250 hybrid. Although it will borrow the HS powertrain it will not be built on the same platform, but it will also be front-wheel-drive.

The concept is expected to be a 90 percent match of the production model that is expected to go on sale at the end of 2010.

Subaru has unveiled the Impreza WRX STI spec C, which is lighter and more powerful than the other Impreza models. Unfortunately it is only going to be sold in Japan.

Thanks to a reprogrammed ECU, 2.0L four-cyl now puts out 304 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. Subaru lightened the car by giving it an aluminum hood, smaller battery, and new lightweight 18-inch alloy wheels. Laminar glass is also used in the front and side windows. Engineers also retuned the suspension and reinforced the chassis. A mechanical type rear limited slip differential was also added.

Subaru is only going to produce 900 units, which will only be available in Japan.

Honda is issuing a recall of model year 2001 Accords and Civics to fix an issue with the driver's side airbag. Apparently the driver's side airbag in effected vehicles could inflate with so much excessive force that it could rupture the inflator module. If the inflator is ruptured metal shards from the explosion could rip through the airbag, thereby hurting the driver and passengers.

Owners of affected 2001 Accords and Civics will be able to bring their vehicles into their nearest Honda dealer to have the inflator replaced, free of charge.

Lexus has announced the pricing for its first dedicated hybrid, the HS 250h.

The 2010 HS 250h starts at $34,200 and the premium model starts at $36,970, which prices it above the Prius, but significantly less than the Lexus GS 450h. The HS 250h is powered by a 147-hp four-cylinder engine that is mated to an electric motor for a combined output of 187 horsepower. The hybrid features four drive-modes: Normal, Power, Eco and EV. It has also received EPA-estimated ratings of 35 mpg city and 34 mpg on the highway for a combined 35 mpg on regular gasoline.

The HS 250h will start rolling into dealerships in late-August.

Honda's new president, Takanubo Ito, who took over for Takeo Fukui, recently stated that V8 engines and rear-wheel-drive are not in the automaker's near future.

"I don't think we need a classic front-engine, rear-drive car. It would be meaningless to emulate what other companies have done for more than five decades."

He also stated that, "We are considering incorporating new engines, motors, transmissions and chassis into mid- to large-sized hybrid vehicles." Fukui's plans to create V8s and a new rear-wheel-drive platform have been killed. Of course the economy probably had something to do with the decision.

Acura has officially unveiled the 2010 ZDX four-door sports coupe. The ZDX is Acura's answer to the BMW X6 and will hit dealerships this coming winter.

The ZDX is powered by a 300-hp 3.7L V6 that is mated to a six-speed automatic with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) is standard. 19-inch 7-spoke alloy wheels are also standard, which means the ZDX has the largest standard wheels in the Acura lineup.

The ZDX is available in three different package levels: ZDX, ZDX with Technology Package and the ultra premium, ZDX with Advance Package. A blind spot information system, a Collision Mitigating Braking System™ (CMBS™), and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) are standard with the Advance Package.

ZDX pricing will slot in between the MDX and RL.

Now that Ford no longer holds a significant stake in Mazda, Mazda is needs to have a new source for its upcoming hybrid vehicles. Currently the only Mazda hybrid is the Tribute that borrows its hybrid powertrain from the Ford Escape. Inside sources are now claiming that Mazda is seeking a new partner and is reportedly in talks with Toyota.

The Nikkei business daily is reporting that the two automakers are in the final stages of discussion and that an announcement is expected soon detailing the plan to supply Toyota produced hybrid components to Mazda.

Toyota and Mazda are both denying the talks.

The current Honda S2000 is officially going to end production at the end of 2009. Honda has been rumored to be working on a replacement for the past few years, but Honda has yet to release any details about the S2000's successor.

Now according to 7tune there are rumors that the successor will feature FWD and a 2nd-generation hybrid driveline that will be shared with the Accord. If this actually becomes a reality the next S2000 will share nothing with the current model expect the its name and the number of doors. The S2000 will also be a step above the new hybrid CR-Z. The hybrid S2000 will also feature a retractable hard top and is expected to go on sale in 2012.

Let's hope that these rumors aren't true...

The first photos of the revised photos of the 2010 Acura RDX have leaked onto the web or at least what looks like the new RDX.

As expected, the RDX has received the new corporate grille. The rear bumper has been revised with hexagonal exhaust outlets. It is also rumored that the 2010 RDX will for the first time be available in a two-wheel-drive version, which will be both more fuel-efficient and cheaper. The horsepower figures are expected to remain the same from the turbocharged 2.3L four-cylinder.

Expect an official unveiling soon.

Honda has announced that the six-passenger FR-V MPV is being phased out.

The last FR-V will roll off the production line in August, with no plans for a replacement. Only 13,531 FR-Vs have been sold in the UK since it went on sale in 2004. Honda expects to be able to cover the market with the Insight and Jazz (Fit).

Honda has confirmed today that the anticipated CR-Z hybrid and Fit hybrid models will enter production by the end of 2010.

The CR-Z, which looks like a spiritual successor to the much loved CRX is expected to go on sale in Japan in early 2010. The Fit hybrid is expected by the end of 2010. It's not yet known if Honda is going to bring the CR-Z to the US, but lets hope so!

Honda also announced that the automaker is currently working on a new hybrid system for mid to large size vehicles. It looks like the return of the Accord hybrid could not be far off.

Lexus just released the IS C convertible and now reports are surfacing that Lexus is working on an IS F version for release in early 2011. The IS F convertible would be powered by the same 5.0L V8 that powers the sedan version and will be aimed squarely at the BMW M3 convertible.

The SC430, which was expected to be dead soon apparently has a successor in the works. Since the hardtop convertible has been on the market for a long time, Lexus is starting with a "clean sheet of paper" and may even switch to a softtop design.

According to BestCar, there is a 55 percent chance that Mazda is going to finally unveil a RX-7 Concept at the Tokyo Motor Show this October.

If Mazda is in fact working on a new RX-7 it is expected to relieve the RX-8 of its flagship duties by becoming Mazda's flagship rotary powered car. Although the concept is expected this fall, it won't be until mid-2012 that production version will be released.

Following on the heels of Hyundai's gas promotion, Suzuki has announced its own promotion that will run for three months on the 2009 SX4 sedan and crossover models.

The program that runs from July 1st - Aug 31st provides free gas by giving buyers a prepaid gas card that should provide enough money to buy gas for up to three months. Of course this all depends on how much you drive, and the price of gas. The SX4 sedan comes with a $270 gas card and the SX4 Crossover includes a $290 card. The promotion is in addition to other rebates available.

Today is officially the start of July and with that comes the sales numbers for the month of June. While we wait for all the official numbers, here are the top ten best-selling vehicles last month:

* Ford F-Series: 35,915
* Toyota Camry: 26,394
* Chevy Silverado: 24,766
* Honda Accord: 23,995
* Honda Civic: 20,954
* Toyota Corolla: 19,935
* Ford Fusion: 18,561
* Nissan Altima: 16,350
* Ford Escape: 15,385
* Chevy Impala: 14,931

Of course the Ford F-Series continues to dominate the list. Ford as a whole also had the most top models with the F-Series, Fusion and Escape all making the list. Missing from the list is the recently redesigned Dodge Ram.

Subaru has released the fuel economy figures for the all-new 2010 Outback and even with standard AWD the wagon manages to get 29 mpg on the highway.

The Outback 2.5i CVT with its 170-hp 2.5L engine that is mated to the new Lineartronic CVT gets a combined 24 mpg and 29 mpg on the highway, which is better than many of its competitors, including the Toyota Venza and VW Passat.

Consumer Reports' recently tested the 2010 Honda Insight and after completing its series of tests, claims that the new Honda hybrid "is the most disappointing Honda Consumer Reports has tested in a long time."

The publication gave the Insight poor scores due to ride quality, handling, interior noise, acceleration, rear-seat, access and visibility.

"The Insight is a noisy, stiff-riding car with clumsy handling that is nothing like the Fit on which it is based. Also, Electronic Stability Control is only available on the highline EX version."

In terms of its raking with other small hatchbacks and wagons, the Insight came in at the 21st spot out of 22. The only thing worse than the Insight according to CR is the Dodge Caliber..ouch!

GM has announced plans to end its 25 year New United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated (NUMMI) joint venture with Toyota.

The plant currently produces the Pontiac Vibe and has produced other GM vehicles such as the Geo/Chevrolet Prizm in the past. Production of the Vibe will end at the plant in August. GM and Toyota could not come to an agreement on a product plan that made sense for both parties.

It's not known what this announcement will mean for the Fremont, CA plant that also produces the Toyota Corolla and Tacoma.

More bad news for Detroit's automakers, a new study from Grant Thornton LLP's Corporate Advisory and Restructuring Service estimates that by 2012 they will produce less vehicles on US soil than their Asian and European competitors.

Although domestic automakers are expected to return to profitability by 2012, their production will be outpaced by import automakers like Toyota, VW, Hyundai and Honda. The estimated projection is that domestic automakers will reduce production in the US by 35 percent, while import automakers will increase US production by 20 percent. The final total from Chrysler, Ford and GM is estimated at 7.5 million with all other automakers coming in at a combined 8 million units.

Grant Thornton Principal Kimberly Rodriguez stated "Suppliers largely dependent on Detroit OEMs will have to present a new value equation to potential customers from Europe and Asia if they want to participate in the accelerated shift that is coming."

J.D. Power and Associates has released its 2009 Initial Quality Study (IQS) with Lexus taking the lead this year with only 84 problems per 100 vehicles.

This year's top five nameplates were Lexus followed by Porsche, Cadillac, Hyundai and Honda. Hyundai managed to move up to the number 4 spot from 13th position in 2008 and Cadillac moved up from the 10th spot in 2008.

Suzuki managed to have the most gains this year moving up to the 9th spot from the 32nd spot last year.

The study also claims that domestic automakers improved their quality by 10 percent compared to 2008, which is higher than the 8 percent industry average.

Last summer Toyota decided to kill the slow-selling Camry Solara Coupe, but continued production of the drop-top version. Production of the drop-top Solara stopped in December, but Toyota had hoped to restart production.

