The U.S. Dept. of Transportation is continuing to review vehicles involved in Toyota Motor Corp.’s recent recalls involving the floor mat and/or accelerator mechanism. Both defects can cause the throttle to remain open in vehicles after the driver has released pressure from the accelerator pedal.

An unnamed DOT official tells Automotive News that the ongoing review includes looking into possible electronic problems that might cause unintended acceleration separate from the floor mat or pedal linkage problems. Toyota has repeatedly said there is no evidence of any electronic malfunction in the vehicles.

Last year’s recall was to fix floor mats that could catch on the accelerator pedal. Toyota is installing new mats and in some cases installing a brake override system and/or modifying the floor pan. This year’s recall is to remedy a design flaw that could allow condensation to prevent or slow the accelerator pedal’s return to the idle position. Toyota says its dealers will install a spacer bar to help maintain clearance so the pedal’s return spring operates normally.

Some consumer groups contend that electronic problems are causing or at least contributing to acceleration problems in Toyota vehicles. Toyota, Consumer Reports and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say they have been unable so far to identify such a flaw.

Congressional hearings on the Toyota recalls begin next week and are expected to focus on complaints that Toyota and NHTSA were slow to respond to complaints about the acceleration problems.

Spyker Cars NV has presented its plans for Saab Automobiles, which it is in the process of acquiring from General Motors Co. If the deal is approved by Spyker’s shareholders and the appropriate regulatory agencies, the combined operations will be named Saab Spyker Automobiles NV.

Each company will operate separately, with Saab positioned as a niche brand that combines performance and “green” technologies. Spyker is paying GM $74 million in cash for Saab and issuing GM $326 million in preferred shares in the new company.

Spyker aims to reverse decades of losses at Saab and put the company in the black by 2012. It says the company can be profitable with global sales above 100,000 units. Last year Saab sold about 40,000 vehicles, down from 95,000 in 2008.

Saab’s next new model will a replacement for the 9-5 sedan, which launches this summer in Europe and North America. A wagon derivative and all-wheel-drive 9-5X will come soon thereafter. Scheduled to arrive early next year is the 9-4X crossover, which is based on GM’s new Cadillac SRX.

Several body styles also are in the works for the 9-3, including a sedan, hatchback, sport wagon, convertible and all-wheel-drive X model. Due in 2012, these vehicles will be the first Saabs developed in-house under the new ownership independent from GM.

A fourth model, the long-rumored 9-1 city car, also is being considered. But Spyker says it would need additional funding to finance the program, which isn’t in Saab’s current business plan. As a condition of its purchase, Spyker is due to receive a $560 million loan from the European Investment Bank that is guaranteed by the Swedish government.

Under a deal reached last spring, GM will continue to share some technology with Saab for at least five years. The new 9-4X will be built at a GM facility in Mexico; other Saab models will be produced at Saab’s Trollhattan plant. Spyker says Saab’s technical center, also in Trollhattan, has full capability to develop complete vehicles.

In December, GM sold the technology rights of the previous-generation 9-3 and current 9-5 to China’s Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co.

Spyker, a defunct brand until current CEO Victor Muller revived the firm in 2000, produces only about 40 of its hand-made C8 supercars per year. It hopes to benefit from Saab’s technical resources and sales network.

Renault SA will unveil its new Wind convertible next month at the Geneva auto show. The little car will go on sale in Europe in late spring.

Renault Wind has a rear-hinged convertible roof.

The Wind shares a platform, front-end styling and powertrains with the Renault Twingo. But at 151 inches from bumper to bumper, it is nine inches longer than its stablemate. The Wind also will get a more upscale interior with a unique dashboard.

The convertible’s key feature is a unique retractable hardtop. Conventional retractable hardtops consist of multiple panels and a complex system of hinges. The Wind’s electrically operated one-piece top hinges at the rear and flips backward 180° into the trunk.

