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.

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.

U.S. car sales were pretty weak throughout 2008, but it wasn’t until October of that year that bottom truly fell out (along with the rest of the economy). With figures for October 2009 now available, it appears sales are remaining stable, with some small increases and some small decreases — almost all of them within a narrow and stable band.

Toyota’s popular Prius hasn’t been a hot vehicle for customizers, but that could all change with increased interest in highly-efficient green technologies, as Toyota’s Prius Aerius concept shown at the 2009 SEMA Show in Las Vegas shows.

Jeep has taken the wraps off its Lower Forty concept at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Based on the Jeep Wrangler, Jeep engineers have thoroughly reworked the Vegas concept, including the addition of 20-inch wheels and 5.7L HEMI V8 engine.

Jeep’s venerable 4.0-liter inline-six has been out of production since 2006, but that isn’t stopping the Michigan automaker from introducing a high-performance “Stroker” 4.7-liter available through the company’s Mopar division.

Previewing a future color to be available on a limited edition model during the first half of 2010, Chevrolet unmasked the Camaro Synergy concept at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. In addition to the future Camaro color, the concept also features a host of available GM accessories.