"I think there was some hope that eventually during the spring/summer months the market would bear a need," says TEMA spokesman Rick Hesterberg. "We kept the tooling, just waiting to see, but that never came to fruition."

It was originally planned that the Solara Convertible would remain in production for another two years since Toyota did not have any other convertibles in its lineup. Apparently there were also some buyers that still desired the car.

Infiniti has announced the pricing for the 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible. The G37 Convertible starts at $43,850 and the G37 Convertible Sport 6MT starts at $43,900.

The first ever G37 Convertible features a three-piece folding hardtop and is powered by a 325-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 mated to either a 7-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmission.

The 2009 G37 Convertible will be available on June 19th.

According to the newest reports Honda is set to release the hybrid version of its popular Fit by the fall of 2010, which is about a year and a half earlier than was originally planned.

Honda had previously announced plans to release three new hybrids by 2012, following the release of the Insight earlier this year. The production version of the much-anticipated CR-Z will be released sometime early next year followed by the Fit hybrid and then eventually an all-new Civic hybrid.

The Insight was launched in Japan in February and has become the first hybrid to ever hold the top sales spot in Japan. Japan's Nikkei is reporting that the Fit hybrid will start around 1.5 million yen ($15,800) with annual sales of over 50,000 vehicles.

Mitsubishi has announced the introduction of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ-400 for the uk market.

The new Lancer flagship is now the fastest version with 403 horsepower and 387 lb-ft. of torque pumping out of its 2.0L MIVEC engine. Mitsubishi estimates that the FQ-400 will reach 0-62 mph in 3.8 seconds and have a top speed of 155 mph. All that power is put to the ground through Mitsubishi's Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) four-wheel-drive system.

The FQ-400 also features a wider track, lowered suspension and lightweight 18-inch alloy wheels.

The most powerful Evolution X will be released in the UK next month with a starting price of £49,999.

The Honda S2000 has been on the market since the 2000 model year, but at the end of this year we will have to say goodbye to Honda's only sports car. Honda has announced that the 2009 model year will be the last.

Japan's Best Car is reporting that in addition to the production version of the CR-Z hybrid coupe, Honda is also working on a larger, more powerful coupe that would essentially act as the replacement for the S2000. According to Best Car the replacement would be a 2+2 coupe that would feature Honda's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system (SH-AWD) instead of the current rear-wheel-drive setup.

In addition to the 2+2 setup and SH-AWD system, it is being reported that the coupe will feature a hybrid system similar to that in the Civic and Insight hybrids.

Toyota has received 75,000 orders for the all-new Prius according to the Nikkei business daily, which means its going to be a fierce battle between the new Prius and the Honda Insight.

The Honda Insight was launched in Japan in February and in three months Honda has sold almost 20,000 units, which has surpassed Honda's initial goals. The Insight was also Japan's best-selling vehicle last month.

The new Prius will be on sale here later this month with a starting price of $21,750 including destination fees.

Last year Inside Line reported that Nissan was working on a convertible version of its Murano crossover...many of us didn't believe the rumors. A Murano convertible? Right!

Well now Inside Line has received confirmation from sources that Nissan is still working on the Murano convertible and that it will hit dealerships before the summer of 2010. The Murano convertible is being aimed at empty nesters that need a little extra room. It will feature a soft top.

The 2011 Murano convertible will feature two less doors than the current Murano and will be powered by the same 265-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 mated to a continuously variable transmission.

It looks like Suzuki has stopped production of its only US-produced model, the XL7. Due to slow sales and the credit crisis, Suzuki has decided to halt production of the US-only crossover.

The XL7 was produced at General Motors' CAMI joint-venture facility in Ingersoll, Ontario. Although no other XL7s are going to roll off the production line, the factory is still up and running.

Toyota has announced that the automaker will cut production this year by 28 percent to its lowest level in seven years.

Slow sales mean that Toyota will produce 6.68 million vehicles in 2009, down from 9.24 million in 2008.

"We expect the severe conditions to continue this year," said Toyota spokeswoman Ryoko Nishinohara.

Toyota also expects the fiscal year ending in March 2010 to be its worst year ever, forecasting a net loss of $5.7 billion (550 billion yen). In contrast in the fiscal year ending in March 2008, Toyota had a record profit of 1.72 trillion yen.

Honda has announced that the new Insight hybrid was Japan's best selling vehicle in the month of April 2009.

Honda managed to move 10,481 units making the Insight the first hybrid to ever top the sales charts in Japan (Toyota must not be happy). The Insight was introduced on February 6, 2009. It managed to move to the top spot in April up from the 21st best-selling vehicle in March.

The Honda Fit/ Jazz was Japan's best-selling vehicle until the Insight knocked it out of its top spot, thereby pushing it down to the number 2 spot. This is the first time that Honda has managed to occupy the two best-selling car positions in Japan.

Subaru has announced the pricing for the 2010 Subaru Outback.

The 2010 Subaru Outback 2.5i starts at $22,995, which is the same price as the outgoing model plus destination charges.

Just like the equally new Legacy, the new Outback is roomier with seven percent more interior volume. Rear legroom increases almost four inches and total cargo capacity is now 71.3 cubic feet, which is an increase of six cubic feet.

The Outback 2.5i is powered by a 170-hp 2.5L boxer engine that is mated to either a six-speed manual or a CVT. The Outback 2.5i equipped with the CVT starts at $23,995.

The 2010 Outback 3.6R replaces the Outback 3.0R model and features a 256-hp 3.6L boxer engine that is mated to either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission. The Outback 3.6R starts at $27,995, which is $4,000 cheaper than the old 3.0R.

Subaru has announced the pricing for the all-new 2010 Subaru Legacy.

The 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5i equipped with the 6-speed manual starts at $19,995 plus a destination charge of $695, which according to Subaru is $800 less than the last year's model.

The new Legacy is larger than the outgoing model with a longer wheelbase that adds an extra four inches of rear seat legroom.

The Legacy 2.5GT that is powered by a 265-hp turbocharged engine starts at 28,690 (including dest.) For those that would rather have six-cylinders under the hood, the 265-hp Legacy 3.6R starts at $25,690, which is a $1,600 reduction over the 09' model.

Lexus has announced the pricing for the 2010 Lexus RX450h and Lexus IS250C and IS350C.

The RX450h hybrid starts at $41,660 for the FWD model and the AWD starts at $43,250. The RX 450h is powered by a 3.5L Atkinson V6 engine mated to a hybrid system that puts out a total 295 horsepower. The FWD model achieves 32 mpg city and 28 mpg highway while the AWD achieves 30 mpg city and 28 mpg on the highway.

The convertible version of the IS is powered by the same 204-hp 2.5L V6 and 306-hp 3.5L V6 as the sedan. It features a three-panel roof that opens in 20 seconds. The IS250C starts at $38,490 with the six-speed manual, the IS250C with the six-speed automatic transmission starts at $39,660 and the IS350C starts at $43,940.

The IS250C and IS350C will be available in late May and the RX450h will be available in mid-summer.

Toyota has announced the pricing for the all-new 2010 Toyota Prius that will hit showrooms late next month.

The third-generation Prius starts at $21,000 and will be offered in five trim levels.

The 2010 Prius is powered by a 1.8L Atkinson-cycle, four cylinder engine that puts out 98 horsepower. Combined with the electric motor, the new Prius puts out a combined 134 horsepower, which is 24 more than the old model. Fuel economy ratings are 51 city/ 48 highway and 50 mpg combined.

Ford has released a new study today that claims that the automaker's initial quality is better than Honda and that it is now in a tie with Toyota.

According to the 2009 U.S. Global Quality Research System (GQRS) survey conducted quarterly for Ford by RDA Group of Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Ford is now statistically tied with Toyota at the top of the industry in initial vehicle quality.

The survey measured two things, the number of things gone wrong and customer satisfaction with vehicle quality over the first three months of ownership.

Ford's initial quality has improved five percent over last year.

Apparently a time of 7:29 wasn't fast enough around the famed Nurburgring for the Nissan GT-R, so Nissan engineers went to work on the 2010 model to make it even faster.

The engineers returned with a 2010 GT-R which features five extra horsepower, a revised dual-clutch transmission with updated launch control, a bigger fuel tank, retuned suspension and new tires. The updates were enough to lower the time to an astonishing 7min 27.56 secs.

Nissan claims that the time was posted using a 2010 GT-R with V-spec wheels and tires. The time is still slower than the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1’s 7:26.40.

Toyota unveiled the A-BAT Concept last year and according to sources it had been given the green light, but thanks to the current state of the auto industry, plans have been put on hold.

The Advanced Breakthrough Aero Truck "A-BAT" featured a unibody platform and hybrid powertrain in a small compact pickup truck. The concept also featured a cab forward design to maximize rear cargo space.

“We have a lot of top priorities right now, and A-BAT isn’t one of them,” Bob Carter, Toyota Motor Sales USA vice president and general manager, said at the New York auto show. “The market has changed dramatically over the last 12 months. We always keep reprioritizing – under good economic or recessionary times – what our planning is. [For now], it’s on the shelf.”

One of the main factors for the reason to put the model on hold probably has to do with the decline in new truck sales.

Following the unveiling of the all-new 2010 Subaru Legacy, Subaru has also taken the wraps off the equally new 2010 Subaru Outback.

The all-new Outback gets pretty much the same changes as the Legacy, which means a larger exterior that is 2 inches wider with a 2.8 inch longer wheelbase. Interior volume is up 8 cubic feet and there is almost an extra 4 inches of rear legroom.

The new Outback is available with either a 170-hp 2.5L 4-cyl that can be mated to either a 6-speed manual transmission or Subaru's Lineartronic CVT or a new 256-hp 3.6L 6-cyl that is mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission.

Acura officially unveiled the ZDX prototype at the New York Auto Show today. The new four-door sports coupe is obviously aimed squarely at the BMW X6.

Acura hasn't released the official details of the production ZDX that will be in showrooms this fall. It will be powered by a V6 engine that will be mated to a new 6-speed automatic transmission. The ZDX will also feature Acura's SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive) system.

The ZDX that will be in showrooms this fall will look basically the same as this prototype.

