New Toyota Sedan, Chevy Impala & Nissan Altima Coming To New York

Toyota will debut an all-new U.S.-designed sedan at the 2012 New York International Auto Show next week (teaser pictured above). Also expected to be unveiled in New York is the BMW X1, Subaru XV Crosstrek, Fisker Project Nina and new versions of the Buick Enclave, Honda Crosstour, Acura RL, Chevy Impala, Nissan Altima, Toyota Venza, Dodge Viper, Hyundai Santa Fe and Mercedes-Benz CLC, G-Class, GLK and SL65.

California Regulations Include Clean Diesel

Ever since the Green Car Journal selected the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Clean Diesel and Audi A3 TDI Clean Diesel as their Green Car of the Year back-to-back in 2009 and 2010 respectively, and having driven a Volvo XC60 D5 AWD diesel (pictured above) in Sweden for a week in 2010 with amazing fuel economy, I've become a big advocate of the new clean diesel powered vehicles, especially for those highway commuters who don't really benefit from the electric hybrids.

Clean Diesel engines, which are 20 to 40 percent more fuel efficient than comparable gasoline engines, will play a big part in the California Air Resources Board new tailpipe and greenhouse gas emissions standards for new passenger vehicles. The California ARB's new Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV III) regulations, the most stringent in the world, will get phased in during model years 2017-2025. In that time, all vehicles sold in California will have to meet Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) tailpipe standards. The new ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel has reduced sulfur emissions by 97 percent.

Recent Diesel Award Winners:

• The all new 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI clean diesel was voted the winner of the 2012 Earth, Wind and Power Car of the Year of the Most Earth Friendly Vehicles at the recent North American International Auto Show in Detroit;
• The 2012 Volkswagen Touareg TDI Clean Diesel was named Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year;
• In 2010 Audi Q7 TDI Clean Diesel was voted the 2010 Earth, Wind and Power Truck of the Year and the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Clean Diesel was voted the 2009 Earth, Wind and Power Car of the Year.

New Clean Diesels Coming To The U.S.

• Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel in 2013 or 2014, and possibly other Jeep diesels later;
• General Motors Cadillac ATS diesel in the near future;
• Audi A8 TDI diesel in 2013;
• Porsche Cayenne diesel in 2012;
• GM Chevrolet Cruze diesel in 2013;
• Mazda SKYACTIV-D 2.2-liter clean diesel engine;
• Mercedes-Benz S-Class S350 BlueTEC diesel in 2012 after a 17-year absence;
• Volkswagen Passat, which was recently named the Motor Trend 2012 Car of the Year, began production of the Passat diesel in its new Chattanooga, TN plant in the summer of 2011.

Source: The Diesel Technology Forum, a non-profit national organization, dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of diesel engines, fuel and technology. For more information visit www.dieselforum.org.

Dealers Beat Independent Shops in Service Satisfaction

J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Customer Service Index Study says overall satisfaction with the service experience averages 38 points higher on a 1,000-point scale, compared with non-dealer facilities (787 vs. 749, respectively). In addition, 79 percent of all service visits among owners of one- to- three-year-old vehicles are performed at dealer facilities -- up from 74 percent in 2011 and 72 percent in 2010. Overall satisfaction with dealer service improves by 19 points in 2012, compared with 2011, with gains in all five study measures. Among the 33 rank-eligible brands, 28 improve in service satisfaction from 2011, with eight brands improving by at least 20 points. In 2012, 72 percent of vehicle owners indicate their latest dealer service visit was for maintenance rather than repair, an increase from 63 percent in 2011. Customer satisfaction with maintenance visits is typically higher than satisfaction with repair visits, since visits for routine maintenance tend to be less expensive and less time-consuming.

Luxury Brands
Lexus ranks highest in customer satisfaction with dealer service among luxury brands and receives an award for a fourth consecutive year. Lexus achieves an overall CSI score of 861 and performs particularly well in three of the five measures: service initiation, service facility and service quality. Rounding out the top five nameplates in the luxury segment are Cadillac (852); Jaguar (849); Acura (838); and Porsche (836). Among luxury brands, Audi achieves the greatest improvement (gaining 34 points) from 2011.

