Honda to kill-off Element (U.S)

Honda will axe the Element after the 2011MY after sales of the quirky MPV started plunging. Honda explained that "utility-seeking customers have more recently embraced other vehicles in the Honda line-up," such as the Honda CR-V.

In November, sales of the Element fell 11.5% year-over-year, to 939 units vs. 1.107 units in November 2009. So far in 2010, Honda sold 12,960 Elements, a slip of 3.4% vs. 2009.

NHTSA want rear-view cameras to be made mandatory (U.S)

The NHTSA have proposed a new vehicle safety regulation for standard rear-view cameras and in-vehicle displays to avoid rear-end accidents.

The plan would require all passenger cars, pickup trucks, MPVs, buses and low-speed vehicles to have a standard rear-view camera so drivers can see precisely behind the vehicle when the transmission is in reverse. "NHTSA believes automobile manufacturers will install rear-mounted video cameras and in-vehicle displays to meet the proposed standards".

Next Vauxhall/Opel Combo to centre on Fiat Doblò

The next Vauxhall/Opel Combo will centre on the outgoing Fiat Doblò and will be produced on the same assembly line at Fiat's Tofas factory in Bursa, Turkey.

The current model has been on sale since 2002 and underpins the 2001 Vauxhall/Opel Corsa C platform. GM has no intention of selling the Combo Stateside, despite the success of Ford’s Transit Connect.

Ford rules out Focus coupé

Ford is adamant that the firm isn’t going to produce a Focus coupé.

The statement comes after Internet gossip suggested the Focus coupé will premier as a concept at the forthcoming Detroit motor show, before going on sale in 2012.

Kia releases first sketches of forthcoming Picanto city-car

Kia has exposed official drawings of the 2011 Picanto, ahead of its world debut at the Geneva motor show next March.

Unlike its predecessor, the newcomer features substantially more masculine styling and Kia’s signature nose, the ‘tiger’ grille, styled by Peter Schreyer, head of design.

Tata Nano sales nose-dive (IN)

November saw sales of the world’s cheapest car, the Nano, plunge 85% year-on-year, Tata has said.

In contrast with 2009’s figure, Tata is holding customer’s responsible, since they have difficulty obtaining loans.

Motorshow: 2010 LA Auto Show

At the recent LA motor show, there were several global debuts of numerous news cars, new concept cars like the Cadillac ULS and more.

Toyota revealed the revised Corolla sedan and the RAV4 EV. Hyundai debuted the all-new Elantra and Sonata Hybrid sedans. Check out the pictures after the jump.

NHTSA probes '07 Optima over transmission defect (U.S)

The feds are probing the 2007 Kia Optima after receiving three complaints stating that the automatic transmission cable could disengage. The investigation involves around 41,000 Optima sedan.

NHTSA "has received three complaints concerning automatic transmission shift cable detachment and inability to select and engage the gears (Park, Drive and Reverse) in model-year 2007 Kia Optima vehicles," it said. "One of the complaints also reported a rollaway incident after parking the vehicle."

Land Rover recalls 2010 - '11 LR2 (U.S)

Land Rover will recall 2,956 LR2’s due to a faulty front airbag, which may not deploy.

"The shorting bar in the clock spring may become disconnected when the driver's airbag module connector is installed," said the NHTSA. "The driver's frontal airbag may not deploy as intended or at all and therefore will not be able to properly protect the driver, increasing the risk of injury."

Toyota working on turbos and direct injections to improve mpg

Toyota is working on more ways to improve fuel economy. While hybrid technology is all good and well, the Japanese car maker will start to use turbo charging and direct injection in the future as it looks to boost its overall fuel economy.

Toyota is developing turbocharged and direct injected petrol engines for its small and mid-size models.