(October 21, 2009) TOKYO — Honda has debuted the much-anticipated CR-Z Concept 2009, the second concept version of the stylish, sporty hybrid coupe, at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show. While the vehicle displayed at the show is a global concept with a rear seat, the production version that will be introduced to North America in the second half of 2010 will be packaged as a sporty, 2-seat hybrid that provides a personal driving experience for North American customers.

(October 20, 2009) Honda CEO Takanobu Ito said he would consider launching electric cars in the United States, Europe and Japan, a sign Japan's No. 2 automaker is changing its strategy for the next generation of fuel-efficient vehicles.

Honda, whose Insight hybrid is trailing far behind the Toyota Prius, has been aiming to leapfrog the competition in the next generation of zero-emission technology by focusing on the development of hydrogen fuel-cell cars.

(October 19, 2009) AutoWeek magazine reports today that Volkswagen will probably drop the Passat sedan and wagon in 2011 when VW's new U.S.-built mid-sized four-door is expected to go on sale.

"We are looking at it in detail," Stefan Jacoby, VW Group of America CEO, said this month.

The U.S.-built sedan, which has yet to be named, will be larger than the Passat but priced lower.

"We'll have two sedans coming out at the same time, and the smaller one will cost considerably more than the bigger one," said a VW spokesman.

(October 19, 2009) Ford is to throw a lifeline to thousands of historic Formula Ford racers worldwide thanks to a decision to put the legendary 'Kent' engine block back into production. Engineering work has already begun at Ford Racing’s Performance Parts division in the USA, with sales scheduled to start in 2010.

(October 17, 2009) Toyota said on Friday that it plans to resume a second shift at its San Antonio, Texas, plant in February for the first time since August 2008, adding production of Tundra full-size pickup trucks.

The move comes after Toyota had reduced its Tundra inventory to below 45 days of supply, and as the automaker prepares to move the production of its smaller Tacoma pickup to the Texas plant from a California plant that is slated to close next year, spokesman Mike Goss said.

(October 16, 2009) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Edmunds.com has preliminarily forecast that General Motors retail market share for October will rise to 22.4 percent from the third-quarter retail average of 19.1 percent.

Edmunds.com also estimates the Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) of sales for October to date is in the low 10 million rate.

(October 16, 2009) Toyota's 2010 hybrid Prius leads the industry in fuel economy at 48 miles per gallon/city and 51 mpg/highway, while Ford boasts four vehicles on a U.S. government list released on Thursday of the most-efficient models.

Japanese manufacturers again dominated the annual rankings issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), placing eight gasoline/electric hybrid models in the top ten.

(October 15, 2010) Since launching its money-back-guarantee program, General Motors has had just one customer returnd a vehicle. Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman, said GM has sold about 150,000 vehicles since the program began. Of that, just over 100 customers have opted to take a 60-day money-back guarantee, Lutz said. The rest turned down that option and instead took a $500 cash incentive.

(October 14, 2009) As part of Buick's strategy to engage and listen to its dealers, more than 1,000 dealers this week will be the first to learn the name of Buick’s next mid-size sport sedan will be the Buick Regal. The announcement was made at the Buick/GMC dealer business meeting.

(October 14, 2009) Nissan plans to recall as many as 143,000 cars to replace a nut in the tire-pressure monitoring system that may corrode and crack in areas with heavy concentrations of road salt, the government said Monday.

A cracked nut could cause it to fall out of the sensor-transmitter that it secures, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a report on its Web site.