BMW's Jim O'Donnell Speaks About The Future

 Jim O’Donnell, President and CEO of BMW North America, covered a wide variety of topics in a speech to Los Angeles auto journalists this week, including improving car sales to the BMW i3 and i8 electric vehicles. O’Donnell, speaking to a California crowd, said that the Golden State is BMW’s sixth largest market globally, selling more cars in California than any other state where it recently opened its 50th U.S. dealership in Murietta. O’Donnell predicted 12.5 million total U.S. sales for 2011 dependent on three main factors: vehicle availability, gas prices and the economy. He boasted that BMW and MINI sales are 116,000 through May, up 19 percent this year over last. The Spartanburg, South Carolina, factory produces all the X-models for the world with about 70 percent shipped out of the U.S. and many are configured by the customer and sold before they leave the factory: 80 percent of X3s and 65 percent of X5 and X6 models fall into that category and customers can watch videos of their vehicle being built. According to O’Donnell,  a customer will watch their video 5 times and then send it to social media for friends to watch for another 15 viewings.

O’Donnell says BMW and Mercedes are in a close sales race year-to-date so new model introductions are vital with BMW having the 6 Series convertible (shown above) and 6 Series sedan coming along with the re-introduction of 528xi all-wheel drive sedan which has been gone for a year and is in a niche that the competition has been capitalizing on.

O’Donnell spent a considerable time discussing environmental and social responsibility which included project I to produce the i3 in 2013 and the carbon fiber i8 sportscar, the MINI E and the Active E that was driven in U.S. 7 cities, 4 in California. The biggest message O’Donnell delivered was BMW’s “Don’t Text and Drive” campaign and a sobering commercial that will begin airing during this week’s U.S. Open golf tournament and be shown nationwide by the end of the year. O’Donnell quoted stats from The Wireless Association that one trillion texts were sent in the first half of 2010.

In a heated discussion with dealers is the plan for BMW to invest in “build-to-order” and have vehicles stored in a centralized lot rather than on the dealer premises. With U.S. dealers having invested $2.5 billion in their facilities, it may be a hard sell, especially with customers wanting their car now. Is seeing rows of hundreds of cars on a dealer lot a bad thing?

O’Donnell’s presentation, with his Scottish accent,was humorous and informative with a message that BMW, known for its dominant industry-leading engineering innovation, is paying attention to their customers' wishes.

Hyundai Blue Link™ Wins Two Telematics Update Awards

Automotive telematics is dominating many hi-tech industry events from the enormous annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to this week's 11th annual Telematics Detroit 2011 Conference & Exhibition where manufacturers received kudos for their electronic advancements. With a heavy push to turn vehicles into moving state-of-the-art communication centers for multi-tasking drivers, the introduction of Hyundai Blue Link™ this week comes as no surprise as do their impressive wins of two Telematics Update Awards - one for Best Cloud Based In-Car Application Award which it shared with joint winner Entune from Toyota. Hyundai also was a joint winner of the 2010/11 Industry Newcomer Award with Nissan's LEAF CARWINGS.

In addition to Hyundai, Toyota and Nissan other award winners were WirelessCar for Best Telematics Service Provider, OnStar for Best Telematics Safety Technology, Hughes Telematics for Best Aftermarket Device or Solution, Airbiquity for Best Telematics Service or Solution for Commercial Vehicle, INRIX for Best Telematics Content Aggregator, TeleNav for Best Navigation Solution or Product, Audi Connect and BMW ConnectedDrive were joint winners for Global OEM Infotainment Solution and Kamyar Moinzadeh, President  & CEO, Airbiquity and Peter Steiner, Head of Infotainment, Audi AG shared the Telematics Leadership Award.

Hyundai Blue Link™ is an all-new telematics platform that will offer more than 30 connectivity features on future Hyundai models, starting with the 2012 Sonata this summer and the Veloster 3-door coupe this Fall. Hyundai Blue Link™ will be available in three packages: Assurance at $79 per year, Essentials (includes Assurance) at $179 per year and Guidance (includes Essentials) at $279 per year with discounts when longer service agreements are purchased.