Mitsubishi is set to unveil the Outlander GT Prototype at the New York Auto Show next week.

The Outlander GT Prototype features a "Jet Fighter" grille that is very similar to that of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. It also features a host of new technologies like Idle Neutral Logic, which automatically shifts the transmission into neutral when the vehicle is stopped. The 3.0L MIVEC V6 is also more powerful and has improved fuel economy and is mated to the Super-All-Wheel-Control System.

Toyota is reportedly cutting the price of the new Prius in Japan to be more competitive with its newest competitor the Honda Insight.

According to reports, Toyota has told its dealerships that Prius would be set at 2.05 million yen, which translates to about $20,750 U.S. In the U.S. the Honda Insight starts at $20,450, but the Prius has more room and better fuel economy, but a fully-loaded Prius goes for over $30K. Additionally Toyota is going to keep selling the current generation Prius alongside the new generation in Japan. The outgoing Prius starts even lower at 1.89 million yen ($19,130 US).

U.S. pricing for the Prius has yet to be announced, but if Toyota lowers the price here as well the hybrid wars could get even more crazy.

For the first time ever, an automotive brand has received top safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS for every vehicle in its lineup and that title goes to the Acura brand.

"No other automotive brand has accomplished what Acura has, nor can make the safety claims that Acura can," said John Mendel, executive vice president of automobile sales. "When consumers think safety, they really should think Acura."

Acura's safety scores are a direct result of Acura's "Safety Through Innovation" initiative that is based on the brand's commitment to leadership in safety.

Of course March sales were down last month compared to March 2008 with GM down 45 percent. For the most part most of the major automakers posted a better month than February, but the sales were still dismal.

Here's the list of the top ten best-selling vehicles last month. Of course most of the same models are listed:

-Ford F-Series: 32,728
-Toyota Camry: 25,783
-Chevy Silverado: 23,508
-Honda Accord: 22,722
-Toyota Corolla: 22,257
-Honda Civic: 20,645
-Nissan Altima: 19,521
-Dodge Ram: 19,328
-Chevy Malibu: 14,772
-Honda CR-V: 12,959

Hard times aren't only hitting GM and Chrysler, even Honda is being hit hard during this economic downturn.

Honda has announced that it will cut production in North America by 62,000 units by shutting down factories for 13 days starting in May. In addition the automaker is going to cut pay for salaried and factory workers. Honda has also offered buyouts and early retirement incentives to most of its 32,400 workers in the United States and Canada.

Previously Honda, just like Toyota would pay its workers even when it shut down its factories to reduce inventories. This time Honda claims that hourly workers will not be paid for 6 of the 13 days. Salaried workers are also going to see their paychecks reduced. Bonuses to both hourly and salaried workers are also being reduced or eliminated.

Subaru has unveiled the all-new 2010 Legacy that will have its official unveiling at the New York Auto Show next week.

The all-new Legacy encompasses styling of the outgoing model combined with the concept that was shown in Detroit. The 2010 Legacy grows an inch longer, 3.5 inches wider and 3 inches taller to make it more competitive with other midsize sedans.

The 2010 Legacy has three engine choices: 170 hp, normally aspirated 2.5L 4-cyl; 265 hp, turbocharged 2.5L 4-cyl (up 22 hp); 256 hp, 3.6L 6-cyl. There are also three transmission options: a six-speed manual, five-speed automatic and a new CVT.

Acura has officially announced the ZDX name for its upcoming "four-door sport coupe" prototype that will be unveiled at the 2009 New York Auto Show.

"The ZDX prototype is unlike anything you have ever seen before from Acura," said Jeff Conrad, vice president, Acura sales. "The prototype showcases a new level of luxury, style and refinement for Acura and speaks volumes towards our commitment to advancing the brand."

The production version of the ZDX...Acura's X6-fighter will be released this fall.

Mazda announced today that it is working on a new diesel engine that will be as fuel-efficient as some hybrids in 2011 as part of its plans to improve fuel mileage without the aid of expensive electrical systems.

Mazda has set a target of raising its global car fleet's fuel economy by 30 percent by 2015. It plans on doing so by relying on advances in internal combustion engines, automatic transmissions and through weight reduction.

The diesel engine that Mazda is working on is a 2.0L engine that would be as fuel efficient as a 660cc microcar or a mild-hybrid.

"We believe that improving today's conventional engines at a low cost is the most effective way to get fuel-efficient cars to proliferate," R&D Chief Seita Kanai told reporters in Tokyo.

According to Toyota tighter emissions regulations in the future could mean that the costs to clean diesel emissions from engines will be near or more expensive than gasoline-hybrid technology.

Kanai states that Mazda's diesel technology will cost less due to its proprietary single-nanotechnology, which reduces the use of precious metals in emission cleaning catalysts, and a new diesel particulate filter that means there will be no the need for expensive after treatment parts.

Mazda also plans on reducing the weight of its vehicles by 10 percent after 2011 and another 10 percent or more after 2016.

After weeks of speculation about a new low-cost Toyota hybrid, it's finally been confirmed that Toyota is indeed working on a new cheaper hybrid that will fit in below the Prius.

The new hybrid is going to use the same Hybrid Synergy drivetrain as the new Prius installed in the Yaris platform. This is obviously an answer to the Honda Insight that is cheaper than the Prius. Honda is also planning a hybrid Fit, so the new Yaris-based hybrid would also go head to head with that vehicle.

Toyota's new cheaper hybrid could be on the market by 2011 at the earliest.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has launched a new roof strength rating system and has chosen to put 12 small SUVs up to the test.

More than 10,000 people are killed a year in rollovers and SUVs rank higher compared to cars and minivans.

In the Institute's roof strength test, a metal plate is pushed against 1 side of a roof at a constant speed. To earn a good rating, the roof must withstand a force of 4 times the vehicle's weight before reaching 5 inches of crush. This is called a strength-to-weight ratio. For an acceptable rating, the minimum required strength-to-weight ratio is 3.25. A marginal rating value is 2.5. Anything lower than that is poor.

Only 4 of the small SUVs earned the top rating of good: VW Tiguan, Subaru Forester, Honda Element and Jeep Patriot. the VW Tiguan had the strongest roof out of all the SUVs tested. The Suzuki Grand Vitara, Chevrolet Equinox, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, and Mitsubishi Outlander are rated acceptable. Roofs on the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape are marginal, and the Kia Sportage received a poor rating.

The latest reports claim that Toyota and Subaru's on/off again jointly developed sports car is back on. According to L'Automobile Toyota is going to revive the Celica name for the Toyota version of the coupe.

L'Automobile claims that Thierry Dombreval, Toyota's VP of sales and marketing in France released the details on the name of the new coupe. No other source has released any details, so we'll have to wait and see if Toyota is actually going to revive the Celica.

Nissan/ Infiniti has been slow to jump on the hybrid bandwagon with the firm's only hybrid being the Altima hybrid, which borrows its hybrid components from Toyota. Well according to a report by the Nikkei business daily in Japan, Nissan/Infiniti is going to release its first in-house hybrid in 2010 as the Infiniti M hybrid.

The hybrid system that will be offered in the Infiniti M differs from conventional hybrid systems since it will be powered by lithium-ion batteries that have more power and quicker recharge times. In addition the hybrid system features one electric motor and two clutches that allows both the engine and electric motor to power the rear wheels at the same time. The hybrid version of the M is expected to be more performance oriented.

Nissan plans to extend its hybrid offerings to other Infiniti models and sports cars.

According to Auto Express the once loved MR2 is making a comeback, but not as the small mid-engined roadster like the last generation. Instead Toyota is going to apply the MR2 name to a new performance hybrid that would be similar to the upcoming Honda CR-Z.

The small coupe would feature rear-wheel-drive, a paddleshift gearbox and a specially developed version of the Prius’s hybrid powertrain.

Toyota executive vice president Masatami Takimoto recently told Auto Express: “We are aware of the fondness with which the MR2 is held in the UK and Europe, and are developing a small hybrid sports car.

“We have set a tough price point (expected to be around £20,000), as it will be easier to sell if it is affordable. It has to be fun to drive, too, which means the hybrid set-up must be different to the Prius’s, with greater responsiveness.”

It's also rumored that the revived MR2 hybrid will draw styling cues from the Toyota FT-HS sports car concept.

After much speculation, Scion has officially announced the introduction of a micro-subcompact concept car at the 2009 New York International Auto Show.

The concept is supposed to represent a new segment for the brand and is largely expected to be a Scion badged version of the Toyota iQ. It's also expected that the production version will be dubbed the Scion tD.

Stay tuned...

In 2008 Nissan confirmed that the Maxima would receive a 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel, that was developed by Renault for the US market. The original plans saw the introduction of the diesel-powered Maxima being released later this year. But now it looks like those plans have either been delayed or scrapped altogether.

A Nissan spokesman told AutoObserver there is "no official word yet," regarding Nissan's maintaining the U.S. launch for diesel-powered 2010 Maxima. The spokesman would also not deny that it was being in fact delayed or that if it was actually being canceled.

"We're reviewing our mid-term product plans right now [some to be delayed, some potentially canceled], but nothing in concrete as yet," the spokesman added, saying the company's U.S. arm "should have some clarity in the coming weeks."

Other automakers have also recently announced plans to delay or cancel their own diesel programs in the US. Acura has delayed, possibly indefinitely the diesel-powered TSX. GM also announced plans to discontinue development on a new V8 diesel that was to be used in light trucks and SUVs.

Acura has released a few teaser images of its new crossover concept that is going to be unveiled at the New York Auto Show.

The crossover concept features styling that is very similar to the controversial BMW X6. That means its most likely a four-door coupe-like crossover.

Expect more details soon....

For years Toyota and Honda have been able to boast that their vehicles retain their value longer than their many of their competitors due to their higher perceived quality, but times are changing.

At the end of 2008 a three-year old Toyota was worth 46.5% of its value compared to 50.5% two years earlier. Critics are suggesting that the reason Toyota's residuals are dropping is due to a growing awareness of quality issues. Large SUV and truck values have been hit very hard across the industry and Toyota is no exception with values dropping from over 60% to 45.4%. Tundra residual values have managed to drop from 59.5% a year ago to 40.1%. Tundra residual values are still higher than the Silverado and F-150 at 39.8% and 32.2% respectively.

