Reuters: Toyota Motor Corp plans to halt production at all of its plants in Japan for a total of 11 days in February and March in response to flagging auto sales, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported on Tuesday.

The automaker in November cut its production plan by 950,000 units for the business year ending in March, but the firm now eyes a deeper reduction given a further deterioration in car sales, NHK said.

Toyota, which already announced a three-day suspension at all of its factories in Japan this month, plans the additional production halt for the next two months to reduce inventories, the broadcaster said.

Official photos of Honda’s new Euro-Spec Insight Hybrid have landed onto the web earlier than expected. While the leak is just ahead of the car’s January 11th launch at the Detroit Auto Show, the photos gives us sneak peak of Japan’s latest hybrid. [See more→]

Tuning packages usually arrive in North America late but, if the rumors are true, the factory NISMO S-Tune 370Z kit will arrive in American dealers sometime in June. The NISMO kit takes the coupe’s already aggressive bodywork and adds improved aerodynamics, a set of deep dish five-spoke aluminum wheels, upgraded suspension and brake kits and a cat-back exhaust system. [See more→]

LAT: In the style of BMW’s M3, the new Lexus IS-F is the brand’s toe in the water of the factory-tuner segment — though it’s less like a toe than a fiery cloven hoof. This car started life as a Lexus IS350, a roundly capable and syrupy smooth sport sedan of no great note or interest. Boring, actually. Then it got rabies. [See more→]

A spy shot from BurlappCars shows the snout that we’ve seen on Honda’s trucks has spread to the 2010 Honda Odyssey. The tweaked grille is slightly more aggressive and better integrated than before and it also appears to have a sloping steeply from the windshield.  While there doesn’t seem to be any other changes in the new Odyssey, it is, and will likely continue to be, one of the best people movers in the market. We’ll have to wait and see if there’s more news.

The 2009 Nissan 370Z can now be had for a starting MSRP of $29,930 if you’re looking for a six-speed manual or $31,230 if it’s the new seven-speed automatic you’re craving. Upgrading to a Touring Model will cost $34,460 for the manual and $35,760 for the automatic.

The Sport Package, for an extra $3,000, includes 19-inch RAYS wheels wrapped in Bridgestone Pontenza tires, front and rear spoilers, upgraded brakes and SyncroRev Match. A Navigation Package will cost an additional $1,850 and comes with an iPod interface and 9.3GB “Music Box Hard Drive”.

Nissan used the 370Z’s pricing press release to announce a reworked tag line. The new slogan, “SHIFT_the way you move”, ditches the old “SHIFT_” tag-line. [See more→]

It seems like there’s always been a Toyota Land Cruiser. This unstoppable off-roader has been with us since before the SUV breed was even defined, and if the market for 4×4s ever goes away it will probably be one of the last to leave.

You’d be forgiven for not knowing there’s an all-new Land Cruiser on the block for 2008. Never a common sight on suburban roads, the Land Cruiser has consistently offered a measure of luxury and all-terrain capability that’s hard to match, and the latest incarnation keeps the fire alive with a new, larger engine, better off-road performance and an all-new deisgn. [See more→]

Bloomberg: Honda has been encouraged by Americans demanding small, more fuel efficient, cars like the Honda Fit subcompact, and is reviewing its Japanese lineup for other cars - maybe including a few Type-Rs - that can introduce to North America. [See more→]