The ever-popular Toyota Prius is on hold, due to supplier shortages from the Japan earthquake, but it could return to near-normal levels soon—as early as next month.

Bob Carter, Toyota’s vice president for US sales, expects Prius supplies to return to 70 percent of its normal rate—i.e. before the earthquake. “If I had twice as many Priuses, we’d be selling twice as many,” he said.

At the beginning of the year, Toyota had predicted record sales of the Prius this year. Even despite the lack of supplies, sales of the Prius have been rising thanks to the new national average of $4-per gallon gas.

[Source: Left Lane News]

Having suffered more than other automakers due to the earthquake and tsunami that rocked Japan, Honda has been struggling to fix supply chain disruptions, which have resulted in plant slowdowns and limited vehicle availability at dealerships.

Now the company says most of those issues are being resolved and in a recent statement to its US dealer network, Honda said that production is expected to ramp up in the next few months, providing a significant inventory boost to dealers.

John Mendel, American Honda Executive VP told dealers in a company memo to expect the availability of vehicles in July to increase by 11 percent versus June, however supplies of bread and butter models such as the Civic and Accord remain low, with most current inventory currently comprising of traditionally slower selling vehicles such as the Fit subcompact along with the CR-V and Pilot SUVs.

However, Mendel encouraged dealers to be optimistic, saying “we all know that the automobile market is getting better and we want to be able to grow along with it,” though he also cautioned that at present dealers “need to continue to push hard on the sales front,” selling what inventory they have.

[Source: Automotive News]

Volkswagen is planning a coupe and convertible variant of the traditional 4-door Passat sedan/ wagon. This coupe is slated to fit below the Audi A5, as well as the convertible version.

The 2012 Volkswagen Passat is powered by a 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine producing 170-hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. Transmission choices include a standard transmission 5-speed manual while an optional 6-speed automatic is available. There is also a pricier 2.0-liter TDI Clean Diesel 4-cylinder powerplant producing 140-hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. If mated to a 6-sped DSG transmission, the 2012 Passat TDI can achieve 43 mpg on the highway and have a fuel range of 800 miles.  Buyers also have the choice of the powerful 3.6-liter VR6 engine that produces 280-hp and 258 lb-ft of torque and is capable of 28 mpg. 2012 Passat pricing will start around $20,000.

[Source: EGM Car Tech]

The Chevrolet Corvette is a great sports car and its relatively affordable price tag means it is a common sight. So what to do if you want a Corvette but also want to stand out from the crowd?

Easy, get it re-skinned from a coach-building company. There is no shortage of companies providing this service either, because Callaway, Rossi, Genadi and Soleil (just to name a few) can all make you a Corvette that will be rare and unique.

Now, a German company by the name Endora has also revealed sketches of its interpretation of the C6 Corvette. The model is referred to as SC-1, and it certainly has taken design inspiration from the 1960s. It mimics the coke-bottle look of the 1963 Corvette Stingray, with some sprinkling of the 1966 Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada thrown in for good measure. The headlamps however look to have been borrowed from the 2002 Acura NSX.

The design looks wonderful, but we will have to wait to see how it translates onto a real car, since so far only sketches exist.

Under the skin it will be like any other Corvette, so you’d either have the base 6.2-liter V8 with 437 hp, or the 7.0-liter V8 with 512 hp. The ZR-1 based 6.2-liter, supercharged V8 with 647 hp will also be offered. Basically, you provide them with your choice of Corvette and they will re-clothe it for you.

Pricing and availability has not been announced yet, but we can’t wait to see a finished version. If it looks as good as the sketches suggest it will, the SC-1 will turn heads everywhere it goes.

[Source: Carscoop]

Honda is recalling 1,156 brand new 2012 Civics in the United States due to a leaking fuel issue. Honda Canada has also announced a recall of 377 Civics.

The Civics recalled were assembled from April 21 to May 2. Honda said the fuel line in the Civic could leak do to a production error occurring if an O-ring that seals the fuel was misaligned. So far, no injuries or fires have been reported.

Honda said they will repair the affected Hondas, including those currently sitting on dealer lots.

Click here to read AutoGuide’s 2012 Honda Civic review

In his book, “Car guys versus Bean Counters,” the indomitable Bob Lutz talks about many things relating to General Motors. He talks about how the company is now on track, giving credit to former CEO Ed Whitacre and his replacement Dan Akerson.

He talks about how the company went from being obsessed with numbers and statistics, to building quality cars and trucks as its number one priority.

