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...

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.

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.

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!

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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?

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

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The IIHS has released the crash test results involving three subcompact/ minicars into a midsize sedan from the same automaker and the results are not pretty.

Normally crash test results involve a vehicle crashing into a deformable barrier, which most of the time is not accurate in the real world. Most crashes involve two vehicles crashing into each other. In these three tests the IIHS chose pairs of vehicles from Daimler, Honda and Toyota due to their subcompact models earning good frontal crashworthiness ratings. The Honda Fit, Smart Fortwo and Toyota Yaris all earned good ratings in the Institute's offset test into a deformable barrier, but all three performed poorly in the frontal collisions with midsize cars.

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.

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.

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

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

Lexus has unveiled the 2010 Lexus IS 250C at the Paris Motor Show.

Lexus took its popular IS sedan and chopped off the roof and two doors to create the IS 250C. The newest Lexus convertible features an aluminum folding roof that takes just 20 seconds to open. The IS 250C is powered by the same 2.5L V6 as the sedan.

Europe will get the new IS 250C first in the summer of 2009 and the US will get it shortly thereafter.

Toyota has developed the world's first ever rear window airbag that will be featured on Toyota's upcoming iQ minicar.

The rear airbag is stored in the headliner above the rear window and unfolds rapidly during a rear impact to protect the rear passenger. The bag is designed to protect the rear passenger's head and neck during a rear impact. Judging by the amount of metal between the rear seat and the rear of the iQ this looks like a much needed safety feature. Hopefully other small cars will adopt a similar safety feature.

Toyota has announced plans to display a CNG-Powered Camry Hybrid Concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show this November.

In 1999, Toyota sold a CNG-powered four-cylinder Camry to fleet customers, but since gas prices were much cheaper than they are now there wasn't much demand for the vehicle. The special refueling techniques and limited refueling infrastructure also hurt the program. Well now Toyota is unveiling a new Camry Hybrid that is powered by CNG. Currently there are 1,000 CNG refueling stations in the country, but less than half are open to the public.

There were rumors a while ago that Toyota was considering a small lineup of Prius branded hybrid vehicles...well it looks like Toyota execs have put the topic back on the table.

Toyota has been testing a plug-in version of the popular Prius hybrid in Japan for some time, but now the automaker has announced that testing is going to continue in the UK as well.

Lexus has been working on its LF-A supercar for quite sometime. It originally appeared as a concept, which was eventually approved for production...well now things may have changed.

AutoTelegraaf is claiming that Lexus is going to release a droptop version of the IS next year.

According to the Automotive News Toyota has dropped the successor to the Supra from its product plans due to the high mpg requirements in the US.

According to Steve St. Angelo, head of Toyota's Kentucky assembly plant and senior vice president in charge of engineering and manufacturing for North America, if one of the "Big 3" automakers were to die it would be devastating to Toyota and the industry as a whole.

Toyota was expected to kill the slow selling Solara Coupe and Convertible by the end of this month...but now it looks that at least the convertible has been saved.

According to reports Lexus has delayed the introduction of the LF-A supercar and high performance GS-F sedan.

Toyota has officially unveiled the changes to the RAV4 line for the 2009 model year.

Toyota has officially released the specs and pricing for the 5-door version of its popular Yaris subcompact.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released the results of its first ever side crash testing of five small pickup trucks.

According to Inside Line, Toyota has canceled the replacement for the next-generation Lexus SC Coupe/ Convertible and may also be canceling the next Avalon as well.

Toyota has announced a few production shifts at three of its plants in order to keep up with consumer demand.

Truck sales are down across the industry, but Toyota announced today that the automaker is going to increase Tacoma production at its Tijuana, Baja California plant.

The all-new 2010 Toyota Prius should be revealed by this time next year and now Japan’s Nikkei is reporting that the all-new hybrid will feature solar panels on some of the high-end models that will power the electronics like the air conditioning.