The main issue for automakers is that residual values are tied to lease rates. Monthly payments for leased vehicles are largely based on their expected residual value. When a vehicle loses more of its value than expected, the automaker has to eat that loss.

Infiniti hit the Geneva Motor Show head on today with the unveiling of the Essence Concept, which combines sexy coupe bodywork with a "green" drivetrain.

The Essence Concept is a front-engined, two-seater. It features a 3.7L V6 engine mated to an electric motor that has been dubbed the 3D Motor. The combined output is 592 horsepower ( 434 from the V6 and 158 from the electric motor).

The styling of the Essence Concept draws cues from the current Infiniti lineup, but in a much sexier way. The assymetrical two-seat interior features a driver focused interior with two distinct cocoons. The driver's side is black, while the passenger's "cocoon" is an earthy red.

The EPA has officially rated the 2010 Toyota Prius at 50 mpg combined fuel-economy rating.

According to Toyota the all-new Prius offers more power, room, performance and better mileage. The 2010 Prius is powered by a 1.8L 4-cylinder that puts out 98 hp. Combined with the electric motor, the Prius puts out a total of 134 horsepower, which is 24 more than the last generation.

For the first time the Prius offers three different driving modes. EV Mode allows driving on the battery alone for up to a mile. Power Mode increases throttle sensitivity, giving the Prius a slightly sportier feel. Eco Mode helps drivers achieve better gas mileage.

The 2010 Prius will be on sale next month.

Stay tuned for the pricing.

Toyota unveiled the iQ last year with an impressive 65.7 mpg, 55 mpg in the US. But a not so impressive 67 horsepower. So Toyota is bringing a more powerful version to the Geneva Motor Show next week.

The more powerful iQ will be powered by a 99 horsepower 1.3L VVTi engine with 58.9 mpg (49 in the US) when mated to the six-speed manual transmission. When the engine is mated to the Multidrive automatic transmission it gets 55.4 mpg (46 mpg in the states).

The more powerful iQ will be on sale in Europe this July.

Subaru and Toyota have reportedly been working on a pair of small RWD compact coupes that were going to be released by the end of 2011. Now it looks like the project has been put on indefinite hold due to the economy.

The 2+2 compact coupe was expected to use a version of the Subaru Impreza's platform, including the horizontally opposed boxer engine and transmission. The Subaru and Toyota versions would have had different exterior designs.

Honda has just released the Insight Hybrid in Japan and the demand has been higher than expected (almost three times its monthly target).

"The response has been overwhelming,” Hiroshi Kobayashi, Honda’s deputy chief operating officer told Automotive News. “We will have to increase production plans.”

Honda is planning on launching the Insight in Europe and the U.S. over the next two months. Over half of the planned 200,000 units are expected for North America. In April Honda is planning on increasing the production of its Prius fighter. Kobyashi did not state how many extra units Honda is going to produce.

When the Insight is launched in the US in April, it is expected to start under $20K.

Nissan is planning on entering the small van market with the introduction of the NV200 at the Geneva Motor Show next week.

The NV200 will be offered in three configurations: cargo van, 7-passenger van and a Combi version for people and cargo.

The NV200 is built on a modified version of Nissan's B Platform and will be powered by either a 1.6L gas engine or a Renault-sourced 1.5L diesel engine. It will launch in Japan this summer and Europe this fall.

Toyota has unveiled the HC-CV (Hybrid Camry Concept Vehicle) at the 2009 Melbourne Motor Show.

Next year Toyota Australia is going to begin local production of the Camry Hybrid and to publicize it, Toyota has created the HC-CV for the show. The concept is basically the 2010 Camry Hybrid wish a modified front fascia, new wheels, decals and new leather seats with a wave-like graphic reminiscent of the Hybrid Synergy Drive logo.

Mazda has announced the pricing for the all-new 2010 Mazda3.

The new Mazda3 starts at $15,045, which is only $355 more than the 09' model. The 2.0L 4-door Mazda3 i Touring starts at $18,350 and includes Bluetooth, Dynamic Stability Control, and Traction Control. The 4-door Mazda3 s Sport starts at $19,540 and the 5-door starts at $20,030. The Mazda3 s Sport features a 167 hp 2.5L engine, 17-inch alloy wheels, and a Multi-Information Display (MID) with 4.1-inch monochromatic screen.

The fully-loaded Mazda3 s Grand Touring 4-door starts $240 less than the 09' model.

Toyota unveiled a slightly revised 2010 Toyota Camry at the Detroit Auto Show last month and now the pricing for the best-selling car in the U.S. has been announced. The 2010 Toyota Camry starts at $20,115, which includes a handling fee of $720.

The 2010 Camry gets a new front fascia, which includes a new bumper, grille and lower intakes. The base 4-cylinder is now a 2.5L that puts out 169 horsepower in the standard, LE and XLE grades. The 4-cylinder SE puts out 179 horsepower.

Honda has finally addressed a big issue with the Acura TSX, a lack of power with a new more powerful engine. It's not the small turbocharged engine from the RDX that would have been fun, but instead the 2010 TSX will now have an optional 3.5L V6.

The 2010 Acura TSX will now be available with a 280 horsepower 3.5L V6, which is most likely the same 3.5L offered in the Accord. When you check off the V6 option box you also get new 18" wheels, a slightly revised front fascia and a retuned suspension.

Unfortunately the TSX is still not available with the SH-AWD system that's offered on the TL and RL.

Acura claims that the 2010 TSX is the first of many changes for the 2010 model year, Acura plans on revising all of its models for the new year.

While most of the automotive press is focusing their attention on the Chicago Auto Show, Mazda chose to unveil the refreshed 2010 Mazda CX-7 at the 2009 Canadian International Auto Show.

For the 2010 model year the CX-7 gets a new base engine: a 161 horsepower 2.5L naturally aspirated 4-cylinder, which is the same engine offered in the Mazda6 and 2010 Mazda3. On the outside the CX-7 receives refreshed front and rear fascias and on the inside there new gauges and higher quality materials. A Blind Spot Monitoring system is also available.

Slow sales of 2008 models and remaining inventory have forced some automakers to not release certain models for the 2009 model year.

Last week it was announced that GM was not going to release a 09' Saturn Astra due to high inventory levels and now Mitsubishi is going to do the same thing with its Lancer Evolution.

According to Mitsubishi spokeswomen Christine Jew, there were no changes planned for the 2009 model year and there are enough 2008 units available to last until the 2010 model is released later this year.

Although there is still a significant number of 2008 Lancer Evos available sales were up 50.9% in 2008.

There are a few minor changes in store for the 2010 Lancer Evolution.

The sales numbers from last month have been released and they are not good. Nearly every major automaker was down in January compared to January 08'.

Chrysler lead the pact with a 55 percent drop last month. GM's sales were off by 49 percent and Ford declined 40 percent.

Japan's major automakers didn't escape the dismal auto sales with Toyota being down 32 percent, Nissan's sales were down 30 and Honda's were off by 28 percent.

The news wasn't bad for everyone though with Subaru posting an 8 percent increase, its second month in the row of sales increases. Hyundai also posted a 14 percent sales increase. Hyundai attributed its sales improvement to its new program which will take a owner's car back if they lose their job in the first 12 months of ownership.

"This program gets to the root cause of today's economic concerns — fear of job loss," Hyundai regional general manager Peter DiPersia said in a statement.

Consumer Reports' has announced that the 2009 Honda Fit has managed to outscore its competitors, which includes the Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa, Chevrolet Aveo and Suzuki SX4.

Consumer Reports' tested six subcompacts and small sedans for its March issue. The Honda Fit which is all-new for 2009 received CR's top rating due to its roomy, versatile and flexible interior. CR also noted the Fit's fun to drive character and its good fuel economy.

The Fit and Suzuki SX4 are the only two vehicles in the test that are "recommended" by CR. The Nissan Versa's reliability, which is below average for the sedan kept it from receiving the publication's recommendation. The Chevy Aveo and Toyota Yaris also scored too low in CR's tests.

Mazda has announced the introduction of two new Mazda3 models at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.

First is the 2010 Mazda3 MPS, which is known as the Mazdaspeed3 in the U.S. The more exciting version of the Mazda3 will feature the same 2.3 DISI turbo engine as the current Mazdaspeed3, but its not yet known if it will feature more power.

The second model to be unveiled is the Mazda3 i-stop is powered by a MZR 2.0 DSI (Direct-injection Spark Ignition) engine and features a fuel-saving stop/start system. The setup yields a 12 percent improvement in city fuel economy than the current Euro-spec. Mazda3.

Toyota unveiled the all-new 2010 Toyota Prius at the Detroit Auto Show last month. Initially the new Prius will only be offered with the current nickel-metal hydride batteries, but sometime in 2010 a plug-in Prius will be introduced.

According to Bill Reinert, Toyota Motor Sales USA’s national alternative-fuel vehicle manager, the Prius plug-in hybrid has been averaging 65 mpg in combined gas and electic mode testing.

“That is real-world driving,” Reinert told Automotive News. “I ask my guys to drive them as you drive your normal Prius.”

The non plug-in hybrid 2010 Prius gets an estimated combined 50 mpg.

Mitsubishi has officially confirmed that the five-door Lancer Sportback will be available in the U.S. this summer as a 2010 model.

The five-door Lancer Sportback shares everything with the sedan variant from the C-pillar forward. Behind the C-pillar the Sportback gets a unique rear end. The overall length is slightly longer than the sedan and offers more cargo carrying capacity.

The version to have is the Sportback Ralliart that is powered by a 237 horsepower 2.0L turbocharged MIVEC engine. All-wheel-drive is standard as well as the six-speed Twin Clutch-Sportronic Shift Transmission (TC-SST).

Pricing will be announced closer to the Sportback's on sale date.

Honda has officially announced that 2009 will be the final model year for the Honda S2000.

The S2000 was originally introduced in 1999 as a 2000 model.

"The S2000 is a sports car designed by enthusiasts for enthusiasts," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "It raised the bar for all future roadsters, and it's already considered a classic by many Honda fans."

