It's about time that another automaker took on Ford's Sync hands-free communication and entertainment interface. One of the best rival systems--at least in affordable vehicles--comes from an unlikely source: Mitsubishi. The new 2010 Outlander is the first vehicle to get the handy interface.

In a way, it figures. Mitsubishi used to have a geeky reputation in the U.S. and elsewhere; many years ago now, the Japanese automaker stood out from the rest with features like all-wheel-drive, active yaw control, speed-sensitive four-wheel power steering, and high-end audio with steering-wheel controls. With recent features on offer like the excellent Twin Clutch automated gearbox and now some much-improved navigation systems and in-car conveniences like FUSE, we see some of the old flame coming back.

We've been keeping a close eye on the evolving Ford/Volvo/Geely saga. So far, the biggest point of contention in the brou-ha-ha has been Ford's concerns about intellectual property, which Geely might or might not respect after the ink dries. (Chinese law hasn't been exactly at the forefront of the IP issue.) However, there have also been unspoken concerns about the shift in production that might be precipitated by such a deal, moving factories and jobs from Europe to the Far East. Geely tried to quell some of those worries by saying that it plant to keep Volvo's production in Europe -- if the sale goes through, of course -- but there's also talk of a new, 300,000-capacity plant in China. Awkward. [Reuters via egmCarTech]

There are lots of ways to enjoy music from portable devices in your car. Many new vehicles come with built-in iPhone/iPod docks, but there are a range of other options,  including Belkin's popular TuneBase device. The TuneBase plugs into your car's cigarette lighter, keeping gadgets charged as you listen to music and take hands-free calls. Unfortunately, if you bought one of these devices in the U.S. or Canada, you might want to return it -- and pronto. Seems like a faulty washer can cause the TuneBase to melt your car's dashboard and possibly catch fire if left plugged in overnight. We're guessing that's not the sort of thing you want to wake up to. [NYTimes]

Let's face it: MINIs have a lot of curb appeal, but the company's advertising campaigns frequently come up short. A new spot for the MINI Cooper Convertible proves that point beautifully. Compared to yesterday's ad featuring the Alfa Romeo MiTo, this clip feels clunky and under-rehearsed -- although the potentially clichéd punchline somehow manages to be fairly freaking funny. The credit for that goes entirely to actor... well, if we told you his name, that'd probably give away the ending. Watch: you'll see what we mean.

BMW has been given a fairly impressive international branding opportunity: the company was just announced as the automotive partner of London 2012, which includes the upcoming Olympic games and Paralympic games. As part of the arrangement, BMW will provide roughly 4,000 vehicles to move athletes, officials, and others around the city during the summer of 2012. BMW was also announced as one of London 2012's "sustainability partners", meaning that the company has committed to "low carbon" participation. We're not entirely sure what that entails, but we know that this will be a great opportunity for BMW to showcase some of its more energy-efficient models -- including its ActiveHybrids -- on a very worldwide, very visible stage. Athletes and couch potatoes alike can check the press release below for more details.

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Tesla and its Roadster are a product of DIY ingenuity -- a perfect example of what can happen when a bunch of people come together and say, "Hey, no one else is doing this, so why don't we?" In that same the DIY spirit, game designers at Microsoft have cleverly recruited a Tesla roadster for their own purposes: recording road noise for driving games without interference from noisy combustion engines. Some groups are worried about how quiet EV's and hybrids can be, but in this case, that's exactly what was needed. Ain't ingenuity grand? [CrunchGear]

No matter how you feel about Senator McCain's statements from earlier this week, there's no denying that Chrysler has a lot of potholes dodge as it motors down the road to recovery. Among the biggest tasks at the top of the Chrysler's to-do list is cranking out vehicles of consistent quality. Doug Betts, the company's senior vice president in charge of quality, says that many past problems have been the result of Chrysler's inefficient and unresponsive corporate culture. However, Betts insists that Chrysler's restructuring and its new partnership with Fiat have put quality back in the spotlight. (That may sound slightly ironic to American ears, given our running "Fix it again, Tony" joke.) Among the company's more notablye changes is the re-organization of its quality teams, which are no longer grouped around specific vehicles, but rather around areas of expertise like brakes. Detroit News has an interview with Betts that offers a lot of additional detail. Whether you're a Chrysler fan or foe, it's a very interesting read. [DetNews]

You're well aware that Toyota is recalling the 2004-2009 Prius--among a list of vehicles--for an issue with floor mats. Here at High Gear Media, we have at least two vehicles affected by the recall, both 2004 Toyota Prius hatchbacks, both even the same shade of blue.

One of them's mine, and in the nearly six years we've owned our Prius, it's been relatively fault-free. Early on, we replaced the navigation screen under warranty. Two accidents cost about $3500 each, though they were parking-lot scrapes--the price of very light wheel spindles, suspension A-arms and lots front-end plastic.

With a price tag north of $100,000 and a production run of just 11 units, Commuter Cars' Tango EV isn't likely to become a bestseller on the lots -- but then, with Jay Leno test-driving it for all the world to see, you never know. It may be terrifyingly tiny, boasting a profile that only a mother could love, but with a four-second sprint from 0 to 60 mph, we could learn to overlook a lot. (Also noteworthy: it's a finalist for the Progressive Automotive X-Prize, and future models are expected to ring in under $20,000.) Take a look at the video below for Jay's take on the tiny, tangerine, tandem-seater.

Last time we heard from Alfa Romeo, we wondered what new drugs had found their way to Europe. (Seriously, that genes/jeans campaign from London's Performance PR was terrible.) The latest ad for the Alfa Romeo MiTo comes from Milan's Fabbrica Virali agency, and it's equally bizarre -- but in a totally good way. The spot features Mozart's Requiem, a choir from La Schola Cantorum Santa Maria degli Angeli, and several dozen helium balloons. See if you can guess the tagline before the 53-second mark.