The next generation of Nissan’s Titan pickup truck is scheduled to arrive somewhere around 2014 and could be joined or even proceeded by a heavy-duty version. The news comes from a report by PickupTrucks.com, after an interview with Larry Dominique, vice president advanced and product planning and strategy at Nissan North America.

Despite making up only a miniscule segment of the truck market (2.11 percent to be exact), Nissan execs have repeatedly enforced the automaker’s commitment to offer a light duty full sized pickup truck. Initially Nissan was working with Chrysler to develop a new truck based on the Ram 1500, but after Chrysler’s bankruptcy proceedings and takeover by Fiat, the new Chrysler company broke off the agreement.

With the Titan’s future uncertain and market conditions unfavorable, sales plunged throughout the year, but Dominique believes the truck may have hit a turning point as original buyers seek to replace their trucks with new models.

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has said publicly that Nissan without Chrysler’s help, Nissan will go it alone, developing an all new Titan from the ground up.

Dominique is currently putting together a proposal for his bosses that would see the Titan and a heavy duty Titan share some exterior and interior parts, but with different frames. Ideally, this would lower production costs, while expanding Nissan’s share of the truck market.

With a date of roughly 2014 to the new Titan the current truck could have a production run of 11 years. Nissan will attempt to keep its truck fresh and competitive with updates from other trucks, like the Armada and Infiniti QX56.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Lotus has just announced the introduction of the Evora Cup car, which will compete in its own spec series in 2010. Stripped-down and powered-up, the Evora Cup car weighs just 2,645 lbs and features a larger 4.0-liter V6 engine that makes an impressive 395-hp.

The race car is built to FIA GT4 specs and will be eligible to run in many international racing series, as well as in the Lotus Evora Cup, which will take place at several racetracks throughout Europe in 2010, with plans to expand the series for 2011 already in place.

Lotus is supporting the series with €100,000 ($160,000) in prizes. As for the car itself, it will cost £120,000 ($175,000).

The Lotus Evora Cup car will first be shown at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham, England this weekend, with full details being released at the Geneva Auto Show in March.

Those interested in the series can find out more at: http://www.lotusevoracup.com/

Official release after the jump:

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Volkswagen will double its sales in the U.S. in the next two to three years says VW of America CEO Stefan Jacoby. Currently the German automaker sells just over 200,000 units in the U.S. annually, moving 213,454 cars and crossovers in 2009, down slightly from 2008. Jacoby believes sales will rise to 400,000 to 450,000 units in the next 24 to 36 months, in accordance with a larger goal by the company to deliver U.S. sales of 800,000 units sold in the U.S. by 2018.

To do this, VW is planning an onslaught of new models specific to the American market – something the German automaker has never really tried before. In the past most VW models were smaller, more premium and more expensive than their competition, but VW is hoping that a new mid-size sedan and new compact sedan that are larger and cheaper than the Passat and Jetta they replace will boost sales considerably.

Just recently VW also showcased a the New Compact Coupe concept at the Detroit Auto Show (above), that may also foreshadow a new coupe model from the brand as well as a hybrid.

VW has yet to confirm if its plans to grow the brand in the U.S. will include a sub-compact like the Polo model sold in the U.S.

[Source: Automotive News via Autoblog]

Cadillac reps won’t say as much, but General Motors Vice Chairman and product boss Bob Lutz has said that the Cadillac Converj will see production. Similar in many ways to the Cadillac CTS Coupe, the Converj gets more futuristic styling and is powered by a similar drivetrain to the Chevy Volt.

According to a report by InsideLine, however, Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell said no production plans have yet been made. “It’s a concept we’re excited about and is under consideration,” he said. “Nothing has been changed in terms of the way we’re working on that project. It’s still in the same realm. It’s not as if the status of that project has reached a different level.”

Cadillac and GM as a whole will have to think long and hard about its strategy for Voltec powered vehicles, although offering the expensive engines in premium priced Cadillac models would make absorbing the cost easier. It is possible, as Lutz seems to indicate, that the Voltec strategy is already decided upon, with the Converj just the first of two Cadillac concepts to feature a version of the Volt’s high-tech electric engine setup.

Most recently Cadillac unveiled the XTS Platinum Concept, which uses a 3.6-liter direct-injection V6 and an electric motor to make 350-hp. It’s possible that a similar powerplant could be used for a production version of the Converj.

If what Lutz is to be believed (remember he erroneously said the G8 would stick around as a Chevy) the Converj wouldn’t arrive for at least two years, with the Volt still not due out until the end of this year.

[Source: InsideLine]

Companies like Audi have been at the forefront of the small premium car segment and with American buyers finally moving away from the idea that luxury means large, Audi is planning to meet that demand with a new model – the A3 sedan.

Planned for 2012 as a 2013 model, the A3 sedan will also help to draw in premium car buyers who might be open to small luxury cars, but not to the idea of a small luxury hatchback.

Expect the new A3 sedan to be offered with either a front drive and quattro all-wheel drive setup, with power coming from (what else?) the company’s turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder.

