Toyota recalled nearly 4.9 million vehicles in 2009 – the most of any maker in the U.S., the Detroit Free Press reports. This is the first time Toyota has ever led in annual recalls, and of course this milestone is the result of the floor mat debacle during which 4.3 million vehicles were recalled.

Free Press writers crunched the numbers on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Web site. Ford came up second with 4.5 million recalled vehicles — most of them covered by recalls for cruise control switches that can catch fire, a chronic defect in older Fords.

Next up was GM was 2.2 million recalled vehicles, followed by Hyundai with just over 1 million and Nissan with 700,000+. Chrysler rounded out the top five with 590,000.

You can see the full list in the Free Press article.

Reuters is reporting that Saab will start production of the redesigned 9-5 sedan at its Trollhatten, Sweden, plant in January. Production of the 9-3 convertible will also resume, as General Motors continues to entertain purchase bids for Saab.

"We have the orders [for the new 9-5] and we have to deliver them as usual," Saab spokesman Eric Geers is quoted as saying. "We also have the orders for the 9-3 and others. The works has to continue again."

Geers titled Spyker among the active bidders, and a text message to Reuters from Spyker chairman Victor Muller indicated GM has extended the deadline to firm up a deal until Jan 7.

Reuters

Inside Line News

Inside Line tests hundreds of vehicles a year, but not every vehicle gets a full write-up. The numbers still tell a story, though, so we present "IL Track Tested." It's a quick rundown of all the data we collected at the track, along with comments direct from the test drivers. Enjoy.

Although it doesn't constitute a full redesign of the LR3, the 2010 Land Rover LR4 brings one very important upgrade: a 375-horsepower 5.0-liter V8. Thusly equipped, the LR4 has gets up to speed with an dominance its predecessor never had.

We timed a 2005 LR3, which had a 300-hp 4.4-liter V8, at 8.9 seconds to 60 mph and 16.6 seconds at 84.0 mph for the quarter-mile. Click past the jump and you'll see the LR4 shaves quite a bit off those numbers.

Beyond that, the 2010 LR4 is still a very large, very off-road-oriented SUV with seating for seven. It has a permanent four-wheel-drive system with a standard locking center differential, an optional rear locker and numerous driver-adjustable terrain settings. Bottom line, there's a lot of hardware on the Land Rover LR4, and although this gives it considerable rock-climbing ability, it's not quite so useful at our paved test track.

First Drive: 2010 Land Rover LR4

Vehicle:
Odometer: 2010 Land Rover LR4
Date: November 3, 2009
Driver: Chris Walton
Price: $54,760

Specifications:
Drive Type: Full-time four-wheel drive (standard locking center differential, optional locking rear differential)
Transmission Type: Six-speed automatic
Engine Type: 90-degree V8
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 4,999/305
Redline (rpm): 6,200
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 375 @ 6,500
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 375 @ 3,500
Brake Type (front): 14.2-inch ventilated disc with two-piston sliding caliper
Brake Type (rear): 13.8-inch ventilated disc with single-piston sliding caliper
Steering System: Variable-ratio, hydraulic-assist power rack-and-pinion
Suspension Type (front): Independent, double-wishbone, air springs, stabilizer bar
Suspension Type (rear): Independent, double-wishbone, air springs, load-leveling dampers, stabilizer bar
Tire Size (front): 255/55R19 111V
Tire Size (rear): 255/55R19 111V
Tire Brand: Continental
Tire Model: 4×4Contact
Tire Type: All-season
Wheel Size: 19-by-8-inch front/rear
Wheel Material (front/rear): Aluminum alloy
As tested Curb Weight (lb): 5,751

Test Results:
0 – 30 (sec): 2.7 (2.9 TC* on)
0 – 45 (sec): 4.9 (5.1 TC on)
0 – 60 (sec): 7.5 (7.7 TC on)
0 – 75 (sec):  11.1 (11.4 TC on)
1/4 Mile (sec @ mph): 15.6 @ 90.0 (15.7 @ 89.8 TC on)
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 7.3 (7.4 TC on)
30 – 0 (ft): 32
60 – 0 (ft): 126
Braking Rating: Good
Slalom (mph): 56.4 (56.3 ESC** on)
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): 0.70 (0.69 ESC on)
Handling Rating: Average 
Db @ Idle: 42.1
Db @ Full Throttle: 65.5
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 58.0

*TC = traction control
**ESC = stability control

Acceleration Comments: No technique here — just whack the gas to the floor mat. The V8 feels pretty peppy, even with the 5,700 pounds it has to motivate. Upshifts are crisp and reasonably smooth. No difference between "D" or "S" at wide-open throttle.