So sad....

Honda currently has the Pilot, CR-V and Element crossovers in its lineup, none of which are more stylish like the Nissan Murano or new Toyota Venza. Well that will change this fall with the introduction of a new crossover to Honda's lineup.

Development vehicles wearing the US Accord front end mated to the European Honda Accord Tourer have been caught testing. The ride height has been increased and its obvious that the car has a rear differential, which means the car will be available with Honda's VTM-4 AWD system. The body also has new fender flares that indicate that the track has been widened slightly from that of the Accord.

It's not known what will power the new Accord based CUV, but its expected that the 4-cyl and V6 engines from the Accord will be available. Maybe even the 2.3L turbo from the Acura RDX.

Honda's newest crossover will start production in the 4th quarter of this year and will slot between the CR-V and Pilot in Honda's lineup.

Toyota officially unveiled the all-new 2010 Prius at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this month. Japan’s Nikkei is now claiming that Toyota is going to keep the current Prius in production even when the next-gen is launched later this year.

The main reason for possibly keeping the current Prius alive is because Honda also unveiled their new hybrid, the Insight and its going to start at a lower price point than even the current Prius. The next-gen Prius is expected to go up in price and if Toyota were to continue producing the current Prius, the automaker could remain competitive. Toyota plans gutting the interior of the current Prius to make it even cheaper.

Toyota's press office in Tokyo refused to respond to the Nikkei story. "We don't comment on future models."

Japan's number 2 automaker has announced plans to cut its workforce in Japan and to further reduce production.

Honda is cutting all of its remaining temporary workforce, which is approximately 3,100 workers. The automaker had already cut 1,200 temporary jobs.

In addition Honda has announced plans to reduce production in demand by another 56,000 units. Honda now plans on producing 1.168 million vehicles in Japan for the fiscal year ending March, down from its initial plan of 1.31 million vehicles.

Nissan has also announced plans to reduce its temporary workforce to zero by March and Toyota is going to cut its numbers by half.

Toyota has announced plans to further cut its production in order to bring its inventory levels under control. The automaker wants to reduce its current inventory by half.

“This is a tough environment, and it may continue for a while,” said Jim Wiseman, vice president of external affairs for Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America.

Toyota's Jim Lentz recently told the Automotive News that inventory levels should be in line with demand by May.

Toyota announced plans earlier this month to idle its plants in Japan for 11 days in February and March due to the declining U.S. demand.

Toyota, not to be outdone by Honda unveiled the third-generation Prius and Lexus' first dedicated hybrid the HS 250h at the Detroit Auto Show this week.

During the unveiling of the 2010 Prius, Toyota provided more details about its current hybrid plans. Toyota plans on selling 1 million hybrids per year sometime in 2010. In order to reach its lofty goal, Toyota is planning on introducing 10 new hybrid models by 2010. Two of them are the new Prius and HS 250h.

In addition to launching 10 new hybrids, Toyota also announced the introduction of 500 Prius plug-in hybrids that will be globally leased later this year. The plan was originally planned for 2010. Out of the 500 lithium-ion powered plug-ins 150 are destined for the U.S.

The 500 plug-in Prius will be used for market and engineering analysis.

Lexus officially unveiled its first dedicated hybrid, the 2010 HS 250h at the Detroit Auto Show this month.

The HS 250h is expected in U.S. showrooms this summer, but it looks like Europe is not going to be getting the new hybrid.

“The HS 250h is intended mainly for North America and Japan, sales are not currently planned for Europe,” said Serge Gachot, head of Toyota Motor Europe marketing communications.

Other sources are saying that one of the main reasons for not selling the car in Europe is because its CO2 emissions are very close to the IS 220d.

The 2010 Lexus HS 250h shares some of its mechanicals with the new Prius and is powered by Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system, mated to a 187-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Overall the HS 250h is slightly longer than the IS and a little wider than the ES.

The Japan Automobile Manufacturers' Association (JAMA) is in the middle of discussions about the fate of this year's Tokyo Motor Show.

The current state of the global economy and the fact that some automakers have not signed on for the show have forced JAMA to reconsider the show this year.

“A couple companies are not in favor of organizing the show under these conditions, but that is not JAMA’s opinion,” Toshihiro Iwatake, JAMA’s executive director and secretary general, told Automotive News.

Toyota officially unveiled the 2010 Toyota Prius at the Detroit Auto Show today.

The third-generation Prius is larger, more powerful and gets better gas mileage than the last generation. For starters the Prius engine has been enlarged from 1.5L to 1.8L. It's also notable that the engine is the first Toyota powerplant to not use any belts (the water pump is now electric). Although the engine has been enlarged, the Prius now gets a combined mpg rating of 50 mpg, which is up from the 46 mpg rating of the last generation.

The overall styling of the new Prius is easily recognizable as a Prius, but with slightly more aggressive styling than the last generation. The new Prius also has the world's lowest coefficient of drag (Cd) at .25.

For the first time a moonroof is available with roof mounted solar panels that power the ventilation system. The system helps keep the car cool even when it is off, which helps reduce the stress on the air conditioning system once the car is in use.

Pricing has yet to be announced, but the 2010 Prius will be in showrooms this spring.

Honda has officially took the wraps off the 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid at the Detroit Auto Show.

In addition to finally seeing the production version of the Insight, we now also know what kind of gas mileage its going to get. The EPA has officially certified the Insight at 40/43 mpg (city/highway). The Insight is powered by a 1.3L 4-cylinder engine mated to a 13 horsepower electric motor.

The Insight will reach showrooms in April and have a starting price lower than the Civic Hybrid.

Toyota has unveiled the revised the 2010 Toyota Camry in Detroit.

For 2010 the standard engine in the Camry is a new 2.5L engine. The Camry LE and XLE equipped with the 2.5L puts out 169 horsepower and in the SE it puts out 179. The 2.5L can be mated to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic.

The exterior changes to the gas powered Camry include a new grille, front bumper, lager headlights and revised taillights. The Camry Hybrid gets a new unique hybrid grille, a distinct front bumper, a wider lower intake, restyled fog lights and 16-inch alloy wheels.

The revised (boring) 2010 Camry will be available this March.

Lexus has officially unveiled its first dedicated hybrid, the Lexus HS250h. The compact sedan shares many of its mechanicals with the third-generation Prius that is also being unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show.

The 2010 Lexus HS250h is powered by Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system, mated to a 187-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Overall the HS250h is slightly longer than the IS and a little wider than the ES.

Inside Lexus newest hybrid comes equipped with leather seats, moonroof, Lexus premium audio systems, and a new standard multi-media package. A new Hard Disk Navigation system is also available a retractable navigation screen. There is also a new wide-view front monitor that uses a camera mounted in the front of the car to provide a 190-degree front view via the navigation screen.

The 2010 HS250h will be in dealerships by late summer.

Who can we believe anymore? Reports surface that certain vehicle programs are dead and then days later differing reports come out. Earlier this week, Autocar claimed that Honda had killed the V8 engine program and RWD Acura's. Now Jeff Conrad, Vice President of Acura as informed dealers that the Acura "tier 1" program is still in the works.

According to Conrad the NSX program is officially dead, but the much needed V8 engine and RWD programs are still moving forward. It's rumored that Acura is working on a large RWD, V8 powered sedan to go head to head with the Germans.

It's still not known if the other reports about the death of the S2000 are in fact true.

Nissan has finally unveiled the GT-R SpecV after months of speculation.

The special edition GT-R SpecV features a carbon fiber rear spoiler, a carbon fiber grille, and carbon fiber brake ducts. The SpecV is available exclusively in Ultimate Black Opal (RP) body color and the inside features a unique two-seat interior that has Recaro carbon fiber bucket seats.

There is only one main engine modification, a new high gear boost controller that increases the amount of compressed oxygen entering the twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 to deliver more torque in the intermediate-to-high speed ranges.

Sales begin in Japan at seven pre-selected dealers, with pricing set at 15,750,000 yen. There is no word yet on if the car is headed to our shores.

Scion has announced the next edition of its "Release Series" models, the xB Release Series 6.0 that will be displayed at the Detroit Auto Show next week.

The 2009 xB Release Series 6.0 comes only in one color, Absolutely Red. The exterior features a unique front grille and Release Series wheel covers. A rear spoiler is optional.

Inside the special edition xB features a touch screen Pioneer Audio Visual Navigation (AVN) unit that features voice recognition, MSN Direct, Bluetooth and the expected USB and iPod connectivity. The interior also features color-tuned seats and illuminated door sills.

Only 2,500 are going to built with a starting price of $15,570.

Honda has unveiled its lineup for the 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon, which is basically similar to SEMA. The show kicks off at the same time as the Detroit Auto Show, this Sunday.

The two main vehicles at the show will be the Sports Modulo S2000 and Fit Concepts, but check out the gallery to see the other models.

Earlier this week reports surfaced that Suzuki had killed the Kizashi midsize sedan that was supposed to be released later this year. Now Suzuki has answered those reports by stating that they are false.

“The production version will debut at this year’s New York auto show in April,” Jeff Holland, spokesman for American Suzuki Motor Corp., told Automotive News.

The car and all its official details will be unveiled at that time.

At least one of the vehicles that were rumored to being killed is untrue. Now if only those reports that came out yesterday from Honda were only untrue as well...

It was already reported that Honda has killed the next-gen Acura NSX, but it looks like the economic downturn is causing Honda to cut even more programs.

Autocar is now reporting that in addition to the death of the NSX, Honda has also killed the next-gen S2000. 2009 is reportedly going to be the last model year for the S2000 with no replacement in the works. Honda was also planning on producing a droptop version of the CR-Z that is going to be released next year, but those plans have been shelved as well.

Toyota has announced plans to idle its plants in Japan for 11 days in February and March due to declining sales in the U.S.

Last month Toyota reported a 37 percent sales decline and now vehicles are beginning to pile up. Last month was Toyota's sharpest decline in more than a quarter of a century. Toyota even performed worse than GM and Ford.

"I never expected the crisis to spread this fast and leave this deep a scar," Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe told reporters at a Tokyo event hosted by Japan's top business lobbies.

