The Honda Accord Hybrid is now the focus of an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) over possible faulty brakes and ‘unintended acceleration.’

NHTSA is currently looking into a crash involving a 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid, where the driver reports the brakes failed to work and the vehicle accelerated on its own, crossed into traffic and crashed, leaving the passenger dead and the driver disabled.

The driver of the car lists 22 ‘similar’ cases in the NHTSA database involving Honda Accord Hybrid and Honda Civic Hybrid models.

Over the past year, Toyota has recalled 10 million vehicles due to highly publicized ‘unintended acceleration’ concerns. After significant investigation by NHTSA and the DOT, both organizations have determined driver error was the cause in the majority of cases while some cases did involve pedals becoming jammed due to issues with floor mats.

[Source: Automotive News]

After unveiling the U.S.-spec i-MiEV production car at the LA Auto Show last week, Mitsubishi has confirmed the electrification of its vehicles won’t end there. Next up is the Outlander SUV, which is set to get a plug-in hybrid powertrain when it launches in 2012.

According to Mitsubishi electric vehicle manager Yoshikazu Nakamura, the next-gen Outlander hybrid will be similar to the PX-MiEV concept from the 2009 Tokyo Auto Show. That vehicle uses a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder with two electric motors to deliver power to all four wheels in a unique AWD setup. Mitsubishi claims the concept can travel 30 miles on just electric power with a rating of 117.6 mpg.

The concept’s styling is also likely to show through in the production model, which Nakamura has confirmed is nearly production ready.

[Source: Automotive News via Motor Trend]

The EPA has just released its fuel economy figures for the first mass-production electric car and the Nissan Leaf gets a very impressive 99-mpg. Better yet, that’s 99-mpg on average, with a 106-mpg city rating and 92-mpg listing for highway cruising. That number is well ahead of the former industry leader, the Toyota Prius, with its 50-mpg average.

The EPA has designed a new rating system for electric cars that Nissan is so kind enough to explain in their press release. How it works is that the EPA has determined that 33.7 kWhs equals one gallon of gasoline. (In other words, one mpg = 33.7 kWh). With the Leaf rated at 3.4 miles per kWh with a battery pack of 24 kWh and is rated to travel up to 73 miles on that distance then the EPA has says there’s a possible distance of 99 miles if the car came with a 33.7 kWh battery pack.

The annual cost of running the Leaf on electric power is touted to be as little as just $561.

Official release after the jump:

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The recent switch to “down-sizing” technologies like turbocharging and direct-injection have allowed automakers like Chevy, Ford and Hyundai to leap past Toyota in the fuel economy race in recent years. During that time Toyota’s focus has been on hybridizing its lineup of vehicles, a move that does allow for more significant fuel economy gains, but which is expensive; a cost that is then passed on to the consumer. Toyota’s hybrid plans also tend to mean a less impressive performance numbers.

Steering the industry over the past decade, Toyota now appears to be succumbing to the pressure of its rivals and will begin to roll out extensive use of turbocharging and direct injection in its vehicles. While not a massive leap, it will allow for significant short term fuel economy gains, with these technologies proving just how much potential is left in the internal combustion engine.

In an interview with Automotive News Toyota’s R&D boss Takeshi Uchiyamada commented that we’ll see this engine technology in everything from the Corolla to Camry, while the company will improve its variable valve timing and begin using start/stop systems to further improve technology.

The move should also help Toyota save significantly on R&D costs. With the automaker already boasting excellent fuel economy numbers, just switching to direct-injection will put Toyota back on top in the fuel economy race, without the need to design and build an entirely new generation of engines.

Moving to turbochargers and direct-injection also holds promise for performance enthusiasts. And with Toyota’s long history of turbocharged performance, perhaps a new generation of sports cars like the FR-S/FT-86 could make use of turbo DI engines in order to achieve impressive fuel economy and fun.

[Source: Automotive News via Motor Trend]

Honda is currently working to bring to market a new sports car that will serve as a successor to the famed NSX. According to a new report Honda never gave up on its plans for an NSX, but rather put a hold on development during the economic downturn.

The next NSX won’t be at all related to past V10 concepts, nor will it have anything to do with the HSV-010 race car (above). Instead, Honda is planning a new hybrid sports car, based on a modified version of the Accord platform.

Sources inside Honda tell Motor Trend that the car will follow after the new CR-Z hybrid, but be a true sports car, rather than a “sports coupe,” hinting that the power output will be far more significant. Using either a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder or a version of the company’s 3.5-liter V6, the hybrid drivetrain will made over 400-hp and be offered with a true manual transmission.

Riding on the Accord platform, the car won’t be front-wheel drive, but rather AWD, and feature a mid-engine layout that will require significant changes to the structure. This will, however, help Honda bring to the car to market faster and cut R&D costs.

Not yet green-lighted for production, Honda could unveil the car as early as 2013.