With sales of the A3 sedan likely to overtake the hatchback rather quickly, if demand for the car is significant, Audi might finally see fit to deliver a high-performance S3 model (currently offered in hatchback from in Europe) in North America.

[Source: InsideLine]

Nissan is planning to bring its new Juke compact crossover to North America, which will slot in just underneath the Rogue in the Japanese automaker’s lineup. Somewhere between a crossover and an MPV, this new model is inspired by the Nissan Qazana, which debuted at last year’s Geneva Auto Show. The only details we have on it are the photo above, but from that it certainly seems to target models like the Kia Soul.

The decision to bring this smaller crossover to North America seems to be a part of a larger plan by Nissan to be at the forefront of the current downsizing in the U.S. auto industry, while it also shows the automaker’s interest in lowering development costs through the use of more global platforms. Prior to this announcement, Nissan has also said it will deliver two new small cars to the U.S., based on the replacement for the Nissan Micra.

Along with the Juke, Nissan will bring seven other new models to North America in 2010 and early 2011, including the M37 and M56, the 40th Anniversary Edition 370Z, the Infinti QX56, the NV 2500 commercial vehicle, the Leaf electric car, a new Infiniti variant (presumably the G25) and the all-new Quest minivan.

The Nissan Juke could debut in production form as early as the Chicago Auto Show next month, but a more likely debut for this global platform is the Geneva Auto Show in March.

GALLERY: Nissan Qazana

[Source: USAToday]

While Honda has made known plans to squeeze added fuel economy out of its Insight, the Japanese automaker is set to debut a new concept that looks at the sporty side of the hybrid. Called the Insight Sorts Modulo Concept, it is set to debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon later this week.

With the theme of “Exciting Eco” this new concept features some major aerodynamic enhancements, although Honda has yet to release any info on what makes it more exciting.

Additional concepts set to be on display by Honda include the feminine Freed MPV, coated in a shade of purple and with plenty of exterior graphics and custom interior treatments. Finally, a bright yellow Honda Life completes the lineup of concepts.

Along with several other production models, Honda will show off the Civic Type-R Euro. Specially made for the European market, it was so highly praised by the press there, that Honda has decided to offer it to domestic buyers.

GALLERY: Honda Insight Sports Modulo Concept

Official release after the jump:

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Nissan, which currently sells a stripped-down version of its sub-compact Versa for less than $10,000, is set to offer two more models in the four digit price range. According to a report by Automotive News, Nissan chairman for the America, Carlos Tavares, has said that two new sub-$10,000 vehicles will join Nissan’s lineup in the U.S. and Canada, based of of the company’s new V platform, which will underpin a replacement for the Micra/March overseas.

As evidenced by this weeks Detroit Auto Show, many automakers are moving towards small cars and Nissan’s new Micra-replacement isn’t likely to be overly small as the sub-compact Versa is somewhat large for its class.

The two new vehicles will be built in Mexico alongside a third model, which will be distributed in South America.

This new small car will be one of the first of its segment in North American, joining cars like the upcoming Chevy Spark and the Fiat 500 (although the 500 is likely to be priced much higher).

[Source: Automotive News via Autoblog]

Later this year, Infiniti will launch a turbocharged 2.5-liter version of its G sedan. This new model will directly target entry-level luxury competitors like the BMW 328i, Lexus IS250 and AudiA4 2.0T.

The Infiniti G25 (G25t?) will use the 2.5-liter V6 currently found in the Japanese-market Infiniti G, which is known as the Skyline. In Japan, the non-turbocharged 2.5-liter motor makes 210-hp and 195 ft-lbs o torque, meaning that a turbocharged version should produce closer to 250-hp. This would put it ahead of the competition in terms of power and offer more attractive fuel economy, not to mention a more attainable price.

Currently only a G25 sedan is planned and there is no word on if Infinti will offer the new engine in its coupe and convertible models.

The Infiniti G25 is expected to arrive this Fall.

[Source: InsideLine]

A brand desperately in search of a clear direction, Acura will soon deliver a hybrid model says Honda CEO Takanobu Ito.

The announcement was made by Ito just prior to introducing the latest hybrid in the Honda lineup, the CR-Z. Ito did not comment on if an Acura hybrid would use Honda’s IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) hybrid technology, which by all accounts is outdated compared to full-hybrid systems currently on the market from company’s like Toyota and Ford.

Acura has struggled to find itself in the luxury marketplace since it moved away from entry-level models like the RSX and decided not to offer competitive top-tier products to compete with vehicles like the Lexus LS. Plans to build a successor to the NSX have all but fallen apart, even though the company recently debuted what appears to be a very capable replacement (the HSV-010). Honda has said that model is only for racing.

In the past Ito has commented that Honda has no plans to deliver a V8 engine, meaning that Acura won’t be competing with Lexus in the premium flagship segment any time soon. Meanwhile, the Acura brand has launched the ZDX, a coupe-styled crossover, aimed at a very small segment of the market.

It’s likely the first hybrid from Acura will be based on the ucoming relacement for the RL, however, an entry-level hybrid model is also a possibility.