Toyota released a statement earlier this week clearing its name of any fault in the floor mat recall that affected 3.8 million vehicles – by far the largest in the company’s history – but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has released a counter statement, calling Toyota’s information “inaccurate and misleading”.

General Motors has only been clear of bankruptcy for a few short months, but the Detroit automaker says it is already outperforming previously set targets. General Motors emerged from bankruptcy on July 10th with the help of a $50 billion government loan.

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.

Expected to hit the market in late 2010 as a 2011 or 2012 model, the redesigned Dodge Charger was previewed today during Chrysler’s five-year product plan announcement. Reminiscent of the 1999 Dodge Charger Concept, the car is expected to combine qualities of the present retro model with the more modern show car that preceded it.

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.

Ever since the demise of the E46 M3 CSL, enthusiasts have been (im)patiently awaiting a replacement. That successor has finally arrived in the form of the 2011 M3 GTS. Like the CSL, the GTS features substantially reduced weight, complemented by slightly increased horsepower.

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.