Toyota‘s collaboration with American electric car maker Tesla Motors has been described by many as a publicity stunt, but Toyota’s announcement to build 35 test models with plans for a full production model in 2012 is silencing doubters.

Debuting at the LA Auto Show, the RAV4 EV Demonstration Vehicle looks like an Acura RDX thanks to some funky bodywork. Toyota says its targeting a 100-mile range for the car which is 220-lbs heavier than the standard gasoline model, but can accelerate to 60-mph in roughly the same amount of time.

There’s far more to this project than just swapping out the gas engine for an electric motor and some batteries, however, with Toyota claiming that in order to achieve a similar weight distribution, several major components had to be redesigned. Of note, the EV model retains the factory crossover’s 74 cubic feet or cargo room

Toyota Motor Sales President Jim Lentz, commented in LA that many of the final decisions have yet to be made about the RAV4 EV’s production, including where it will be built. Currently the RAV4 vehicle comes from Toyota’s facility in Woodstock, Ontario while Tesla does its part in Palo Alto, Calif.

And while Toyota rolls out this new electric vehicle concept, it’s not betting on electric cars – or any one type of technology for that matter. In the timeframe it takes to bring the RAV4 EV to market, Toyota will also launch its own electric commuter vehicle, as well as a Prius Plug-in Hybrid.

GALLERY: Toyota RAV4 EV Debut in LA

GALLERY: Toyota RAV4 EV

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Official release after the jump:

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If you’ve been wondering what the replacement for the Nissan Altima is going to look like, we think we might have something that will interest you. At the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show today, Nissan unveiled its Ellure Concept, a front-wheel drive sedan that hints at future models. It’s probably safe to assume that Nissan wouldn’t have built the Ellure unless they were going to get some kind of production vehicle out of it and the Ellure fits the Altima mold.

Powering the Ellure is a supercharged version of Nissan’s 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to a hybrid drive system using a lithium-ion battery. And as the design of the Ellure hints at the next Altima, this powertrain is another clue that Nissan is planning a hybrid variant of it’s next mid-size sedan.

We’re excited to see Nissan stepping up its game with the Ellure. Back when the current Altima debuted it was as big of a shock to the industry as the new Hyundai Sonata is now and Nissan looks to continue to deliver models that are high on performance and style – even in the mid-size sedan segment.

GALLERY: Nissan Ellure Concept Debut in LA

GALLERY: Nissan Ellure Concept

Official press release and video of the Ellure from its LA Auto Show debut after the jump:

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When GM announced an Initial Public Offering (IPO) of common stock back in August, investors sat up and took notice.

The mere fact that the automaker was considering to trade shares on the markets once again was a sign that perhaps, things were gathering steam once again. Now, the General has upped the size of its stock offering from 365 million to 478 million shares, which will be sold for between $32 and $34 each (this is up from the  $26-29 a share that was originally forecast). In addition the company will also sell $4 billion worth of preferred shares, largely in response to buoyant demand.

If the underwriters of the deal decide to exercise an overallotment provision, the IPO has the potential to raise as much as $18 billion in common stock and $4.6 billion in dividend paying shares for GM.

However, with the US Treasury having acquired 61 percent of General Motors as part of the bailout and restructuring agreement, the company would need to achieve a market value of approximately $66 billion, for the amount of investment by the US government, on the backs of taxpayers to break even.  However with today’s IPO it’s hoped that the amount of money generated  from the share offering will allow GM’s CEO Dan Ackerson to return a healthy portion of the $49.5 billion in bailout funds GM received last year. It will also likely reduce the US government’s stake in the company to around 26 percent, though the Treasury will still be taking a hit on the deal, unless the shares climb to more than 50 percent of their projected value.

However, despite the apparent good news, GM has cautioned that despite making a third quarter net profit of some $2.16 billion this year, it’s fourth quarter earnings will likely be lower because of the costs of launching new vehicles and ongoing struggles with its European operations.

[Source: Automotive News]

Along with the debut of the new Fit EV Concept at the LA Auto Show, Honda provided details on its first-ever plug-in hybrid powertrain that will hit the market over the next few years.

While Honda has already said the system will be a two-mode hybrid and will be designed to work with a mid-size platform (like the Accord), today Honda CEO Takanobu Ito revealed that the powertrain will make use of a 2.0-liter iVTEC 4-cylinder engine – likely a version of the current K Series powerplant used in the Civic Si.

Using regenerative braking to recharge the battery and featuring a start-stop system, the plug-in hybrid will make use of a 6kWh lithium-ion battery mated to a 120 kW electric motor delivering a 10-15 mile range on just electricity.

