The milestone includes both Toyota and Lexus models, which have accounted for a million hybrid sales just in the first nine months of the year.

The company credits 27 different hybrid passenger cars and one plug-in model for helping drive sales in more than 90 countries around the globe. Currently, its 12 hybrid models and one plug-in vehicle in the US market are claimed to account for 70 percent of industry hybrid sales.

“In 2000, Toyota introduced its Prius hybrid to the U.S., a marquee vehicle that established mainstream adoption of hybrid technology,” Toyota said in a statement. “Today, Toyota and Lexus hybrid sales in the U.S. are well over 2 million, and the Prius is on its way to becoming the no. 1 selling vehicle in California for the third year in a row.”

The Japanese automaker promises to launch 15 new hybrids globally through 2015, serving as its core electrified vehicles alongside pure electrics and a fuel-cell model.

The proceeds from the auction will go to an Italian charity called Daybreak that raises money to find a cure for rare genetic diseases. Finished in bright yellow with blue and white stripes, the very first 458 Speciale Aperta will remain in the United States but Ferrari has not disclosed the identity of the highest bidder.

Introduced two weeks ago at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, the limited-edition 458 Speciale Aperta is billed as one of the most aerodynamic Ferraris ever built. It is powered by a mid-mounted 4.5-liter V8 engine that makes 605 horsepower at 9,000 rpms and 398 lb-ft. of torque at 6,000 rpms. The convertible reaches 62 mph from a stop in three seconds flat, 0.4 seconds less than a stock 458 Spider on which it is based.

Ferrari will build just 499 examples of the 458 Speciale Aperta. The car hasn’t been priced yet, but $900,000 is likely over twice what it will cost when it goes on sale as a 2015 model.

Selling the first example of high-profile cars has become a tradition at Fiat – Chrysler. Last month, a Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat wearing VIN number 0001 sold for $825,000 at an auction organized by Barrett-Jackson in Las Vegas, Nevada. The proceeds were immediately donated to a Charity Village.

Photos by Ronan Glon.

Offered exclusively in black, white or gray, the 35 Edition stands out from a stock G-Class thanks to gloss black bumpers on both ends, blacked out headlights and five-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels. All models come standard with the Chrome Package and the aggressive-looking Sport Package that is available as an option on regular-production Gs.

The cockpit has been similarly upgraded with a four-spoke AMG sport multi-function steering wheel and black Nappa leather on the seats, the door panels and the dashboard. A color screen mounted on top of the dashboard runs the latest generation of Mercedes’ COMAND infotainment system, while real carbon fiber trim on the center console and the passenger grab handle rounds out the interiors updates.

35 Edition buyers can choose either the G350 BlueTEC or the G500. The G350 is powered by a 3.0-liter diesel-burning V6 engine that sends 211 horsepower and 398 lb-ft. of torque to all four wheels via a seven-speed automatic transmission. The oil-burner propels the behemoth from zero to 62 mph in 9.1 seconds.

The more powerful G500 packs a 5.5-liter V8 tuned to generate 387 ponies and 390 lb-ft. of twist. Fitted with an eight-cylinder, the G takes 6.1 seconds to reach 62 mph from a stop and it goes on to a top speed of 154 mph.

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class 35 Edition is scheduled to go on sale across Germany over the coming weeks and it will be available until May of 2015. The G350 BlueTEC will cost €101,031 (approximately $130,000) and the G500 will retail for €112,812 (roughly $145,000).

At the time of writing Mercedes is not planning on offering the G 35 Edition on this side of the pond.

The fund, administered by Kenneth Feinberg, continues to review other applications that blame the defective ignition switches for 178 deaths. When adding submissions related to injuries, the number rises to 1,371, according to a report by fund administrator Kenneth Feinberg that was cited in a Reuters report.

GM has so far only made one revision to its official tally of people killed in accidents that have been blamed on the defect, months ago bringing the count up to 13. The discrepancy has been a focus of criticism, as safety advocates argue that the company is intentionally downplaying the impact of its poor design and years of inaction.

The fund is approximately halfway through its submission window, which started on August 1 and will finish by the end of the year. Additional filings are expected to be submitted in the coming months, as many victims and families are still pushing for compensation via formal lawsuits before applying directly with the GM fund.

The company has already taken a $400 million charge to its quarterly earnings to help pay the settlement offers.

The auction will allow the winning bidder to be the first owner of VW’s first all-electric model before it arrives in showrooms later in the year. All proceeds will go to the environmental-focused non profit group, the US branch of Mikhail Gorbachev’s Green Cross International.

“We’re excited to mark the launch of our first all-electric car with an auction that raises funds and awareness for Global Green USA’s groundbreaking work to bring smart, sustainable solutions to communities nationwide,” said VW Group of America CEO Michael Horn.

The e-Golf features a 24.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and an electric motor with 115 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque. The cat is capable of driving between 70 and 90 miles, with a limited top speed of 87 mph.

Auction bids will be accepted at Charitybuzz.com/vwegolf until October 29.

Power for the Lavinia will come from an electric motor that will send over 800 horsepower to the drive wheels. The coupe will be capable of sprinting from zero to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds before reaching a top speed of about 186 mph.

