  We examine models in which the accelerated expansion of the universe is
driven by a scalar field rolling near an inflection point in the potential. For
the simplest such models, in which the potential is of the form V(\phi) = V_0 +
V_3 (\phi-\phi_0)^3, the scalar field can either evolve toward \phi = \phi_0 at
late times, yielding an asymptotic de Sitter expansion, or it can transition
through the inflection point, producing a transient period of acceleration. We
determine the parameter ranges which produce each of these two possibilities
and also map out the region in parameter space for which the equation of state
of the scalar field is close to -1 at all times up to the present, mimicking
\LambdaCDM. We show that the latter can be consistent with either eternal or
transient acceleration. More complicated inflection point models are also
investigated.