Nissan and Honda have also announced to cut production by at least 200,000 vehicles for the year ending in March.

2008 is finally over and with it ends one of the worst years for the automotive industry in recent history. Most of 2008 was plagued by high fuel prices, which forced buyers to look for more fuel efficient vehicles. Even with this trend the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado pickups managed to remain at the top of the list for 2008.

In addition, even though buyers continued to ask for more fuel-efficient vehicles, the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic were the only "small" cars to make the list.

Nissan has previously announced that the automaker is not planning on attending the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, which means that no Nissan or Infiniti vehicles will be present on the show floor. Last month Nissan and Infiniti dealers stepped up and said they would donate their own vehicles to be displayed at the show. Nissan has now reportedly asked the dealers to not participate in the show.

"The dealers were going to support a presence and had all stepped forward,” Doug Fox, auto show co-chairman and owner of Ann Arbor Nissan said in an interview with Detroit Free Press. “But the week before Christmas we received a request from Nissan to please respect their decision to not have a presence at the North American International Auto Show.”

That means Detroit show goers will not be able to see the new 370Z or even the Nissan Cube.

Honda is going to officially unveil the 2009 Honda Insight at the Detroit Auto Show this month, but photos of the euro-spec Insight have already leaked onto the web.

The euro-spec and U.S.-spec versions of the Insight are not expected to differ much. What you can tell from these photos is how little the production version differs from the concept. The front-end remains largely the same sans the LED headlights. There are also more production friendly fog lamps and lower air intakes, which are slightly different than the U.S.-spec version. The side mirrors have been enlarged as well as the door handles. The C-pillar is also larger and the rear end gets a few minor tweaks.

We still have to wait to see what changes are in store for the interior.

Sales of the 2009 Insight will begin this spring with a starting price somewhere around $20,000.

I guess we're going to have to get used to hearing that automakers are ditching certain new vehicle programs. Suzuki has reportedly shelved plans for the Kizashi sedan. Suzuki unveiled the Kizashi 3 Concept earlier this year and the vehicle was supposed to hint at a new midsize Suzuki sedan.

The Kizashi sedan was expected by the middle of this year as a 2010 model, but according to Japanese newspaper Nikkei those plans have been killed. According to the Automotive News, the decision is due to the suffering global auto market. Suzuki’s CEO Osamu Suzuki stated that the project is likely to be canceled due to the declining sales of the segment.

Toyota is going to officially unveil the 2010 Prius at the Detroit Auto Show next month. This little teaser video shows some more shots of the new hybrid being checked out by the Blue Man Group

Last year Toyota confirmed that a Lexus branded dedicated hybrid model would make its debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Lexus has now confirmed that the new dedicated hybrid will be dubbed the HS250h.

The details are scarce about the new model although it is expected that the new Lexus hybrid will share some of, if not all of its mechanicals with the also new 2010 Toyota Prius. If the HS 250h in fact does use the same hybrid powertrain as the new Prius it will be the next-generation Hybrid Synergy with nickel-metal hydride battery packs. Unfortunately lithium-ion packs are still in development and will be added at a later date.

Stay tuned for all the details from the show next month.

Toyota announced this morning that the automaker is going to unveil a new electric vehicle concept at the Detroit Auto Show next month.

Other than the single image of the logo and a very short press release (two sentences), Toyota did not release any other details about the new concept. The EV Concept will share the stage with the all-new 2010 Prius.

Honda is finally trying to catch up to Toyota in the hybrid game with three new hybrid vehicles joining Honda's lineup in the next few years. First we will get the Insight hybrid next year, followed in 2010 by a production version of the CR-Z hybrid concept and then eventually a Fit hybrid.

Sources are now claiming that Honda is going to release a hybrid powered version of the Fit/ Jazz in 2010. The Fit hybrid will feature the same hybrid powertrain as the Insight, which is a 1.3L engine mated to an electric motor. According to sources the Fit hybrid will get approximately 67 mpg.

Although a few automakers have shelved plans to have any big releases at the Detroit Auto Show next month, a few such as Volvo, Subaru and Audi are still planning some big intros.

Subaru has released a single teaser photo of the Legacy Concept that the automaker will unveil next month. The concept is supposed to provide a glimpse of what the next generation Legacy will look like. The Legacy Concept also celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Legacy.

Stay tuned...

Thanks to the economic downturn many automakers are being forced to cut many of their programs, vehicle plans, etc. Most of the most dire news lately has come from the Big 3 U.S. automakers, but now Toyota and Honda are also being forced to make some cuts.

Honda recently announced plans to cancel its participation in Formula One and now its being reported that the automaker has canceled plans for the next-generation Acura NSX supercar. Prototypes for the NSX have been seen many times and it was reported that the NSX was going to be Acura's most powerful car ever with a V10 engine putting out way over 500 horsepower.

Honda's CEO, Takeo Fukui reportedly made the announcement about the fate of the NSX. It's also being reported that Honda has suspended plans to launch the Acura brand in Japan. Hopefully this news does not also mean that the much needed V8 engine is also in jeopardy. At this point the fate of the V10 engine is unknown.

Ward’s Automotive Group has announced its 2009 10 Best Engines list.

The list is compiled by Ward's editors and 2009 is officially the 15th year of the Ward’s 10 Best Engines program.

This year the list of winners is very broad with hybrid engines as well as high output turbocharged engines receiving the award.

“A decade ago, few consumers in the U.S. paid serious attention to hybrids or diesels. This year, they have to, if they don’t want to be pinched the next time fuel hits $4 a gallon,” says Tom Murphy, executive editor of Ward’s AutoWorld magazine.”The diesels from VW and BMW and the Ford Escape Hybrid all got better than 30 mpg (7.8 L/100 km) during our testing, and often they topped 40 mpg (5.8 L/100 km),” he says. “And the diesels meet the strictest emissions regulations in the world. If Americans want to find a vehicle that consumes less fuel and is fun to drive, our list is a great place to start.”

Honda is going to officially unveil the production version of its Honda Insight Hybrid at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, next month.

The production version of the Insight is pretty close to the concept version that has been touring the auto show circuit. The apparent differences on the outside are different wheels, larger mirrors, door handles and a slightly different front bumper and taillights.

The 2009 Honda Insight will be in showrooms in the spring of 2009. It's also expected to be cheaper than the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid.

Mazda has released the first official batch of photos of the Mazda3 5-door hatchback. The world premiere of the hatchback will be next week at the Bologna Motor Show.

The unveiling of the Mazda3 hatchback follows the unveiling of the sedan at the LA Auto Show last week.

European customers will be able to get an optional 2.2L turbodiesel engine.

Expect more details and photos next week.

Honda's theme at the LA Auto Show this year was "green" vehicles with the Insight concept, CR-Z concept and FC Sport all taking the stage.

In addition to unveiling the FC Sport, Honda also provided more details about its next hybrid, the Insight. The Insight is going to feature a new interactive, driver-focused fuel economy enhancement technology named the Ecological Drive Assist System (Eco Assist). The system gives the driver feedback on how she or he is driving and provides real-time guidance on environmentally responsible driving. It basically tells you how "green" you are driving through the economy scoring function.

A green "ECON" button on the dash also activates the ECON mode which optimizes the control of the transmission, engine and other elements to optimize fuel economy.

Ford also recently introduced a eco-type dash in its 2010 Fusion and Milan hybrids.

The production version of the Insight will be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show with sales starting in April 2009.

More photos of the next-gen 2010 Toyota Prius are showing up on the internet. A few weeks ago the first photos of the new Prius leaked onto PriusChat and were confirmed to be accurate photos by Toyota.

The 2010 Prius is set for a world debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January. What we do know about the new hybrid is that it will keep its iconic shape with a slightly larger body and more distinct nose. Inside there is an all-new dash design that looks far more complicated than the current generation.

The 2010 Prius is also expected to be more powerful and at the same time achieve better gas mileage.

Infiniti officially took the wraps off the 2009 G37 Convertible at the LA Auto Show today and what better place to do it since it was in the 80's today..in November!

The G37 Convertible is powered by a 325-hp 3.7-liter V6 mated to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission. The folding hardtop is a three-piece unit, which manages to preserve the sexy lines of the coupe.

Compared to the coupe the convertible features new body panels from the A-pillar back and is actually 1.1 inches wider than the coupe. It also features a wider track and modified rear suspension.

The top open or closes in a mere 30 seconds.

The 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible will be available in spring 2009.

Honda surprised the crowd today by unveiling the Honda FC Sport Design Study at the LA Auto Show.

The Honda FC Sport Design Study is hydrogen-powered three seat sports car. It uses the V-Flow fuel cell stack and electric drivetrain from the recently introduced FCX Clarity. The fuel-cell stack is located between the rear seats and the electric motor is mounted just forward of the rear axle. Inside the driver sits in the middle of the car, while the two rear passengers sit directly behind the driver on the left and right side of the vehicle. The doors also open upward from the rear.

"The Honda FC Sport explores how to satisfy automotive performance enthusiasts in a world beyond petroleum," said Dan Bonawitz, vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "People who love sports cars will still have a reason to love in a hydrogen-powered future."

Mazda officially unveiled the 2010 Mazda3 at the LA Auto Show today.

The all-new Mazda3 is powered by a choice of two engines, a 148 horsepower 2.0L engine or a 167 horsepower 2.5L. The 2.0L engine can be mated to either a five-speed manual or automatic transmission, while the 2.5L can be mated to either a six-speed manual or five-speed auto. The 2.0L with either transmission gets 33 mpg on the highway.

On the outside the styling is all-new, although it is easily recognizable as a Mazda3. The front-end features Mazda's new global face with a front-end that Mazda describes as "exotic".

The new Mazda3 is available with many features that are not available on other vehicles in its class, such as self leveling Bi-Xenon headlights, adaptive front lighting system, and rain sensing wipers.

Now we have to wait to see the five-door hatchback.

Nissan has officially unveiled the 2009 Nissan Cube today at the LA Auto Show.

The 2010 Cube is powered by a 122 horsepower 1.8L engine mated to either a CVT transmission or a six-speed manual. The Cube equipped with the CVT is projected to get over 30 mpg on the highway.