Mass Market Brands
MINI ranks highest for a second consecutive year with a score of 809. MINI performs particularly well in four of the five measures: service quality, service advisor, service facility and vehicle pick-up. Also among the top five brands in the mass market segment are Buick (805); GMC (803); Chevrolet (801); and Hyundai (791). Of mass market brands, Nissan (which gains 43 points) and Toyota (gains 31 points) achieve the greatest improvements from 2011.

Luxury Brands
Lexus              861                 5
Cadillac            852                4
Jaguar              849                4
Acura                838                3
Porsche             836                3
Luxury Brand Average  835      3
Audi                     828              3
Mercedes-Benz      827              3
Infiniti                  824              3
BMW                    823              3
Lincoln                 817              2
Volvo                   811              2
Land Rover           796              2

Mass Market Brands
MINI                809                 5
Buick               805                 5
GMC                803                 5
Chevrolet         801                 4
Hyundai           791                  4
Ford                786                  4
Volkswagen       785                 3
Kia                   782                 3
Honda              778                  3
Mass Market Brand Average 778  3
Nissan              774                  3
Mazda              767                  3
Toyota               766                 3
Chrysler             760                 2
Subaru               760                 2
Mitsubishi           759                 2
Ram                    754                2
Scion                   752               2
Jeep                    741               2
smart                   740               2
Suzuki                 740                2
Dodge                 739                2

Power Circle Ratings Legend:
5 – Among the best  4 – Better than most  3 – About average  2 – The rest

The 2012 U.S. CSI Study is based on responses from more than 84,000 owners and lessees of 2007 to 2011 model-year vehicles. The study was fielded between October and December 2011.  

Source:J.D. Power & Associates

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe To Debut In 3 Weeks

The all-new third-generation 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe will have its world premiere at the New York International Auto Show in early April. Worldwide cumulative Santa Fe sales are about 2.56 million (Korea: 680,000 / overseas: 1.95 million) since its 2000 debut.

Audi Beverly Hills Dealership Officially Opens

2012 Top 40 Selling U.S. Passenger Vehicles

Make/Model       Feb. 2012         Year-to-date

1. Ford F-Series  47,273  YTD  85,766
2. Toyota Camry  34,543   YTD  62,838
3. GM Chevrolet Silverado-C/K Pickup  32,297  YTD 59,147
4. Nissan Altima  32,953  YTD  55,310
5. Honda Civic  27,087  YTD  48,970

6. Honda CR-V  24,759  YTD 43,719
7. Chrysler Ram P/U  22,595  YTD  40,504
8. Toyota Corolla  22,151  YTD  40,139
9. Ford Focus 23,350  YTD  37,750
10. Ford Escape  18,666  YTD  35,925

11. GM Chevrolet Cruze  20,427   YTD  35,476
12. Ford Fusion 21,773  YTD  35,387
13. GM Chevrolet Malibu 19,987  YTD  34,663
14. Honda  Accord  20,702  YTD  34,361
15. Toyota Prius  20,593  YTD  32,148

16. Hyundai Sonata  17,425  YTD  31,914
17. GM Chevrolet Equinox  17,851  YTD 31,513
18. Hyundai Elantra  13,820  YTD  24,720
19. Volkswagen Jetta 12,838  YTD  23,800
20. Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee 12,724  YTD  23,407

21. Nissan Rogue 13,423  YTD  23,327
22. Toyota Rav4  12,679  YTD  22,498
23. GMC Sierra  11,306  YTD  20,823
24. Chrysler Dodge Caravan  12,668  YTD  20,762   
25. Ford Explorer  10,440  YTD  20,406

26. Kia Optima 1,558  YTD  20,372
27. Toyota Tacoma  10,674  YTD  19,572
28. Nissan Versa 10,190  YTD  19,608
29. Kia Soul  10,876  YTD  18,967
30. Ford Edge  10,535  YTD  18,850

31. Nissan Sentra  10,605  YTD  17,671
32. Chrysler Jeep Wrangler  9,319  YTD 17,215
33. Chrysler 200  9,717  YTD  16,724
34. Honda Odyssey 9,566  YTD  16,464
35. Kia Sorento  8,386  YTD  15,708