Small cars are all the rage and it has forced almost every automaker to look at ways to increase their small car lineup. Toyota has announced that the US is finally going to get the 5-door version of its popular Yaris sub-compact that is sold in Europe. Currently the US only has the 3-door and sedan versions of the car.

Toyota has announced today that the automaker has increased its shares in Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., the parent company of Subaru.

Toyota has announced that the addition of new "Ironman" versions of its Tundra, Tacoma and FJ Cruiser SUV.

Toyota and Subaru have already announced that the two automakers are collaborating on a new rear-wheel-drive coupe that will be sold under both brand names. Now it looks like the two are also working on a new Impreza Coupe that will be released for 2010.

Gas prices are so insane right now and car buyers are finally realizing they can't afford to drive those huge gas guzzlers anymore. The F-150 has been the best selling vehicle in the US for decades, but its reign at the top is soon over. Last month it moved down to the number five spot behind the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

It's already been revealed that Toyota and Subaru are collaborating on a new rear wheel drive coupe, which will be sold as both a Subaru and Toyota. Now, Inside Line claims to have even more info on the new coupes that are slated for a late 2011 release.

Inside Line has learned that the new Lexus supercar, the Lexus LF-A is going to start at over $200,000 when it is finally released.

Toyota has announced plans to buy back over 800,000 Toyota Tacoma pickups that were built between 1996 and 2000 that have rusted frames.

Kelley Blue Book has released its list of the top ten coolest vehicles under $18,000 for 2008. Most of us can think of a list of cars that we would "label" as cool, but most of these cars probably don't list for under $18,000.

The current Prius was introduced for the 2004 model year, so its growing a little old even though it is the best selling hybrid in the US, by far. Next January, Toyota is going to unveil an all-new 3rd generation Prius.

Declining auto sales in the US have forced many automakers to make cutbacks and to rethink their current lineups. Until now this did not include Toyota which continues to sell record levels of its Prius, Camry and Yaris vehicles.

Lexus has officially registered names for its upcoming IS Coupe, which provides more evidence that the automaker is finally going to release a coupe version of its smallest sedan.

Toyota and Subaru announced today in a joint press conference that Toyota is going to double its stake in Fuji Heavy Industries, the company that produces Subaru cars.

Scion unveiled the Hako Coupe Concept at the New York Auto Show today.

Toyota has announced that the automaker is going to slow production of the Sequoia and Tundra in its Indiana and Texas plants due to slowing sales.

Toyota unveiled the iQ Concept last September in Frankfurt and this week the automaker took the wraps off the production version of the small car.

Scion is going to unveil the Hako Coupe Concept at the New York Auto Show later this month.

Toyota has just released specs on an upgrade to the European Yaris 1.3 VVTi and 1.4 D-4D models.

At this year's Geneva Auto Show, Toyota is going to officially unveil its production version of the iQ microcar that was shown in Frankfurt last year for the European market.

With the introduction of the new Infiniti EX35, Mercedes-Benz GLK and Acura RDX it seems like Lexus is the only luxury nameplate without a small crossover. This may change as Lexus may be working on a smaller than RX 350 crossover.

There have been rumors that Toyota is working on a replacement for the discontinued Celica, but now there are more rumors that the next-gen Celica could be built by Subaru.

Toyota has officially announced the pricing for the all-new 2009 Corolla and Matrix that will be in showrooms next month.

Lexus surprised everyone with the LF-A Roadster at the Detroit Auto Show.

Toyota has officially unveiled their new "crossover sedan" dubbed the 2009 Venza.

After 75 years of being in the number two spot in the US, Ford has given up the title to Toyota.

Toyota has unveiled the A-BAT hybrid pickup concept that will be officially unveiled next month at the Detroit Auto Show.

Motor Trend has given the Toyota Tundra its 2008 Truck of the Year award today.

According to the newest rumors Lexus is working on an even hotter version of its new IS-F sedan.