And he also talks about the passing of GM’s late, lamented brands, Hummer, Saturn and Pontiac. While Hummer is described as being the target of left-wing activists and politically viewed as the automotive anti-Christ, even though to quote Lutz himself “an H2 doesn’t burn any more fuel than a V12 Mercedes,” he says it was too bad that Saturn didn’t make it, because GM had given the division it’s best ever lineup, with offerings like the Aura sedan and Astra hatchback.

As for Pontiac, it’s this one that he laments the most. Not only did GM’s sporty division already boast a great lineup with cars like the G8 and the Solstice, but before the decision was taken to shutter the brand, Pontiac was also working on another sporty, rear drive offering, likely based off the Alpha platform.

Unfortunately, now we’ll never know what could have emerged from the Arrowhead division and that’s just too bad. As Lutz says, “Pontiac was virtually destroyed by the fact that we had a new head of Pontiac division about every eight months, and every head had a brand-new idea for its product direction.”

Perhaps a sign of what could have been, we’re reminded of an incredible looking Pontiac coupe design model (above) that we recently stumbled upon at GM’s North Hollywood Design Studio. How cool would that have been?

[Source: Ward's Auto World]

Just over a week until the running of the Indianapolis 500 and Chevrolet has released a history in pictures to help celebrate 100 years of shared history since Arthur Chevrolet got behind the wheel in the inaugural running of the great American race.

Just a few months later brother Louis and Buick racing team owner Billy Durant incorporated Chevrolet Motor Car Co. in Detroit. By 1915 Louis got out of the car building enterprise to focus on racing, competing at the 1915 Indianapolis race and again in 1919 with brother Gaston. A year later, Gaston took the checkered flag in his Monroe-Frontenac.

Since 1945 Chevrolet has been heavily involved in the Indy 500 race, competing from 1986-93 and 2002-05, winning 104 races and seven victories. And let’s not forget a history of pace cars, with a Chevrolet as the official pace car 21 times in the past. Making it 22 this year will be a 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible, inspired by the ’69 Camaro pace car’s white exterior and orange stripes. And like in the past, Chevy will offer a limited edition version of that car for sale, with just 500 units being built.

But Chevy’s involvement in future Indy 500 races won’t be limited to just pace cars with the automaker announcing a new twin-turbocharged 2.2-liter V6 engine that will power Team Penske (among others) during next year’s racing season.

GALLERY: Chevy and Indy Celebrate 100 Years of Shared History

After a preliminary announcement was made in March, Japanese automakers Nissan and Mitsubishi have today revealed initial details of a new minicar joint-venture.

The plan involves the development of new minicar models for sale in the Japanese marketplace. Smaller than even the sub-compact class of vehicles, these tiny runabouts are classified not as much by space but as by the tiny 660 cc engines used to power them.

As a part of the plan, Nissan has appointed its Senior Vice President Junichi Endo as CEO of the joint-venture, while Mitsubishi Motors Senior Executive Officer Shinichi Kurihara will be COO.

Two years after a government bailout and rescue by Italian automaker Fiat and Chrysler has announced detailed plans to repay its government loans.

A new $3 billion term loan, combined with $3.2 billion in bonds and a $1.3 billion hand out from Fiat will be used to pay off the $7.5 billion it borrowed from the U.S and Canadian governments to stay afloat during the recession.

The refinancing arrangement is expected to be completed on May 24th.

Under the control of Fiat, in just two short years Chrysler has introduced several all new models (including the 300, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango), while delivering significant updates on nearly every other product it offers.

To celebrate 50 year since the first partnership between Aston Martin and Italian coachbuilder Zagato, the duo have now revealed the V12 Zagato which will go on display at the upcoming Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza.

Based on the V12 Vantage the the car uses the same 5.9-liter engine and makes 510-hp. The body has been entirely reworked by Zagato with all new aluminum body panels and plenty of trademark Zagato design cues.

“The task for us has been to create a concept that is a natural successor to those iconic cars that have gone before,” said Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez.  “Matching the technology of the age with the traditional skills vital to deliver such a bespoke and exclusive sports car will lead to a strictly limited run of road going V12 Zagatos.”

In addition to those few street cars, Aston Martin is also preparing a racing version of the ultra-rare exotic and will even compete with it in the Nurburgring 24 hour race on June 25th.

The V12 Zagato will get its first public showing at the Villa d’Este Concours on May 20th, alongside other rare one-offs like the Ferrari Superamerica 45.

GALLERY: Aston Martin V12 Zagato