36. Chrysler Town & Country  9,621  YTD  15,258
37. Honda Pilot  8,879  YTD  15,244
38. Toyota Highlander  8,156  YTD  15,012
39. GM Chevrolet Traverse  7,966  YTD  14,606
40. Volkswagen Passat  8,189  YTD  14,507

Geneva Auto Show

Land Rover Evoque Convertible Concept

 

Porsche Boxter

Volvo V40

Audi A3

Chevrolet Cruze Wagon

Ford Fiesta ST

February 2012 U.S. Auto Sales

General Motors reported total sales of 209,306 vehicles in February, up 1.1 percent compared with GM’s very strong February 2011 results.  For the first two months of 2012 GM has sold 377,268 vehicles, a decrease of 2.2 percent compared to January and February 2011.

Ford Motor Company sold  179,119 vehicles in February, a 14 percent increase versus year-ago levels. The Ford brand was up 14 percent, while Lincoln posted a 16 percent increase versus year-ago levels. Year-to-date Ford sales are 315,829, 11.2 percent higher than a year ago.

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. reported monthly sales results of 159,423 in February, a 12.4 percent gain on an unadjusted raw volume basis. Year-to-date sales are 283,963, a 10.2 percent increase over last year.

Chrysler Group LLC reported U.S. sales of 133,521 units, a 40 percent increase compared with sales in February 2011, and the group’s best February sales since 2008. Year-to-date Chrysler has sold 234,670 vehicles, a 42 percent jump over last year.

American Honda Motor reported February 2012 monthly new-vehicle sales of 110,157, an increase of 7.8 percent over February 2011, based on the daily selling rate. Year-to-date sales are 193,166, an 8.5 percent increase over 2011.

Nissan North America reported record February U.S. sales of 106,731 versus a year earlier, an increase of 15.5 percent over last February's record total.Year-to-date Nissan sales are 186,044, a 13.3 percent gain over last year.

Hyundai Motor America announced all-time record February sales of 51,151 units, up 18 percent versus 2011. Year-to-date sales are 93,845, a gain of 16.2 percent over 2011.

Kia Motors America announced it's best ever February sales of 45,038 a 37.3 percent increase over the same period in 2011.  Year-to-date sales are 80,555, up 32.9 percent from last year.

Volkswagen of America reported sales of 30,577 in February, a 42.5 percent increase over prior year sales and best February since 1973.  Year-to-date sales of 57,786 is a 45 percent spike from the first two months of 2011. Separately, Audi reported its 14th straight record-setting month of sales with 8,531 vehicles sold in February 2012, up 10 percent versus last year. Year-over-year vehicle sales are 17,885, up 14.9 percent year-to-date compared to 2011.

The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported February sales of 26,184 vehicles, an increase of 31.5 percent from the 19,919 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, BMW has sold 45,923, a 19 percent increase over the first two months of 2011.

Mazda North American Operations reported February U.S. sales of 25,651 vehicles, an increase of 32.3 percent versus last year and best February total sales since 1994.  On a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis, Mazda's February 2012 sales were up 27.0 percent.  Year-to-date sales through February are up 47.5 percent (44.5 percent DSR) versus last year.

Mercedes-Benz USA reported February sales of 19,679 vehicles, a 21.7 percent improvement over February 2011 and the highest February volume on record.  On a year-to-date basis, the 41,398 vehicles sold represent a 23.8 percent increase.

Jaguar Land Rover North America reported February 2012 sales: Land Rover sales for the month were 3,255 up 27 percent from 2011; Jaguar sales for the month were 1,022 up 48 percent from 2011; Jaguar Land Rover North America sales for the month were 4,277 up 32 percent from 2011.

American Suzuki sold 2,425 vehicles in February, up 48 percent from last year and year-to-date sales are 3,930, 7 percent less than a year ago.

Porsche Cars North America announced February 2012 sales of 2,149 vehicles, a 6.4 percent increase over last February.

Sales data will updated as manufacturers report.