The Cube fits five passengers with a “lounge sofa” style sliding rear bench seat.

The Cube will be initially offered in three trims, Cube 1.8, Cube 1.8 S and Cube 1.8 SL.

Mazda has released more details about the all-new 2010 Mazda3 that is going to be officially unveiled tomorrow at the LA Auto Show.

The all-new Mazda3 will be available with a new 167 horsepower 2.5L engine, self leveling Bi-Xenon headlights, adaptive front lighting system, push-button start and Bluetooth.

Now we'll just have to hold tight until we get the details from the new Mazdaspeed3.

Expect more photos live from the show tomorrow...

Ford has announced that it has sold off 20 percent of its stake in Mazda.

Ford's stake in Mazda has been reduced from 33.4 percent to just over 13 percent. This is part of Ford's plan to raise more money as the sale of the shares gives Ford an extra $540 million. The shares were bought back by Mazda and Mazda's strategic business partners.

Motor Trend has announced the winner of its 2009 Car of the Year award and this year the award goes to the 2009 Nissan GT-R.

Motor Trend had this to say about the 2009 GT-R:

"The GT-R puts Nissan on a map that thus far only designated Maranello, Sant’ Agata, Munich, and Stuttgart as points of interest,” said Motor Trend editor Ron Kiino. ”Well, it’s time to stick a tack on Tochigi. In the kingdom of supercars, the GT-R positively belongs. Be it comparing 0-to-60 sprints, quarter-mile times, 60-to-0 braking, or lateral acceleration, the GT-R is one of the world’s best.”

"Plainly put: No Nissan has ever been as formidable or as awesome as the GT-R. More significant, no other 2009 contender crushes our criteria like the GT-R. For that, it wholeheartedly deserves our Golden Calipers."

In an effort to stay afloat while congress decides on a bailout plan for The Big 3, GM has decided to sell its entire stake in Suzuki Motor Corp. for 22.37 billion yen ($230 million).

Suzuki is going to buy back the 3.02 percent stake from GM. Suzuki stated that it is necessary for the automaker to buy back the stake from GM to help the ailing automaker. Although Suzuki is buying the 3.02 percent stake, the two automakers will continue to have a partnership in the future, which includes the development of hybrid vehicles and SUVs in Canada.

It's definitely very interesting times when Toyota's small iQ manages to beat out the Nissan GT-R supercar for the title of Japanese Car of the Year.

65 jurors gave the Toyota iQ 526 votes and 39 of the 65 jurors actually gave the iQ a perfect 10 score. The Citroen C5 came in second with 223 votes and the Nissan GT-R came in 3rd with 201 votes.

Lexus has confirmed that the all-new 2010 RX will be unveiled next week at the LA Auto Show.

The 2010 RX will come in two versions, the RX 350 that is powered by a 3.5L V6 and the hybrid RX 450h. Recent photo renderings of the new crossover show an overall shape that is very similar to the current generation.

Lexus is also going to unveil the IS 250 C and IS 350 C convertible models at the show. The IS 250 C was recently unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. The IS convertible models feature the same engines as the sedans, plus a lightweight aluminum three-panel roof.

The all-wheel-drive versions of the LS 460 and LS 460 L will also be on hand for the show.

Toyota is going to officially unveil the all-new 2010 Prius at the Detroit Auto Show in January. The automaker has launched a microsite, which has a countdown clock.

Too bad we've already seen a few photos of the new Prius that leaked onto the web. At first we weren't sure if the photos were authentic, but Toyota eventually confirmed that the leaked photos are of the next Prius.

Overall the 2010 Prius will keep the same basic shape as the current generation. Inside there is a whole new dash that is very different than the current model.

Stay tuned...

It's already been confirmed that Toyota and Subaru are working on a new RWD coupe that will be sold both as a Subaru and Toyota. Well now reports are surfacing that Toyota's version of the RWD coupe will actually be sold under the Scion brand as the replacement for the current tC.

Scion definitely needs some new models to renew interest in the brand. A RWD coupe could be just the thing the brand needs.

AUTOMOBILE Magazine has given the 2009 Nissan GT-R the "2009 Automobile of the Year" award.

The magazine's editors applauded the GT-R for "delivering high-intensity fun and astonishing performance". They also claim that the Nissan GT-R is the first Japanese supercar to seriously threaten the other supercars in the world with its neck-snapping acceleration, super-accurate steering, and incredible value.

The magazine also gave the 2009 Design of the Year award to the Audi A5 and named Takeo Fukui - President, Honda Motor Company, Man of the Year.

Lexus is going to unveil a concept version of a new dedicated hybrid model at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show in January. We're now getting more info about the new model thanks to Japanese magazine, Mag-X.

Mag-X claims that the new Lexus hybrid is going to be dubbed the HS250h and that the car is going to be a sedan. We do know that the new hybrid is going to share some of its mechanicals with the new Prius. It will be powered by a larger 2.4L engine mated to the hybrid system. Initially the car will use nickel-hydride batteries.

Nissan is going to officially unveil the all-new 2009 Nissan 370Z at the LA Auto Show next week, but some of the specs been trickling out.

Thanks to the LA Auto Show website we now know that the final horsepower rating for the 3.7L V6 is 332 horsepower. The engine can either be mated to a new 7-speed automatic transmission or a 6-speed manual. The new Z also has a shorter wheelbase than the current generation and more lightweight pieces to keep the vehicle's overall weight in check.

Nissan is going to unveil the NV2500 Concept at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Athough Nissan hasn't released any official specs of the concept it's supposed to preview Nissan's entry into the North American Commercial Vehicle market in 2010. The concept looks bigger than Ford's commercial vehicle, the Transit Connect.

When the concept enters production it will be built at Nissan's plant in Canton, Mississippi.

The 2009 Nissan 370Z is set to be officially unveiled in just over a week and now more info is leaking out about the 370Z NISMO S-Tune packages.

The first package is the NISMO S-Tune Aero Package that improves the car's aerodynamic performance a new nose, front lip spoiler, side skirts and rear spoiler that will reduce lift and provide extra downforce. Also included in this package are rear fender protectors and a set of NISMO-badged floor mats.

Last week Nissan announced a new entry Versa that starts at $9,990, which means its the cheapest car you can buy in the U.S. Although it starts below $10k, when you actually want A/C or any other "normally standard" features be prepared to pay more.

KickingTires, did some research into the pricing of the 2009 Versa 1.6 and discovered that the base model does not come with air conditioning, power windows or door locks, and a stereo. Reminds me of the base econo cars of the 80's and early 90's. Of course cruise control and a driver’s seat height adjustment are also missing. The standard model also has a manual transmission. The automatic transmission costs and extra $1,000, but requires that you also get a/c, which is $1,000 as well. After adding an auto transmission and a/c you're already at $12k.

Buyers only want fuel efficient engines now and for the most part that means a 4-cylinder engine. Toyota has announced that its Highlander SUV will be available with a new 2.7L four-cylinder engine.

The new four-cylinder engine puts out 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque and gets 20/27 mpg. The 2.7L engine is mated to an all-new six-speed automatic transmission. Toyota estimates that the four-cylinder powered Highlander will reach 0-60 mph in 9.7 seconds.

Honda has unveiled the Honda Civic HFP Concept at the SEMA show today.

The HFP Concept takes the standard Civic Si and adds an HFP body kit, super-light alloy wheels with aerodynamic covers a lighter HFP exhaust system and an upgraded HFP suspension kit all of which improve the vehicles gas mileage without compromising its performance.

Honda didn't release final mpg figures for the concept.

Mitsubishi released a re-styled 2009 Galant earlier this year...too bad the re-style was completely forgettable.

Mitsubishi's Normal, Illinois plant produces the Galant, Eclipse and Endeavor, none of which are really bringing in any sales for the brand. The plant has the capability of producing 100,000 vehicles per year and Mitsubishi's CEO Osamu Masuko wants to shuffle which vehicles are built there to maximize production. Mitsubishi's two smallest vehicles in its lineup, the Lancer and Outlander sell much better than the Galant and Endeavor, so it would make sense to produce the Lancer and Outlander here, instead of the Galant.

Toyota unveiled the Venza crossover earlier this year, but since then we haven't heard much about Toyota's newest crossover.

Today Toyota officially announced the pricing for 2009 Venza that starts at $25,975 for the 2.7L four-cylinder, front wheel drive model. The top of the line 3.5L V6 with AWD goes for $29,250.

The economy is bad, so Nissan has just announced that the new Nissan Versa 1.6 is the cheapest car sold in the U.S. at a starting price of $9,990.

The Nissan Versa 1.6 is powered by a new 107 horsepower 1.6L engine, which is obviously smaller than the Versa's other 1.8L engine. The 1.6L also gets better gas mileage than the 1.8L at 26/34 for the 5-speed manual and 26/ 33 for the 4-speed automatic transmission.

Honda has announced the pricing for the restyled 2009 Honda Element. The 2009 Element 2WD LX starts at $20,175.

For 2009 the Element receives a new front end that is similar to the larger Pilot. There are also new taillights.

In addition to the styling changes on the outside there are a bunch of new options such as a removable/ cooler storage box on the EX. A new overhead console provides even more storage and a navigation system is also optional.

The 2.4L i-VTEC 4-cylinder remains the sole engine in the Element. It can be mated to either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. Real Time 4WD is available on the Element LX and EX. Fuel economy ranges from 20/25 to 18/23.

As is typical these days, photos of new models always seem to show up somewhere before the car is officially unveiled. Well this time we have our first look at the all-new 2010 Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h before its official unveiling at the LA Auto Show next month.

These photos scanned from a Japanese brochure show what lies in store for Lexus' most popular SUV. The 2010 RX is going to keep its same basic shape but with some new creases and angles to keep it looking fresh. Inside there is a new dash that is more stylish than the current gen.

Nissan has officially unveiled the 2009 Nissan 370Z ahead of its official unveiling at the LA Auto Show in a few weeks.

Although Nissan has released three photos of the new Z, official specs have not been released. All that we know right now is that it is powered by the same 3.7L V6 as the Infiniti G37.

Stay tuned.

