Current sales of the 2014 model are said to be riding on a federal exemption to certain airbag requirements, however the company has not plans to revamp the 2+2 sports coupe to comply with US regulations, unnamed sources have told Car and Driver.

If true, the move represents a complete pullout of street-legal Lotus models from the US market.

The British marque recently confirmed that it has been forced to lay off as much as 25 percent of its 1,215-strong workforce as part of a restructuring plan, though executives remain bullish regarding the automaker’s prospects as a leaner organization.

US buyers will still be able to pick up an Elise or Exige in the future, but the track-only cars will need to leave the showroom on a trailer.

When paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, the 2.5-liter mill has received city/highway ratings of 20/27 mpg in two-wheel-drive configuration or 19/25 mpg with four-wheel-drive.

Opting for the six-speed manual transmission, which is only available for the two-wheel-drive package, brings the numbers down to 19/26 mpg.

Rivals in the two-wheel-drive four-cylinder midsize pickup segment include the Toyota Tacoma, which gets up to 21/25 mpg, and the Nissan Frontier with a 19/23 mpg rating.

As the midsize pickup segment continues to shrink, it faces more competition from full-size alternatives that continue to post fuel-efficiency gains even with larger engines. The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel gets up to 28 mpg on the highway, while the aluminum F-150 is also expected to be a fuel sipper.

GM will eventually add a 2.8-liter diesel engine to its midsize pickups, but the company has not yet announced technical details or EPA estimates.

The scale of the material switch is not expected to be quite as significant as Ford’s gamble with the new F-150, but rather a slower evolution that will help manage curb weights over the span of several years.

The first Toyota model on the list is said to be the Lexus RX 350, which will get an aluminum hood and liftgate for the 2016 model year, unnamed sources have told Automotive News.

More importantly, the high-volume Camry sedan is expected to be outfitted with an aluminum hood for the 2018 model year.

“Toyota has plans to use aluminum on future vehicles for hood, closures and parts for lightweighting,” Toyota spokeswoman Jana Hartline said. “Also, we will increase usage of mix metals and resin materials to enhance lightweighting efforts.”

The Japanese automaker has reportedly penned a supply deal with Kobe Steel to source 100,000 tons of aluminum sheet annually.

The PHEV Concept-S is billed as a more dynamic-looking version of the existing Outlander PHEV. The concept stands out from its regular-production counterpart thanks to sharper headlights, a twin-slat radiator grille and a deeper front bumper with LED daytime running lights. Pictures of the Concept-S’ rear fascia are not available but Mitsubishi promises it features chrome accents and bigger tail lamps. Fender flares, side skirts and large alloy wheels wrap up the look.

The interior gains a more elegant look thanks to features like black wood grain trim with silver accents, a center console inspired by traditional Japanese black lacquered boxes and hand-stitched burgundy leather-upholstery on the seats, the dashboard and the door panels. Overall, the Concept-S is markedly better-finished than the stock Outlander PHEV.

Mitsubuishi has not made any technical upgrades to the Outlander. The Concept-S is powered by a gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain consisting of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that works jointly with two electric motors linked to a lithium-ion battery pack. The Outlander can run on electricity alone for up to 35 miles in ideal driving conditions, and it has a total driving range of about 540 miles.

Following in the footsteps of its hardtop counterpart, the 458 Spider Speciale will shed approximately 200 pounds thanks to a host of weight-saving modifications. Adjustable spoilers on both ends will help make the Speciale considerably more aerodynamic than a standard Spider.

Handling will be improved by Ferrari’s Side Slip angle Control (SSC) system. SSC uses a new algorithm to analyze the car’s side slip, compare it to its projected trajectory and work with the electronic differential and the F1-derived traction control system to instantly change the torque distribution between the rear wheels. SSC will eventually be added to other members of the Ferrari lineup.

The Spider will almost certainly be powered by the same engine found in its hardtop counterpart, meaning it will pack a 4.5-liter V8 that will churn out 605 horsepower at 9,000 rpms – a figure that equates to 135 horsepower per engine liter – and 398 lb-ft. of torque at 6,000 rpms. The 458 Spider should be capable of reaching 62 mph from a stop in about three seconds before going on to a top speed of over 200 mph.

Set to arrive as a limited-edition model, the Ferrari 458 Spider Speciale will go on sale shortly after debuting in the French capital. Official details and pictures will emerge over the next couple of weeks.