Tecnicar promises the Lavinia will be able to drive for about 180 miles on a single charge, though it has not disclosed what kind of battery the coupe will be equipped with. One of the pictures released by the automaker hints the Lavinia will be built around a central passenger cell made out of a composite material in order to partially offset the weight added by the battery pack.

3D renderings of the Lavinia reveal it will wear a low-slung, race-inspired design characterized by large air dams up front, bulged wheel arches all around and center-locking alloy wheels. The headlights are either sourced from or heavily inspired by the Chris Bangle-designed Fiat Coupe that was produced between 1993 and 2000.

The first Technicar Lavinia prototype is currently under construction at the company’s headquarters in Syracuse on the Mediterranean island of Sicily. When the coupe is scheduled to reach the market is not known.

Technicar could presented a fully-functional Lavinia prototype at the Top Marques show that will open its doors in Monaco next April. If built, the Sicilian supercar will carry a price tag that will fall well into the six digits.

Audi is keeping details about the second-gen Q7 under wraps, but our spy photographers nabbed the first images of Ingolstadt’s biggest crossover back in August. The spy shots hint the Q7 will adopt a more conservative overall design that borrows styling cues from the new third-gen TT. LED headlights like those seen on the A8 flagship and a thin rendition of Audi’s trademarked single frame grille will be part of the package.

The 2016 Audi Q7 will make use of Volkswagen’s MLB modular architecture, resulting in a smaller footprint and a much lighter curb weight. In fact, insiders say the next Q7 will shed up to 800 pounds, a diet that will considerably improve fuel economy all across the board.

Brand consultancy firm Interbrand has revealed their annual list of the 100 top global brands. In the automotive sector Toyota has once again taken the top spot, coming in eighth overall, behind giants like Apple, Google and Coca-Cola.

Interbrand’s list is determined by three key factors, summarized as financial performance, the role the brand plays in purchasing decisions, and the competitive strength of the brand. Only 13 automotive brands cracked the top 100.

8: Toyota. Growth in China and Europe was cited for its jump from tenth place last year, as well as its reputation for solid, quality products.

10: Mercedes-Benz. A spate of new models resulted in a 14 percent increase in sales in the US and 9.5 percent globally. S-Class sales increased 60 percent while the CLA- and GLA-Class wooed younger customers.

11: BMW. A perception of innovation with green technologies, thanks to the i3 and i8 models and the EfficientDynamics suite across the rest of the lineup helped the company keep pace with rival Mercedes-Benz.

20: Honda. Though the “golden age” marked by the “Powered by Honda” tagline has waned, a return to Formula One and partnerships with Google and Apple will help the brand return to prominence, with the help of strength as a motorcycle maker in emerging markets.

31: Volkswagen. Double-digit growth in the Chinese market and the new Golf and Up! have made the brand a Top Riser of 2014.

39: Ford. A fresh new product portfolio has helped Ford increase sales by 12 percent worldwide, with strength in the US and Asia-Pacific markets.

40: Hyundai. The Korean automaker is still one of the fastest growing automakers, with region-specific models in nations like Brazil and China lifting the brand out of its perceived status as the automotive bargain bin.

45: Audi. Sales have increased by 8.3 percent, the culmination of two decades branding as sporty, luxurious and technologically sophisticated. It is the top luxury marque in Europe and China.

56: Nissan. One of 2014′s Top Risers, with double-digit profit increases thanks to strength in China and the US, and a unifying of its brand and products globally.

60: Porsche. Described as an “iconic” brand, a broadening of models on both the supercar and entry-level luxury ends of the market have helped drive record profits.

74: Kia. The Hyundai subsidiary has re-branded itself as a stylish contender that appeals to young buyers rather than the default choice for budget-conscious buyers.

82: Chevrolet. Solid compact models like the Cruze and continued development of icons like the Corvette and Camaro have helped brand strength worldwide despite US recalls.

91: Land Rover. The Indian-owned luxury SUV maker has seen a 15 percent growth in sales in 42 markets, while quality ratings have improved slightly as well.

A fourteenth brand falling under the automotive segment was Harley Davidson, the American motorcycle maker, which ranked 87th.

Toyota has announced for the European market a facelifted Prius+, known in the US as the Prius v, with a (comparatively) more aggressive look.

Styling-wise, the most striking departure is a redesigned nose, on which features a grille on which the Toyota logo protrudes further out front, flanked by new blacked-out headlight housings encasing projectors with LED technology for both high and low beams.

The lower grille and foglight housing graphic gets much taller, with a trapezoidal shape that “exposes” the bumper. Thin vertical intakes on either side have LED daytime running lights embedded at the lower points. Overall, the new grille brings the face closer in line with the X motif found on the new Yaris.

From the rear, the Prius 7-seater gains new taillight designs, a revised license plate garnish, and a restyled fascia with black trim underneath in order to slim down the bumper. Additional insulation has been added to the rear cabin area as well in order to reduce NVH.

Inside, the Europeans now get Toyota’s Touch 2 Go multimedia-navigation 6.1-inch touchscreen that includes Bluetooth, live traffic, text-to-speech and a backup camera. Power seats, smartphone wifi connectivity and parallel parking assist technology is also available as optional. A new console with slimmer air vents with chrome accents and dark silver metallic finish aims for a slightly more upscale feel.

The updated Prius+ goes on sale across Europe in January 2015.