Toyota may be readying a Prius sub-brand for its most fuel efficient offerings, but General Motors says it has no plans to launch a green Volt division. The Chevrolet Volt is expected to become the first mass-market plug-in hybrid vehicle when it hits the market late next year.

Following General Motors failed sale of Opel to Magna International, Opel head Carl-Peter Forster will reportedly step down from his post. General Motors announced earlier this month that it would retain its German Opel brand despite months of negotiations with Canada’s Magna International.

Rolls-Royce is better known for luxury motoring than green technology, but the British automaker is reportedly readying a hybrid version of its all-new Ghost sedan. Rolls-Royce will lean heavily on parent BMW for the Ghost’s hybrid drivetrain.

Hummer, which is still part of General Motors for the time being, says that its 2010 lineup will offer E85 biofuel capability in every model now that the automaker’s best-selling H3 and H3T will be available with a 5.3-liter, E85-ready V8.

Chrysler announced earlier this week that it wants sales outside North America to hit around 500,000 units by 2014, a large step up from the 144,000 vehicles it anticipates selling overseas this year.

Nissan has released the first official sketch of its upcoming NV200 all-electric commercial van. Based on the standard NV200 launched earlier this year, the electric vehicle version will likely share its powertrain with Nissan’s soon-to-be-launched Leaf EV.

New car buyers asking dealers to “show me the Carfax” will now be able to confirm that the mint-condition ‘91 Mercury Grand Marquis they’re about to buy was not supposed to be scrapped during the Cash for Clunkers initiative.

With Chrysler’s Ram division now a standalone brand, the future of the slow-selling Dodge Dakota pickup has been called into question. At a press conference on Wednesday, Ram’s newly appointed CEO Fred Diaz said a replacement is in the works.

Just weeks ahead of its arrival at dealer showrooms, Suzuki has released pricing for its new Kizashi sedan. Offering all-wheel-drive and a large passenger area, the midsize Kizashi is a first of its kind for the Japanese automaker.

Porsche will use the Los Angeles Auto Show in December to launch a new addition to its sports car lineup, the 2011 Boxster Spyder. The purist roadster will be the lightest Porsche on the market, weighing just 2,811 lbs.

Ford on Thursday announced it will commercialize the world’s first automotive inflatable seat belts, nearly a decade after the technology was demonstrated in concept form.

Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Chrysler and Fiat, announced on Wednesday his company intends to repay the $12.5 billion it borrowed from the U.S. federal government and the $3.8-billion lent to it by Canada by 2014.

As previously reported, BMW is working on a high-performance 1-Series model to slot below the M3. A new report out of the U.K. suggests the car — which will be based on the 135i — is the top priority for BMW’s “M” division in Munich and its new management team.

While the 2012 BMW 3-Series might seem a long ways off, our spies have captured the first photos of a next-generation prototype fresh from Europe. The typical 3-Series look — evident since the E36 through to the E46 and currently the E90 — will remain, meaning squat proportions, short rear overhang and wheels placed to each corner. That said, the car will look slimmer and more toned compared to the current 3-Series.

Kia’s Soul was designed from the get-go to be a personalizer’s dream come true. While we haven’t seen many Souls customized by independent groups, the automaker showed off three possible variations of its own at the 2009 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Legendary country music duo Brooks and Dunn will be calling it quits in 2010 – after a 20-year run – but Toyota couldn’t let the group hit the road for their farewell tour without the appropriate rig. As such, Toyota unveiled the tailgate friendly Midnight Rider Tundra Tailgater concept at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Following some earlier teaser shots, Saleen has finally taken the wraps off its 2010 S281 at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Based on the 2010 Ford Mustang GT, the all-new model promises a significant performance upgrade over the outgoing model.

Prior to Fiat’s acquisition of Chrysler, there were concerns the Viper would be discontinued for good. But one of Fiat’s first announcements after taking the helm was the Viper would live on. Today, Dodge brand CEO Ralph Gilles announced that the automaker’s iconic high performance flagship will get a new lease on life for the 2012 model year when a fresh replacement bows.

Following Tuesday’s rumors, Toyota today officially announced its withdrawal from Formula One racing. “We are pulling out of Formula One completely,” CEO Akio Toyoda told the media at a press conference. “I offer my deepest apologies to Toyota’s many fans for not being able to achieve the results we had targeted.”

Toyota’s full-size Tundra pickup isn’t a typical selection for a retro-style hot rod custom, but that didn’t stop the Japanese automaker from creating its own 1950s-style muscle truck at the 2009 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.