Charging the battery will take roughly 2 hours using a conventional outlet, or just an hour using a 240-volt outlet.

Honda also says the car will revert to a direct-drive mode for highway cruising, where only the engine will drive the wheels.

Official release after the jump:

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Introducing the new Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG, the folks from M-B mentioned that there will be a free one day driving school for anyone who buys one of these beasts. With 550 horsepower and 590 lb ft of torque, we suggest adding a day or two to that free offer.

The particular bi-turbo V8 car they brought to the stage in L.A. was a matte finish and it looked amazingly menacing. In fact, those legendarily humorous Germans kept referring to it as their “Action Hero” for Los Angeles. The new CLS63 promises more power and a huge 32 percent improvement in fuel economy too, with an EPA estimated 24 mpg in mixed driving.

GALLERY: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS63

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Official release after the jump:

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Subaru just revealed what they had been hiding under that sheet the past little while at the LA Auto Show. It was the Subaru Impreza Concept.

A thinly veiled mockup of the future Impreza sedan, the car looks a bit like a bigger Mazda3. Actually it looks closer in size to the Mazda6. It has definitely bulked up. No matter, it looks just fine, sporting what we’d have to say is closer to WRX trim than a base Impreza has any right to wear.

GALLERY: Subaru Impreza Design Concept

See the official press release plus live video from the LA Auto Show after the jump:

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The 2011 Nissan Quest may not be the official holder of the “Swagger Wagon” title, but it looks pretty damn good. On sale in early 2011, the new Quest is a radical departure from the old model, which was as exciting as vegan meatballs.

All the usual minivan conveniences are present, like flat-folding seats, power sliding doors, 2nd and 3rd row entertainment systems, tire pressure monitoring systems and a removable 2nd row console.

Power comes from Nissan’s ubiquitous 3.5L V6 making 253 horsepower. Four trim levels will be available, but pricing has yet to be announced.

[Source: Nissan]

Gallery: 2011 Nissan Quest

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Absent from the American market since 1982, Fiat is now back in big way. Chrysler announced today a list of 130 dealerships across the country that have received letters of intent for a Fiat franchise.

Once these dealers fulfill the requirements of the letter and can provide the facilities and requirements submitted in their proposals made to Auburn Hills; they can begin selling Fiat vehicles, beginning with the pint sized 500. The car, which as been on sale in Europe for a few years, is being officially introduced to the North American market this week at the Los Angeles International Auto Show.

And although a few 500s will be arriving in dealerships next month, none will be officially sold until January 2011, and even then they’ll only be  trickling out in small numbers. A volume launch of the North American 500, which will be built in Mexico and classed as a 2012 model year vehicle, according to Chrysler spokesman Ralph Kisiel; isn’t planned until a couple of months later in March.

Chrysler says it ultimately plans to have 165 dealers in the Fiat retail network and is already talking to those beyond the initial 130; some of which are currently not Chrysler franchises. It is also tentatively looking at dealer proposals for Alfa Romeo franchises, when that brand is set to return to these shores, sometime in 2012.

Click here for complete details on the new 2012 Fiat 500.

Get more Fiat 500 news and info at Fiat500Owners.com

Hit the jump for the complete list of dealers and to find out the nearest one to you. Plus, we’ve included a short video of the all-new Fiat 500 from the car’s LA Auto Show debut:

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Nissan literally pulled the cover off its 2011 Murano in Los Angeles today, unveiling for the first time on these shores the new open top version dubbed the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet.

Painted seafoam green with a light interior, it looked ready for South Beach on the opposite coast. Nissan says they envision females in their 30s or 40s as the primary target audience for this massive convertible, but they held short of calling it the Murano CougarCabriolet.

They also announced pricing would start at $46,390 when this 2011 model hits dealer showrooms early in 2011.

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Get more info in the official press release after the jump:

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Kia took the wraps off their Optima Hybrid at the Los Angeles Auto Show today, and no surprise here, it’s exactly the same as it’s corporate sibling, the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid.

Fortunately for the Optima, this gives the car a huge leg-up. Our review of the Sonata Hybrid was quite positive, and we expect the slightly sportier Optima Hybrid to be even better.

The same 206 horsepower 4-cylinder hybrid motor and 6-speed automatic will be standard on the Optima, which will also use the Sonata’s innovative lithium-polymer battery pack. One interesting detail that separates the two is the more discreet styling of the Optima Hybrid, while the equivalent Sonata is substantially different looking compared to its gasoline counterparts.

Pricing hasn’t been announced, but expect it to come within a few hundred dollars of the Sonata.

[Source: Kia]