[Source: Motor Trend]

We’ve got to say that this winter, Infiniti is really going downhill… in a good way. How is that possible? By partnering with Volant to offer a limited edition ski pack.

The luxury Japanese automaker has teamed with Volant, the Austria-based manufacturer of premium ski equipment, and the result is 100 Infiniti-Volant limited edition ski packs for winter sport enthusiasts in Europe.

You can already order the Infiniti-Volant Limited Edition Ski Packs, which are available at any of the 40 Infiniti Centres in Europe and come with a recommended ski pack price of £1,950. This price includes the cross bar T-Track adapter ski carrier, and each pair of bespoke Infiniti skis will be engraved with the customer’s name.

The partnership comes just in time for the 2010/2011 winter ski season, and marks the paring of two luxury brands to create a product that defines performance, exquisite design, and speed. It also provides Infiniti with a unique platform to expose their brand in a dynamic environment whilst also enhancing and enriching the Total Ownership Experience for existing customers.

Toru Saito, Corporate Vice President and Leader of the Global Infiniti Business Unit said, “Volant shares Infiniti’s core values of luxury, performance and unconventional style, and the continued dedication to the development of products which meet the needs of individuals who look to stand out from the crowd. In addition, with many of our existing owners sharing a passion for skiing, the Limited Edition Ski Packs are an ideal instrument for which to enjoy and be inspired by the exhilaration of the Infiniti brand whilst on the slopes.”

If you’re hitting the slopes in Europe, Infiniti will be showcasing their product range in joint initiatives at some of the most prestigious ski resorts of the Alps and Pyrenees regions, and throughout the European Volant retail network.

[Source: Infiniti]

Want to see automotive line workers, drinking, smoking and slacking off? Unfortunately, you have to go to Chrysler for that. GM, on the other hand, will be offering tours of all 54 plants throughout 2011 in a pretty cool but transparent PR move designed to shore up public opinion after the company launched its IPO this past week.

Naturally, the emphasis will be on the thousands of jobs that GM provides – and that were saved thanks to the automotive bailout. GM’s Corvette plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky was the only GM plant that offered regular tours before this initiative.

Hit the jump to read the official press release

[Source: GM]

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Oprah’s annual “Favorite Things” episode, where the billionaire talk show personality gives audience members a series of lavish gifts, saw the unveiling of the silhouette of the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, a first for the new car.

Oprah, who owns a current generation Beetle, contacted the automaker regarding a giveaway, and she was given a sneak peek of the unreleased car. The 2012 Beetle won’t be shown until next year after the Detroit Auto Show and winners will have to wait until late in 2011 to collect their cars.

The new Beetle’s design echoes the original Beetle much more closely, with a more aggressive, slanted roofline, rather than the 3 semi-circles look the current car trades on. Volkswagen CEO Jonathan Browning mentioned that the car would be given a sportier edge, with optional features like a sport suspension, sport seats and dual exhausts, while powerplants will include the cracking 2.0 Turbo 4-cylinder and torquey TDI diesel. Volkswagen is hoping to move away from the Beetle’s feminine image – and will ostensibly doing away with Barbie themed Beetles, like the one seen above.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Hit the jump to read the official press release

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Even though it’s spawned various stillborn re-incarnations, the VW Microbus may be returning thanks to executives within Volkswagen pushing for a concept that evokes the iconic utility vehicle.

Klaus Bischoff, head of design for Volkswagen, stated that the 2001 Microbus concept did not make it to production due to cost factors, but noted there was serious public support for the project.

Despite the goodwill expressed towards the project, Volkswagen remains unsure of what direction they will take with the Microbus. Bischoff told Auto Express that “the key question is ‘what sort of car should we build?’ It could be a traditional MPV, with a conventional interior, or we could be much bolder, designing a more flexible, versatile machine – perhaps one that is closer in spirit to the original model. It is not yet decided.”

A concept likely won’t be seen before 2012, but reports say that VW’s American and European design teams are working together to create something mutually acceptable for both markets.

[Source: Auto Express]

It’s time to start padding your holiday wish list, and you’re in luck, because we’ve found some great toys to ask for when you’re perched on Santa’s knee.

If you love the retro speedsters, you’ll want to get your stocking stuffed with 2011 Hot Wheels Vintage Racing Line. Just a few of the classics include the Hemi Darts of Dick Landy and Shirley Shahan, Dick Landy’s ’70 Challenger, Dave Strickler’s ’70 Camaro RS, a ’73 Sox & Martin Duster, and more. Under the Trans-Am line, there is Dan Gurney’s ’68 Cougar, AJ Foyt’s ’65 Mustang, George Follmer’s #16 ’70 Boss 302, an AAR Cuda, and other to be named soon. Other cars that will fill out the 30 in the series include vintage NASCAR pieces, like Richard Petty’s record-setting ’67 Plymouth.

And if you do fin a set of these beauties under the tree, we won’t judge you if you decide not to share them with the kids.

[Source: Hemmings Blog]