Volvo Cars says the new “DRIVe” versions of its S80 executive sedan and V70 premium wagon are the first models in their respective segments in Europe that emit less than 119 g/km of carbon dioxide emissions. Both are rated at 119 g/km—the fourth and fifth Volvo nameplates to achieve the feat in just over a year—vs. 129 g/km for the previous S80/V70 with low-emission packages.

Each model is powered by a 1.6-liter diesel engine that makes 109 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. Modifications to the alternator and battery management system boost fuel economy by 5.1 mpg to 62.8 mpg on Europe’s city/highway combined driving cycle.

Changes include a so-called smart battery recharging system that Volvo says allows the alternator to charge the battery only when the engine is operating at low load, such as when driving downhill. And friction has been reduced for the belt that drives the alternator and air-conditioning compressor to help lower fuel consumption and emissions.

Toyota Motor Corp. says it will install a steel rod in the accelerator pedal assemblies of about 4.4 million of its Toyota brand cars in the U.S., Europe and Canada to prevent them from sticking under certain climate conditions. Repairs could begin this week.

Toyota says it is confident that the modification will cure a problem it says may occur on cold days when the heater is used and causes condensation to form on the pedal arm mechanism. It says a steel spacer will maintain clearance so the pedal’s return spring can operate normally.

The company accelerated the engineering and testing work required to find a fix and enable repairs to begin quickly. Its aim is to calm its customers and end a tidal wave of bad publicity that has been expanding for a week. Toyota, which launched a media blitz yesterday morning to announce its plan, has vowed to attempt to repair 100% of the vehicles covered by the recall. The company also plans to resume production on Monday at five plants in North America that build models involved in the campaign.

But the company faces strong criticism that it responded too slowly to the crisis. The company has acknowledged that it originally thought the sticking accelerator problem was due solely to floor mats that could jam the pedal. It began a recall last fall to fix that problem. The campaign ballooned to 5.6 million vehicles in the U.S. and Canada—its largest North American recall ever. But Toyota then realized that cars without floor mats, and some vehicles fixed by the recall, continued to report sticking accelerator problems.

Congressional hearings on the matter begin next week. Toyota also must deal with more than a dozen lawsuits in the U.S. and Canada that claim an unidentified defect in the electronic throttle control system also may cause acceleration problems.

Tresalia Capital, a Mexican private-equity firm headed by Corona beer baroness Maria Asunción Aramburuzabala, has purchased 100% of German niche builder Artega Automobil GmbH from electronics maker Paragon Parts Group. Tresalia had held a 48% stake in the automaker since October 2008.

Founded in 2006 by Klaus Dieter Frers as an offshoot to Paragon, Artega’s sole product is its namesake GT model. Frers remains CEO of Paragon.

The GT two-seater was designed by Henrik Fisker, who previously penned the BMW Z8 and the Aston Martin Vantage and now heads his own California-based firm that is planning to launch the Karma plug-in hybrid sports car.

Featuring a carbon fiber/aluminum structure, the Artega GT is powered by a Volkswagen V-6 engine mated to a dual-clutch automatic transmission. The combination powers the car from zero to 60 mph in less than five seconds and to a top speed of 168 mph.

Artega builds about 500 of the vehicles per year at a facility in Westphalia, Germany. The car is base priced at $75,000.

Wolfgang Ziebart has been named director and chairman of Artega. He previously held top management positions at BMW, Continental and Infineon.

Tresalia also has holdings in real estate, media, telecommunications and various technology companies. Aramburuzabala, a billionaire, is the granddaughter of Felix Aramburuzabala, who founded Mexican beer maker Grupo Modelo (Corona, Modelo and Pacifica) in 1925. She is married to Tony Garza Jr., a former U.S. ambassador to Mexico.

BMW AG’s Vision EfficientDynamics diesel-electric concept vehicle has gotten rave reviews from consumers, an unnamed company official tells Edmunds.com. Based on the response, the source says, a production version of the vehicle is very likely.

BMW Vison EffiientDynamics hybrid concept

No timetable was given for the new model. But several changes to the concept are expected, including a different name. The concept’s glass-intense design also is expected to be made more mainstream.

The 2+2 Vision hybrid concept is powered by a twin-motor hybrid system—developed in conjunction with General Motors and the former DaimlerChrysler—and lithium-ion battery teamed with a three-cylinder diesel engine. The combination produces an estimated 356 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque.

Production volume is expected to be limited to less than 10,000 units per year, according to the Edmunds report.

Pihsiang Machinery Mfg. Co. of Taiwan will supply lithium-ion batteries and unspecified modules to Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. for use in new electric vehicles, reports China’s Economic Daily News.

The partners also may open a new vehicle assembly plant in China that would be run by Pihsiang, according to the report. Pihsiang currently makes electric scooters and electric wheelchairs.

QinetiQ Group plc and Ricardo plc are developing a new battery system for hybrid/electric vehicles that uses a unique lithium chemistry. The U.K. partners say QinetiQ’s lithium-iron sulfide-based cell chemistry and Ricardo’s latest battery management system is less expensive, safer, better performing and easier to manufacture than competitive lithium-ion units.

The companies, which previously had partnered on the Efficient-C hybrid concept program, are showcasing the new technology in a 2-kW demonstration pack that was developed under the U.K. Energy Saving Trust Low Carbon R&D program. More than $3 million in funding for the project came from the U.K. Dept. for Transport under the Energy Saving Trust Low Carbon R&D program.

The new pack has been fitted into the Efficient-C’s four-year-old, diesel-electric hybrid concept that is based on a Citroen Berlingo.

The battery’s iron sulfide replaces more expensive, heavier metals such as cobalt, nickel and manganese used in the cathodes of current lithium-ion batteries. Cathodes made of Li-iron sulfide have about twice the theoretical energy density of more conventional lithium chemistries. In addition, iron-sulfide cathodes have less resistance to lithium transport, thus don’t require the extra processing of other designs, according to the developers. Weight has been reduced 20% vs. the 2-kW lithium-ion pack used in the Efficient-C concept.

The battery is controlled by Ricardo’s flexible battery-management system that can handle a range of cell types and configurations. It also can be used to conduct a variety of tests regarding voltage, energy, climate conditions, drive cycle, manufacturability and potential faults.

During internal testing, the batteries have demonstrated 50% faster discharge rates and an operating life of 1,000 charge/discharge cycles, according to the partners. QinetiQ now is working with local universities to optimize electrolyte additives and cathode composition to improve the cell’s energy density and extend cycle life.

With its high charge/discharge capabilities, the chemistry is well suited for hybrid-electric architectures, including plug-in and extended-range systems. But the partners say expected improvements will allow the technology to be adapted to all-electric systems too.

QinetiQ was formed in 2001 as an offshoot of the former U.K. Defence Evaluation and Research Agency military research group. It currently supplies traditional lithium-ion battery systems to military customers.

Mazda Motor Corp. will take the wraps off a 20th anniversary edition version of its MX-5/Miata next month at the Geneva auto show. The company will produce 2,000 of the limited-edition models, which will be available only in Europe.

Based on the European 1.8-liter SE soft-top roadster, the anniversary editions get a chrome grille, front suspension bracing bar, special door handles and headlight fascia, fog lamp surrounds, 17-inch alloy wheels and unique badging. Each one also will have a numbered stainless steel scuff plate.