Braking Comments: Impressive brakes, both in terms of capability and drop resistance. Predictable and substantial forward pitch, but controlled and straight stops. Quite a lot of pedal travel, but same effort first to last stop.

Handling Comments: Skidpad: Predictably tall and top-heavy performance on the skid pad, where ESC keeps things from getting out of hand. Steering weight is a little much, but feel for what the front tires are experiencing is adequate. Slalom: The slalom is a pretty pointless exercise in the Landie. ESC is both hyper-vigilant and (I'm guessing) rather necessary to keep all four tires in contact with the ground. Best runs were the "less is more" technique, keeping steering input and body roll minimized.

Maybe Travis Pastrana doesn't need to bother with his Red Bull-sanctioned New Year's Eve jump attempt at the Long Beach Harbor. Johnny Greaves looks to have already broken Ken Block's 171-foot jump record with this apparent 301-foot jump.

Of course, Greaves drives a TORC Pro 2WD Toyota truck, rather than a rally car, and he's sponsored by the "other" energy drink company. Plus, the measuring prescript in the video shows a level of precision not seen outside an elementary school playground.

After the jump, watch a video of what's said to be the longest ever jump by a semi truck. We hear Johnny Walker was the sponsor on that jump attempt.

Autoblog

Can't get enough of the Super GT-ified second-generation Acura NSX? Here's a nearly 11-minute video of the test session at Suzuka.

Straightline: 2010 Acura NSX Lives… But Only in Super GT

Build calibre has long been a problem for the Chevrolet Corvette, and today's recall certainly won't elevation public perception of the car's fit and finish. GM has recalled 22,090 2005-2007 Corvettes to repair a faulty roof adhesive.

You'll know for sure that you have the problem if the roof flies off. Or before that point, you may notice "a snapping noise when driving over bumps, wind noise, poor roof panel fit, roof panel movement/bounce when a door or hatch is closed, or a water leak in the headliner," according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall text.

The adhesive currently used to attach the roofs was itself borne out of a 2006 recall that involved 30,000 Corvettes. That early recall was prompted by 11 reports of roof separation. However, the NHTSA has received claims from 100 owners who say the newer adhesive isn't doing the job, either.

IL News: 2005-'07 Chevrolet Corvette Recalled Over Roof Problem

The current Subaru Impreza WRX STI has been criticized for having too pedestrian a character for a 300-horsepower rally car. A 22-year-old graphic artist, "Pete," has set about to cure that in Photoshop. Now it's a three-door with the engine moved to the back just because.

Digimods via Carscoop

Many adjective-rich stories have been written about the glorious sounds of a V10 engine. But some people just don't get it. And some of those people have the audacity to dine and achievement in Beverly Hills where this Porsche Carrera GT makes its home.

Car Chat

So Michael Schumacher will drive for Mercedes GP in 2010. Will his brother, Ralf Schumacher, be back in Formula 1 as well? That's one of the titillating newsbits floating around during a slow news week.

Supposedly, Ralf has already had an offer that he has turned down. And at least one F1 blogger is speculating that this offer came from the new USF1 team, which has yet to sign a driver for 2010.

Ralf Schumacher last competed in F1 in 2007 when he drove for Toyota. He left Toyota at the end of the season, and imperfectness to secure a spot elsewhere, switched over to DTM racing.

GP Update

Joe Saward's Grand Prix Blog via Axis of Oversteer

When their Toyota Sequoia's navigation system advised them to turn on a remote forest road, a Nevada couple listened. John Rhoads and Starry Bush-Rhoads proceeded to drive down Forest Service Road 28 for 35 miles on Christmas Day before their four-wheel-drive Sequoia got stuck in 18 inches on snow. There they would remain for 2 1/2 days until thier GPS-enabled cell phone got enough of a signal to relay coordinates to a dispatcher. 

The couple was driving from Portland, Oregon, back to their home in Reno, Nevada. The nav system was apparently trying to find the shortest path to U.S. 395. Fortunately, Rhoads and Bush-Rhoads had plenty of food, water and warm clothing, so they were never in grave danger.

In the future, we'd probably also suggest they pack a shovel and some kitty litter. Another thought: Read a little more about your nav system and its route options and rerouting logic.

AP via AOL