Renault says the system, which can raise or lower the roof in 12 seconds, allows the Wind’s trunk to maintain 9.5 cu ft of storage space whether the top is up or down.

SAE International has released an updated standard regarding couplers used in recharging plug-in hybrid and full-electric vehicles.

The revised J1772 protocol, which was first defined in 1996, specifies the physical, electrical and performance characteristics of the connector and the vehicle electrical inlet. The revisions accommodate the latest generation of hybrid/electric vehicles powered by advanced high-energy batteries, including charging via 120-volt or 240-volt outlets. Specifications for quick-charge systems that require the use of higher voltage are being developed.

The SAE development task force was led by Gery Kissel, an EV charging specialist at General Motors Co. The group, which was formed four years ago, has swelled to more than 100 members from OEMs, suppliers, utilities, charging equipment companies, national labs, universities and standards organizations. Participants contributed an estimated 5,000 man-hours in meetings alone.

SAE says a production-tooled EV coupler built to the specifications already has passed testing by Underwriters Laboratories for safety and durability.

The U.S.-based standard was developed in cooperation with experts in Europe and Asia and can be applied to home, work or public charging stations in any country. But SAE concedes that differences in electrical architectures around the world could present some challenges and slow implementation in some markets.

International Automotive Components Group has acquired flooring and acoustics supplier Stankiewicz International Corp., a U.S. subsidiary of Gimotive GmbH that makes flooring systems, dash insulators and trunk systems. IAC purchased Stankiewicz’s European flooring and acoustics operations in 2009.

This year’s deal includes three plants in Spartanburg, S.C., that generate about $30 million in annual sales. IAC says volume will jump to $50 million in 2011, based on booked business.

Stankiewicz’s European business filed for insolvency in late 2008. IAC acquired nine facilities in Germany, Belgium, Czech Republic and Poland. The business, worth about $209 million in annual sales, supplies insulation material, dampening products, sound absorbers, floor coverings and other coverings.

Dearborn, Mich.-based IAC was formed by billionaire Wilbur Ross in 2006 from assets acquired from Lear Corp. and the now-defunct Collins & Aikman Corp.

There are only a few heavyweights, at least in terms of size, vying for this year’s World Car of the Year honors. And even these models— the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class—are relatively modest in their girth. Most of the rest of the field are small or midsize cars and crossovers.

To be eligible, vehicles must be available prior to January 1 in markets on at least two continents. A jury consisting of 59 international automotive journalists choose the winners based on value, safety, environmental responsibility, emotional appeal, significance and overall merit.

The top three finalists will be announced next month at the Geneva auto show, and the winner will be revealed a month later at the New York auto show. Last year’s top car was the VW Golf. Previous winners include the Mazda2/Demio (2008), Lexus LS460 (2007), BMW 3 Series (2006) and Audi A6 (2005).

The top 10 finalists for 2010 are:

• Audi Q5
• BMW X1
• Chevrolet Cruze
• Kia Soul
• Mazda3
• Mercedes-Benz E-Class
• Opel/Vauxhall Insignia/Buick Regal
• Porsche Panamera
• Toyota Prius
• Volkswagen Polo

Finalists in the performance category are:

• Aston Martin V12 Vantage
• Audi R8 V10
• Audi TT RS Coupe/Roadster
• BMW Z4
• Ferrari California
• Jaguar XFR
• Lotus Evora
• Mercedes-Benz 63 AMG
• Nissan 370 Z
• Porsche 911 GT3
• Porsche Boxster/Cayman

Finalists also were announced in the World Design and Green Car awards. These vehicles were selected by a small group of experts on each subject. Winners still will be chosen by the main group of 59 judges.

In the design segment, the finalists are the Chevrolet Camaro, Citroen C3 Picasso, Kia Soul and Toyota Prius.

Contenders in the “green” category are the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Honda Insight, Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid, Toyota Prius and Volkswagen BlueMotion (Golf, Passat, Polo) models.