Toyota has announced the pricing for the all-new 2008 Sequoia SUV.

The Toyota Celica was killed back in 2005, but according to Toyota's German Chief Markus Schrick, the car is set to make a return.

Toyota finally unveiled the all-new 2008 Sequoia at the LA Auto Show today.

Thanks to "avid" reader Aaron we have a photo of a Toyota Tundra prototype that was testing in Orange County, CA today.

Chevrolet's all-new 2008 Malibu is just now hitting your local Chevy dealers. GM has high hopes for the Malibu, as the new sedan is one of their most important new releases for the 2008 model year.

In addition to the unveiling of the all-new 2009 Corolla and Matrix, Toyota also unveiled a tuned version of the Corolla, dubbed the Corolla S3.

Toyota has unveiled the all-new 10th generation Toyota Corolla at the SEMA show in Las Vegas.

Toyota has unveiled two new models today, the all-new 2009 Corolla and the equally new Matrix (Corolla Matrix).

Lexus has announced the pricing and changes to the 2008 GS models.

According to Consumer Reports, Toyota's predicted reliability has slipped from the previous number one spot, while Ford has moved up.

Would you really do this just to drive the Toyota RAV-4?

Lexus plans on unveiling two "LF" branded models at the Tokyo Auto Show, the LF-A supercar and this LF-Xh Hybrid SUV Concept.

Toyota's 1/X Concept car is actually pronounced "one-Xth" since it weighs 1/Xth the weight of other similar sized models.

Lexus' version of the M3 and RS4 is going to be released on Christmas day in Japan. It has now been slipped that the high-performance version of the IS will make it to the US this coming February.

It's obvious that Toyota isn't happy that the Honda CR-V is the best selling SUV and crossover in the US. Although the RAV-4 offers three rows of seats and an available V6 engine it still isn't selling better than the CR-V. This is the what the revised RAV-4 looks like in Japan, so I wonder if this is what we will get here as well?

Lexus unveiled the high-performance version of the Lexus IS back in January, but the automaker remained tight lipped about the actual power figures of the V8 powered sedan. Well the official launch of the IS-F in Japan has finally revealed what we have been waiting months to hear.

In an effort to steal more sales from the "Big 3" Toyota has announced the addition of 13 new variations of the Tundra that are at the lower end.

Although Christmas is still about two and a half months away and Lexus has yet to officially release the high performance IS-F sedan, Neiman Marcus is going to offer a very special edition for the holiday season.

I know I can't! Lexus has released a few more photos of the upcoming Lexus IS-F that is going to go head to head with the BMW M3 and Audi RS4 sedans.

Toyota recently announced that the automaker is going to unveil the all-new 2009 versions of the Corolla and Matrix at the SEMA show next month. Today, Toyota unveiled a teaser photo of the next Matrix dressed in a ghost costume.

Toyota has finally officially unveiled the all-new 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser today, although we've already seen many leaked photos of the SUV. The new SUV is being unveiled before its live unveiling at the Australian International Motor Show next month.

Thanks to the popular Toyota Prius, hybrid sales through July are up 49 percent over the same period last year.

Last week at the Frankfurt Auto Show, Toyota unveiled the world's smallest four-seater car. The car measures less than 3 meters in length and is 425mm shorter than the Aygo and 770mm shorter than the Toyota Yaris.

Toyota has already announced that the next generation Toyota Prius is going to be delayed until sometime in 2009, but now spy photographers have caught the hybrid with a new front end.

This month at the Frankfurt Motor Show Lexus is going to debut the European version of the IS-F and the hybrid version of the GS sedan, dubbed the GS450h.

The "F" version of the Lexus IS was unveiled earlier this year. The M3 fighter has a 5.0L V8 with over 400 horsepower. It is now rumored that Lexus is working on an "F" version of the GS sedan.

