In October, the Toyota Prius will have been on sale for a full 10 years. In order to celebrate that momentous occasion, the Japanese automaker has asked every Prius owner to submit a short video or a few photos documenting his or her passion for the vehicle. The company plans to pick 10 finalists, after which the Prius community will be charged with picking the ultimate Prius fan. That sounds like fun, but we’re more interested in how the Prius has modified the automotive landscape since it hit the market way back in 2000.

When Toyota came to the hybrid game, the only other production vehicle on the market that could boast an electric motor was the quirky and functionally limited Honda Insight. The Prius offered drivers the chance to see otherwise unheard-of fuel economy numbers while lugging two or three friends around at the same time. It was a recipe that would prove all but irresistible as Americans watched fuel prices skyrocket. 

Dodge confirmed on Monday that its SUV will continue to be called the Durango, stamping out Internet rumors that would wear a Magnum nameplate. And it put out a few teaser shots to whet your appetite before the launch this fall.

The 2011 Durango shares its platform with the new Jeep Grand Cherokee. The key difference is that the Durango will offer a third row of seats, while the Jeep sticks to cargo area in back.

 

After the jump, check out pictures of some historic motorcycles from Sunday's Concours d'Elegance at Pebble Beach. (Scroll over the images to see information for each bike.) 

Honda's updated 2011 Accord sedan and coupe will hit dealerships in mid-August. The Accord gets a refresh inside and out, a new leather-equipped Special Edition model and a handful of other interior upgrades.

Fuel-economy improvements--a result of improved aerodynamics, less engine friction and new gear ratios--mean 34 mpg on the highway for the four-cylinder and 30 mpg for the V6. The V6 also gets variable cylinder management that deactivates up to half of the cylinders for efficient cruising.

The sedan gets a redesigned grille, front bumper, rear deck lid and a new wheel design. The coupe gets a new grille and new brake lights.

For power, Honda will stick with the same 2.4-liter I4 making 190 hp and 177 lb-ft for the EX and LX models, and a 3.5-liter V6 making 271 hp for the EX V6 and EX-L.

 

No one likes the sound of "Government Motors." Not General Motors executives; not the Bush and Obama administrations, which bailed out Detroit; not the taxpayers who found themselves holding 61 percent of America’s largest automaker.

 

Now, with GM reporting its most profitable quarter in six years and heading toward an initial public stock offering, the government will begin sloughing off that investment and recouping a chunk of the $50 billion borrowed by GM -- and, eventually, restore the General to its private-company status, along with (hopefully) the consumer good will that the bailout and years of short-sighted management cost GM.

 

Edward Whitacre, the former AT&T chief handpicked by the Obama administration to lead GM, will step down at year end. He’ll be replaced by Daniel Akerson, another former telecommunications executive who’s currently head of the powerful Carlyle Group’s global buyout division. This makes Akerson the fourth GM CEO in the past 18 months.

 

Even more shots of some of the world's most beautiful vehicles, after the jump. (Scroll over the images to get vehicle information.) 

Like every other day I've been in Pebble Beach, Calif., this week, today started off cold, rainy and gray. Thankfully, just like every day other I've been here this week, the rain has stopped, and in about an hour I'll be wearing too many clothes for the warm weather.

But enough of my temperature woes: The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is under way. I've been out here since about 8:00 a.m. (last year I was out for Dawn Patrol at 5:00 a.m., and in a way I regret not coming back this year) so I have a bunch of cool pictures. I'll be posting some throughout the day as time permits. Enjoy. (Scroll over the images to read what each car is.) 

As promised, here are some shots of the gorgeous, classic Jaguar XKSS models that were gathered at the Jaguar Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance kickoff party.

Jag had good reason to celebrate the past, as this year marks the 75th anniversary of the Jaguar name. Of the 16 XKSS models -- arguably the most beautiful and iconic Jag ever made -- the British company, now owned by India's Tata motors, managed to bring 12 of them to the party. At the kickoff, corresponding to a "Gentlemen, start your engines!" announcement, each owner started up his car and saluted the attendees with some throaty exhaust notes.

More pictures after the jump.