Earlier this year Honda's CEO, Takeo Fukui announced that Honda was going to introduce its first four-cylinder diesel in the U.S. in 2009. Many speculated that the Acura TSX would be the first recipient of the new engine. Well now it looks like those plans have been put on hold "indefinitely."

Apparently Honda's 2.2L i-DTEC engine can't pass the strict emission standards in the U.S. when it is mated to an automatic transmission. Honda doesn't use the urea injection system that Mercedes and other automakers use to pass the standards. The 2.2L i-DTEC mated to a manual transmission does pass the emission standards, but Honda does not see a market for a manual only diesel in the U.S.

Honda has announced new incentives on the refreshed 2009 Civic models.

Buyers that haven't been hurt by the housing crisis can get 0.9 percent financing for up to 36 months and 3.9 percent for up to 60 months. Buyers can also opt to lease a Civic for 36 months for $189 a month with $1,999 down. The Civic hybrid is also included in the new sales promotions.

According to Honda, the new incentives being used to keep Civic demand high. Honda recently opened a new plant in Indiana for the Civic. Gas prices have also been declining, which may decrease some demand for fuel-efficient vehicles.

Subaru has unveiled the very limited Impreza WRX STI 20th Anniversary Edition in Japan.

Although it would be easy to assume that this 20th Anniversary Edition has been built to celebrate 20 years of the STI, but the original STI was only released in 1994. Instead the 20th Anniversary Edition STI celebrates the 20th anniversary of the founding of Subaru Tecnica International, Subaru's performance division in Mitaka, Tokyo.

Mazda is going to officially unveil the all-new 2010 Mazda3 at the LA Auto Show next month and now we have the first spy photos of the 2010 MazdaSpeed3, also known as Mazda3 MPS in Europe.

The MazdaSpeed3, which is based on the five-door version of the Mazda3 gets bigger air intakes, new grille and an air scoop, larger brakes and of course a more powerful engine. The current MazdaSpeed3 is powered by a 263 horsepower turbocharged 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine. It's not yet known what will power this all-new version.

Lexus managing director Tadashi Arashima recently confirmed that the automaker is currently working on a BMW 1 Series competitor that is smaller than the current IS sedan. Although Arashima didn't give any expected launch dates or technical specs for the new baby Lexus, it is expected that it will be rear wheel drive and offer both 4-cyl and V6 engines.

In addition to the new baby Lexus, Lexus is also going to unveil a concept version of a new small hybrid that will be built off the same platform as the next-generation Prius. The new Lexus hybrid will be released by the end of 2009 and will likely feature a larger gas engine than the Prius, either a 2.0L or 2.5L 4-cylinder.

Many of asked "why?" when BMW unveiled the X6, which is basically an X5 with more coupe like styling and one less seat, but now Acura seems to think there is a market for another "coupe" crossover.

Sales of the BMW X6 haven't really taken off, which is probably partly due to the economy and high gas prices, but judging by these spy photos it looks like Acura is planning a similar vehicle. This is the second time that we've seen spy photos of Acura's upcoming crossover, but this is the first time we're seeing it in the light. Acura has tried hard to hide the shape of the rear half of the un-named crossover, but its obvious that it as the same similar shape as the X6.

It is expected that the new crossover will hit the market by 2011 or maybe even sooner, judging by the prototype shown here. It's being rumored that the crossover could be dubbed the"MSX" and that it will offer Acura's new V8 that will first be offered in the next RL.

Nissan announced today that the automaker is going to cut production at two of its plants in Japan due to slow sales in the U.S

Ikue Matsuura, a spokeswoman for Nissan said today that production will be cut from November through March of next year on some of its Infiniti models and the Nissan Murano and Rogue.

Nissan's sales dropped 37 percent in September.

Acura has scoffed at the idea of adding a V8 to its lineup for years, but it looks like things are finally changing.

Honda’s CEO Takeo Fukui has confirmed that Honda is finally going to launch its first V8 engine for the Acura brand. Although gas prices have killed vehicles that don't get great gas mileage, luxury buyers still demand it. Acura's sales are down 15.3 percent so far this year, so Acura needs something to bring in new buyers.

"I don’t think that the Acura RL 3.7-liter is sufficient. We can’t compete with other premium brands,” said Fukui.

Infiniti has announced the pricing for the 2009 Infiniti G37 Sedan and Coupe.

The 2009 G37 sedan gets a new 328 horsepower 3.7L V6. The G37 coupe gets the addition of an all-wheel-drive model, the Infiniti G37x. Both the G37 coupe and sedan get a new 7-speed automatic transmission.

The starting price for the 2009 Infiniti G37 sedan is $33,250 and the G37 coupe starts at $35,900 with the 7-speed automatic. The G37x coupe starts at $38,900.

In addition to the changes under the hood the G37 sedan gets new sport 18-inch wheels, available sport brakes and standard Scratch Shield paint.

Motor Trend has awarded the 2009 Subaru Forester with its Sport/Utility of the Year award.

There were 13 finalists, which included the Honda Pilot, Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Flex, Infiniti Ex, Honda Pilot, Dodge Journey, Infiniti FX, Nissan Murano, Toyota Sequoia, Lexus LX570, Kia Borrego, BMW X6 and the Volkswagen Tiguan.

The Subaru Forester 2.5XT posted the best fuel-economy rating of any all-wheel-drive SUV in the tests, which definitely helped it receive the award. In addition to the best fuel-economy out of the contenders, the editors called out the Forester's humble powertrain:

St. Antoine said, "I'm amazed at how well the powertrain works with only a four-speed. The turbo four is torquey enough not to feel like it needs more ratios, and at cruising speed it's not revving overly hard."

In addition to its powertrain that is borrowed from the Impreza, the Forester also stood out due to its best-in-class interior and cargo volume.

Must be the sign of the times that this year's award SUV of the year winner is only powered by a 4-cylinder engine and shares most of its mechanicals with a compact sedan.

Toyota is going to officially unveil the all-new 2010 Toyota Prius at the Detroit Auto Show this coming January, but PriusChat has put up some photos that may or may not be of the next generation.

Overall the styling of the car seems more evolutionary and takes some of the cues from the newer Toyota models. The headlights also seem to mimic the shape of Nissan's headlights on the Maxima and soon to be unveiled 370Z. Inside there is a new raised center console, but overall the interior is loaded with plastic.

What do you think? Is this what we can expect to see next January?

We've already seen several spy photos of the new 2010 Nissan 370Z, but now we have some un-camouflaged shots of the car thanks to the promo site for Need for Speed Undercover.

The 330 horsepower 2010 Nissan 370Z is going to be officially unveiled next month at the 2009 LA Auto Show.

The 2009 Infiniti EX35 has been a sales disappointment for Nissan.

Potential buyers have complained about the fact that the rear seat has very little legroom and that the cargo area is somewhat limited. To address these concerns in an effort to boost sales, Nissan has announced that the 2010 Infiniti EX will get more rear legroom.

According to Nissan North America’s vice president, Larry Dominique, the EX grabbed a lot of attention when it was unveiled, but has failed to move off dealer lots. Through September, Nissan sold 10,289 units of the EX, an annual rate of approximately 15,000 units.

According to sources over at Motor Trend, Toyota is going to bring the iQ minicar to the LA Auto Show, but as a Scion instead of a Toyota badged iQ.

Next month Toyota is going to show off the iQ minicar at the Scion stand next to the xB, xD, and tC models. Toyota desperately needs to bring more traffic and focus to the Scion brand, which the small iQ will do. Toyota also didn't want the small iQ to steal the spotlight from the next-gen Prius that will be unveiled early next year.

The "Scion iQ" is expected to start under $15,000 and will likely be powered by the same 1.5L engine that powers the Toyota Yaris.

Mazda unveiled the changes to the 2009 MX-5 at the Paris Motor Show. Although the changes were only to the exterior and inside of the roadster, Mazda has some big changes in store for the next-generation MX-5.

According to MX-5 program manager Takao Kijima, Mazda is looking at alternative powertrains for the next model and mazda hopes to cut its overall weight by 10 percent. By alternative powertrains, Kijima is referring to either a diesel or hybrid powered MX-5.

“I would say the chance of a diesel or hybrid engine is more than 50 per cent,” Kijima told Drive.com.au.

The main issue is that a hybrid powertrain would add a lot weight to the MX-5 courtesy of the battery pack. A diesel powertrain would make more sense, since diesels are more fuel efficient than gas powered engines and don't have the significant weight disadvantage that hybrids do. Kijima also stated that the next-generation must have a 50/50 weight distribution, which would be even harder with a hybrid powertrain.

Mazda has officially taken the wraps off the all-new 2010 Mazda3 before its official unveiling at the LA Auto Show next month.

The all-new Mazda3 continues Mazda's current design theme that is also the basis for the new Mazda6 (Sustainable Zoom-Zoom).

Mazda hasn't released the final details except for the fact that the car will be powered by either a 2.3L or 2.5L four-cylinder engines when it is released sometime next year. Those engines seem kind of big for this class. Let's hope Mazda finally decides to bring the Mazda2 here to appeal to the fuel conscious folks.

Yesterday Ford announced that the slow-selling 2009 Ford Flex would have an available $2,500 rebate to help move them off the lots. The Mazda CX-9 has also failed to reach the top in sales either, but Consumer Reports has announced that both vehicles are one of the top five three-row SUVs they tested.

“Ford’s new Flex wraps a versatile, cavernous interior in a distinctly boxy styling,” the magazine writes. “It is also lower and more wagon-like than the others in this class.”

Toyota and Audi recently showed off their iQ and A1 small cars at the Paris Motor Show last week. Originally both automakers had not planned on introducing either car to the US market, but as everyone is now witnessing...small cars are in.

Audi's worldwide sales and marketing boss, Peter Schwarzenbauer recently stated, " A year ago, I would have said no. I did not see any trend in the US which showed me that small cars could have a lasting, sustainable chance. I think this has changed. Therefore we definitely have to reconsider the A1." The hybrid A1 concept is powered by a 1.4L four-cylinder mated to an electric motor.

Infiniti has released a seconds teaser photo of the 2009 G37 Convertible that is going to be officially unveiled at the LA Auto Show next month.