Or Maybe not... According to BusinessWeek Volkswagen takes the award for having the most recalled 2007 models. VW recalled just over 1 million New Beetles because of faulty brake light switches.

According to Automotive News, Toyota and Subaru are hard at work on plans to co-develop a sports car under the Toyota brand. The new car will be priced under $16,900 and have an engine smaller than 2 liters.

For the past 11 years Lexus has held the number one spot in J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study. This year Lexus holds the top spot again, but for the first time Lexus has tied with another automaker, Buick!

The current Toyota Corolla has been on the market since 2002, which makes it one of the oldest vehicles in its class. Although the current Corolla is old, it is still selling well. Last month it was the number 4 best selling vehicle in the U.S. Better than the Honda Accord and Honda Civic. This fall Toyota is going to take the wraps off the all new version.

Reuters has posted a list of the 20 top-selling vehicles in the U.S. through July of 2007. There aren't really any big surprises here.

It has already been reported that the sales of GM's new GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado pickups are not selling as well as the automaker had hoped. Recently GM also announced that production of their full-size pickups is going to be scaled back due to slow sales. Toyota's full-size Tundra is also new this year and has had some issues as well, which are mainly due to engine quality issues and crash test results. Well now it looks like Toyota's once ignored full-size pickup is the fourth best-selling full-size half-ton pickup in the US, narrowly squeezing out the GMC Sierra.

Toyota has released a high-performance version of its Blade hatchback in Japan today. The car is powered by the same 3.5L V6 that is in the Lexus IS350 and other Toyota models. It features 276hp and 253 lb-ft. of torque.

Many of us may remember the original AE86 Toyota that was a RWD Corolla coupe in the 1980's. Best Car Plus magazine has revealed that Toyota is working on a new AE86 type car that will be in showrooms by the winter of 2008.

Lexus' best-selling SUV is due for a redesign for the 2009 model year. Spy photographers have caught a test mule of the SUV that looks pretty much the same as the current generation. Upon closer examination it is apparent that this is not the current version of the RX350.

Toyota has announced the pricing for the 2008 Toyota Prius, which now has a lower starting price than the 2007 model. This is due to the introduction of a new standard model that will start at $20,950.

Forbes has put together a list of the top 20 most dangerous vehicles on the road. The Buick Rendevous SUV/ Minivan topped their list as possibly the worst car to buy right now in terms of safety. Compared to other minivans the Rendevous is up to three times more likely to cause a fatality.

Toyota has just announced that they have developed a plug-in hybrid vehicle and that the automaker will become the first automaker to have it certified for use in Japan.

Toyota for the first time ever outsold GM worldwide in the first quarter of this year. So far this year Toyota is still outselling GM, but only by 46,000 units. In addition GM even outsold Toyota last quarter (April-June). Could GM win back its title of number 1 automaker this year?

This year's SEMA show is still a little more than three months away, but word has already broke that Toyota is going to unveil three new models at the show. The aging Corolla is finally going to be redesigned, an HD Tundra Concept that will be used to gauge interest in a Heavy-Duty Tundra and an FJ Cruiser with a removable hardtop will debut.

Scion has announced the pricing for the all-new 2008 Scion xD, which is going to replace the xA in Scion's lineup. The new model will start at $14,550 with a manual transmission and a $15,350 for one with an automatic (plus $620 for destination fees).

Sales of subcompact cars like the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris have taken off this year, due to the ever increasing gas prices. Honda has already sold approximately 28,000 of the 54,000 Fits that are allotted for the US this year. Last year Honda only sold 23,000 of the little cars. Now Honda dealers can't keep up with the demand, but even with that evidence Mazda still remains skeptical about the market.

With the consistently rising gas prices many consumers have been flocking to hybrid powered vehicles, only to later find out that they do not achieve the same gas mileage as the window sticker states. This has been a major problem and will hopefully change with the new 2008 EPA changes.

Spy photos of a camouflaged Tribeca-like vehicle with a Scion badge have been published by Japan's New Model Magazine X. Could Toyota be working on a SUV for its "youth-oriented" brand?

We've already seen a few spy photos of the upcoming next-generation Toyota Sequoia. Now Brenda Priddy's crew has caught some more shots of the new SUV that will be based on the same platform as the new Tundra.

Jalopnik has posted several photos of the upcoming 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser. As we all know the Land Cruiser is built on the same platform as the recently revealed 2008 Lexus LX570. From the photos it looks like the new Land Cruiser will look almost the same us the new Lexus.

Lexus has announced plans for a dedicated hybrid model for the UK and Japanese markets. The hybrid will be Lexus' most affordable hybrid and will be priced between the IS and RX 400h SUV.

According to the Associated Press, Toyota is planning on releasing a second dedicated brand of hybrid vehicles in 2009. Toyota's initial plans are to sell a 100,000 of these new vehicles around the world.

The 2008 Toyota Highlander will be in showrooms within the next few weeks and Toyota has finally announced the pricing for its new SUV. The 4-cylinder from the last generation will not be carried over and therefore buyers will only have one engine choice, the 270hp, 3.5L V6 from the Camry and Avalon. Apparently Toyota is very happy with the fuel economy of the new model. The FWD models will get 17/23 and the all-wheel-drive models will achieve 16/22. Are those numbers that great?

Toyota has announced new incentives on its new Tundra that will run through July 31st. The new incentives are: up to $3,500 in rebates, zero percent interest for up to five years or a $500 reduction on down payments for three-year leases.

Scion, Toyota's youth oriented brand has been on the market for only about four years, but Toyota has managed to hit their target market head on. One of the main reasons that Scion is one of the most recognized car brands among younger drivers is because of their marketing. Scion is not pitched as only a car brand, but a lifestyle. When you buy a Scion you are not only getting a "cool" ride, but you are also gaining access to a community.

Toyota is going to postpone the launch of the next-generation Toyota Prius to Spring 2009. The original intro date was supposed to be fall 2008, but due to battery issues the car is being delayed.

Just in time for the summer driving season Hertz and Avis have announced that they will be adding Toyota Prius hybrid cars to their rental car fleets.

Spy photographers have caught the upcoming 2009 Lexus LF-A testing. The prototype seen here has many features, such as the function-only taillights that are meant to hide the actual styling of the car.

Yesterday we informed you about the new campaign that Saturn is going to do, which will involve placing Toyota Camrys and Honda Accords in Saturn showrooms. Saturn hopes that buyers will see that their Aura sedan is better than the Accord or Camry. The comments are still coming in about that original story.(Click Here) Well now thanks to Autoblog and Saturn we have a look at their first commercial for the campaign. The video is after the jump.

It seems like GM is becoming very confident in their new models. First the automaker announced that they are going to have Toyota Camrys and Honda Accords in their Chevrolet showrooms, so that buyers can compare them against the new 2008 Chevy Malibu. Well now Saturn is going to try the same idea with its Aura sedan.

Lately it seems that hybrids get all the attention for being fuel-efficient, but there are a handful of non-hybrid cars that get close to the same levels as the hybrids. In the US this list is dominated by Honda, Toyota and Nissan. Only one European model made the list, the MINI. The big question is: Why aren't there any models from Ford, GM or Chrysler on this list?

J.D. Power and Associates has released the results of their 2007 Initial Quality Survey. Porsche held the top spot with only 91 problems per 100 vehicles for the second time in a row. But it was Ford that made the biggest headlines.

The Detroit Free Press has posted the list of the top-20 best selling vehicles in the US last month. The list looks pretty similar to last month, with only a few vehicles moving up or down the list. The overall trend seems to be that consumers are moving further away from trucks and SUVs.

Well apparently you can buy a new solar panel kit for your Prius that will save you even more gas! Solar Electrical Vehicles (SEV) has created a solar panel kit for the current Prius that will allow the car to travel up to 20 miles on the battery alone.

A new study by Harbour Consulting has announced that Toyota is the most productive automaker, since it only takes Toyota 29.93 hours to make a car. Nissan came in second with 29.97 hours and Honda came in third at 31.63 hours.

According to Japan's newspaper, Nikkan Kogyo Toyota is delaying the use of lithium-ion batteries in the next generation Prius because of safety concerns.

The new Toyota Tundra has had quite a few dings against it lately. First the truck failed to grab 5 stars in safety tests (two times), Toyota started to offer rebates on some of the configurations, and now there are camshaft quality issues.

This fall BMW is going to launch many changes to the current MINI lineup that will result in increased fuel-efficiency across all models. The changes will result in increased engine performance and fuel efficiency all without the use of hybrid technology or alternative fuels.

The first spy photos of the upcoming 2008 Toyota Sequoia have surfaced. As you can tell the new SUV will adopt many styling cues from the new Tundra.

According to the Nikkei, Nissan is going to launch three subcompact cars in the US. The cars are expected to be here by the end of next year. The new cars will allow Nissan to compete with Toyota's Scion.

Some more pics of the interior of the upcoming 2008 Lexus IS-F have surfaced courtesy of Club Lexus & flipside909.com.

Last month I reported that the Canadian goverment had inacted new legislation that gave buyers of fuel-efficient vehicles a $1,000 rebate. If the vehicle falls below the fuel-economy threshold of 6.5 liters per 100 kilometers, the car is eligible for the rebate. Well that basically meant that the Honda Fit did not qualify because it only acheives 6.6L, but the Toyota Yaris does qualify. That did not sit well with Honda.

According to TundraHeadquarters Toyota is going to release a hybrid version of the Tundra in 2009 as a 2010 model. The truck will feature the 4.7L V8 and a hybrid system that combined will put out 400 horsepower, gobs of torque and manage to achieve 20 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

According to a review by The Truth About Cars the new Scion xB pales in comparison to the first generation. The writer feels that Toyota adopted many of the same methods that brought GM down. "It bristles with classic GM-think: dumb it down, fatten it up and cheapen it out."

Today as I was driving through the over crowded streets of LA and I came across a small caravan of three Toyota vehicles. The first vehicle was a camouflaged Scion xD and the third car was the Lexus ES350. The car in the middle is what caught my attention. I assume that the car was the upcoming replacement for the Toyota Matrix, which is rumored to be named the Toyota Blade when it is released next spring.

According to a report by the Automotive News, GM is going to try to convince buyers that its new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu is better than the Toyota Camry by having the Camry in their showrooms.

PC Magazine has listed what they feel are the vehicles with the best technology. For the second year the BMW X5 was listed as their top vehicle and took home the magazine's "Digital Drive Car of the Year" award. The X5 was picked because of its adaptive drive, spilt-screen navigation, real-time traffic reports and front and rear sonar.

Toyota is currently the leader in hybrid sales and they intend to stay that way. Last year the automaker sold 313,000 hybrids and this year they are expected to sell 430,000. Increased pressure from competitors and new diesel technology is forcing the automaker to find ways to cut costs. Toyota hopes to make as much money on hybrids as they do from conventional cars by the end of the decade.

Honda has announced that it will put its new fuel-cell vehicle into production next year. The automaker is also working on another hybrid vehicle that will be cheaper and smaller than the current Civic Hybrid.

According to Automobile, the Toyota FT-HS is going to be released in 2009. The hybrid sports car has been given the green light.

Toyota recently unveiled the Hybrid X Concept at the Geneva Auto Show. The familiar shape of the concept car lead many people to believe that it was a preview of the next generation Prius. According to Automobile Magazine and Toyota insiders Toyota is going to offer three versions of the next generation Prius.

In the past month GM has announced that their sales were down due to the slowing housing market and increasing gas prices. The automaker also stated that the sales of their new full-size pickups are not doing as well as they had hoped. Now comes word that the automaker is offering incentives to move the large trucks, since sales dropped 7% last month.

Spy photos of the upcoming Opel Vectra have surfaced. Most people know that the Opel Vectra is essentially the same thing as the Saturn Aura that we have here in the U.S. This is likely to continue with the next generation Vectra, which is due for 2010.

Since the concept version of the Chevrolet Volt was unveiled earlier this year, GM has been working hard on the production model. The project which is going to cost the automaker at least $500 million is as top of a priority as the new 2008 Chevy Malibu.

Edmunds.com has posted a list of the most wanted cars in 2007 based on reader feedback. Out of the 32 categories you may be surprised which automaker took home the most awards....

Airbags have been in our cars for two decades. Recently automakers are trying to put as many airbags as they can into their new vehicles. But is it merely for added safety or another marketing tactic? Airbags are popping up in every area of the car from the side air bags to knee airbags. Are automakers going a little overboard or are the new airbags a welcome addition?

Transmission maker ZF has announced plans to produce an 8-speed automatic transmission that will likely be used in future Ford, BMW and VW vehicles. The transmission called the "8HP" will be used in the new 2009 BMW 7-Series that will debut in late 2008.

The Car Connection has posted several images of the new 2009 Ford F-150 during testing outside of Detroit. Spy photographers managed to capture photos of the different configurations of the popular truck.

Recently I had the chance to drive the 2007 Nissan Altima S for the day. When given the choice at the rental car counter between a Ford Taurus, Chevy Impala, Pontiac Grand Prix or a brand new 2007 Nissan Altima, I immediately jumped at the chance to drive Nissan's popular mid-size sedan. With the ever-increasing gas prices, more economical sedans are becoming increasingly popular. The version I was given was a 2007 Altima S, which is the base 4-cylinder.

April's auto sales numbers have just been posted and almost every major automaker had a sales decrease last month. Even the Asian automakers that have been making headlines for their sales gains, took a hit.

Automakers have just released their April 2007 U.S. sales figures. Here is the list of the top 10 best selling vehicles last month (in order by number of sales). The bottom of the list may surprise you.

Now that GM is the Number Two automaker in the world, many analysts are discussing what the automaker needs to do in order to get back on top. Alex Taylor at Fortune wrote an article on what he suggests the automaker do to gain back their title.

The Hollywood Extra has posted a photo of a Toyota Corolla, but it is not known if this is the version we will get in the U.S.

For the first time ever, Toyota has sold more cars and trucks worldwide than GM, in the first three months of this year. Toyota's sales for the first quarter rose 9% to a record 2.35 million compared to GM which only rose 3% to 2.26 million vehicles.

Apparently Honda is having this exact dilemma in Canada. New Canadian regulations have been imposed that give buyers of fuel-efficient vehicles a $1,000 rebate. If the vehicle falls below the fuel-economy threshold of 6.5 liters per 100 kilometers, the car is eligible for the rebate.

Kelly Blue Book has compiled their list of the top 10 coolest cars under $18,000. Today as the average car price is well into the $20,000's it is good to know that there are cheaper alternatives that are still cool to own.

Apparently the environmentally friendly Toyota Prius has failed emissions tests in the state of Georgia. 2007 is the first year that drivers of the 2004 Prius are required to get emissions tests and drivers of the cars are finding out they are not passing the tests.

According to a post on The Car Connection, Subaru would not exist if it wasn't for Toyota. According the CEO, without Toyota's support Subaru's future would have been unknown.

Lexus has just released the pricing for its newest hybrid, the 2008 Lexus LS 600h L Hybrid. The car is going to have a base price of $104,750, which is much higher than the $71,715 base price of the non-hybrid version.

The 2008 Lexus IS-F made its debut at the Detroit Auto Show this month. It is also being displayed in all its glory at the New York Auto show this week.

Scion has released the pricing and specs for the all-new 2008 Scion xB. The new car is larger than the previous box on wheels.

Lexus introduced its new 2008 Lexus LX570 to the world today at the New York Auto Show. The most notable cahnge besides its styling is the name change from LX470 to LX570.

Toyota's sales increased 9% last month compared to March 2006. This was largely driven by sales of the new Camry, the RAV4 and the Prius.

According to a story on USA Today, Californians seem willing to pay as much as $4,000 more for a hybrid vehicle with the state issued carpool stickers than for hybrids that don't have it.

There have been rumors circulating since last September that Toyota is planning on introducing a car smaller than the Yaris to compete with the upcoming Smart, in the U.S. Well spy photographers have noticed a few Peugeot 107's driving around Michigan.

Well according to Dan Neil at the L.A. Times the answer is yes. He wrote an article today that discusses his opinion about Toyota's smallest car (in the U.S.), the Toyota Yaris.

According to an article posted on The Recorder Online by Chris Demorro, the Toyota Prius, the most popular hybrid is not actually that efficient. "Their ultimate 'green car' is the source of some of the worst pollution in North America; it takes more combined energy per Prius to produce than a Hummer."

The NHTSA has just released the crash test results of the new 2007 Toyota Tundra and they are not as good as expected. Both the regular cab and crew cab versions of the truck only received four stars. Every other full-size truck has received five stars, including the recently released Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra. This means that the likelihood of being injured in a frontal crash could be up to 10% higher in the Tundra than its domestic rivals. The main issue is that the Tundra does not ride on a full boxed frame like its competition. Instead it is a three part system with only the front part being fully boxed.

This news comes right after Toyota has announced incentives on the Tundra. This news only gives the other truck makers another claim that their product is better.

The 2007 New York Auto Show will host the world premiere of the all-new 2008 Lexus LX 570 SUV. According to Lexus " The third-generation LX 570 will reach new heights in performance via a new V8 engine while achieving elevated levels of comfort, style and safety." The name change from LX 470 to LX 570 suggests that the SUV will use the new 5.7L V-8 from the recently introduced Toyota Tundra. The Tundra has 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. Lexus hasn't released actual specifications of the new SUV.

According to the Wall Street Journal Toyota is offering a $1500 rebate on the base Tundra. The rebate is going to last the entire month of March. This shows that most Tundra buyers are not interested in the base model, since the rebate is not offered on the higher end Tundras. I would think that they would need to have some sort of incentive to compete with the domestic brands. All of their full size trucks always have rebates. Toyota also revealed that they may fall short of their goal of selling 200,000 Tundras this year. If that is the case they may start to offer a small rebate on the rest of the models, just to keep them moving off the lots.

Toyota officially announced today their plans to build the new Toyota Highlander in northeast Mississippi. The plant will be located near Tupelo, will cost the company $1.8 billion, and employ 2,000 workers.

Toyota is going to release a 2007 Camry Hybrid 50th Anniversary Edition, that will list for $31,680. The car is meant to commemorate Toyota's 50 years of business in the US. They are only planning on producing 3000 of these cars.

Following their recent successes, the automaker is becoming increasingly worried about a future backlash.

Toyota's next Matrix will not be named the Matrix. The automaker is going to target the Mazda 3 five-door for the new car. It will still be based off the Corolla platform, but will adopt the name "Blade" that is currently used in Japan.

Toyota will unveil the Hybrid X Concept at the Geneva Auto Show next month. This car gives us a glimpse at what future hybrids will look like from the automaker, specifically the next Prius.

Along with the new xB and xD Scions, Toyota has also announced the changes to the 2008 Scion tC.

Toyota has unveiled the new 2008 Highlander and Hybrid at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show. The new Highlander is larger than the old version.

Scion has released the new 2008 Scion xB and xD at the Chicago Auto Show.