As part of the Blue Link™ launch, Hyundai will provide Blue Link features free of charge for a complimentary period that includes 6 months of the core safety services from "Assurance", three months of the convenience features from "Essentials" and three months of the point of interest search and navigation tools from "Guidance." If the customer elects for automatic renewal within 30 days of purchase, the complimentary period will be doubled for each of the packages; one year  of "Assurance" and 6 months of both "Essentials and Guidance."  After the introductory period, owners of Blue Link™-equipped vehicles can choose to extend their services.

The latest "Big Brother" features help the owner track their vehicle's location and speed when their kids, a valet, a thief or anyone takes their car for a spin. It also sends for help in the event of a crash and provides directions, restaurant recommendations and maintenance reminders. Avoiding tickets with hands-free voice text messaging, driving more efficiency thanks to Eco-Coach and catching thieves with the remote ability to gradually reduce the engine power could come in handy, too. Service Link schedules service at a Hyundai dealer and sends the dealer a recorded message of requested services in advance of the visit.

With all these telematics, one might forget that engine, chassis, brakes and even seats are really still the essential vital parts of a vehicle. All this complex vehicle connectivity allows people to be more productive and more protected while simply getting from A to B.

2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV To Debut in September

Mercedes-Benz USA will debut the all-new, all-wheel-drive third-generation 2012 M-Class SUV in September. The ML350 BlueTEC is powered by a 50-state 240 horsepower V6 turbodiesel and the gasoline-powered ML350 4MATIC features a new direct-injection 302 horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine. Both are mated to a new sevenspeed automatic transmission with a more fuel-efficient torque converter, friction-optimized bearings and a transmission oil thermal management system plus low-friction axle drives and electromechanical steering which all contribute to reducing fuel consumption.

The 2012 M-Class has LED daytime running lights and taillights, chrome roof rails and optional panorama sunroof. Interior features include a standard 7-inch display screen, electromechanical steering, optional climatized cupholders, PARKTRONIC with Active Parking Assist, multicolor ambient lighting and new entertainment and telematics systems.

Added safety systems include the innovative ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection system as standard equipment and available Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist.

Chrysler Group LLC Management Changes

Ralph Gilles (left) is appointed President and CEO of the newly formed Street and Racing Technology (SRT) Brand, Chrysler Group's cross-brand performance unit, and Chrysler's Motorsports activities. He continues with design responsibility for all exterior and interior design activities for all Dodge, Ram, Chrysler and Jeep Brand vehicles.

Fred Diaz is appointed President and CEO of Chrysler de Mexico, which includes responsibility for Latin America. Diaz continues in his current role as the President and CEO of the Ram Truck Brand.

Reid Bigland is named President and CEO of the Dodge Car Brand and head of U.S. Sales. Bigland continues as President and CEO of Chrysler Canada. In addition, the Company appointed David Buckingham to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer of Chrysler Canada, reporting to Bigland. Previously, Buckingham was Vice President - Sales, Chrysler Canada.

Joe ChamaSrour is reassigned to International Operations reporting to Mike Manley, President and CEO of the Jeep® Brand and head of International Operations, Chrysler Group.

All changes are effective immediately.

2011 May U.S. Auto Sales

General Motors reported 221,192 total sales in May, down 1.2 percent on lower fleet volume. Retail sales were up 9 percent compared to May 2010. Year-to-date GM has sold 1,046,275, an 18.2 percent increase over 2010.

Ford Motor Company's May, total sales were 192,102, equal to a year ago. Retail sales were up 5 percent, and fleet sales were down 8 percent. Year-to-date, total sales were 878,600, up 12 percent. Retail sales were up 14 percent, and fleet sales were up 8 percent.

Chrysler reported U.S. sales of 115,363, a 10 percent increase compared with sales in May 2010 and the best May sales since 2008. The new 2012 Fiat 500 all significantly contributed to Chrysler Group’s 10 percent sales increase in May. Year-to-date Chrysler sales are 519,538, up 20 percent from 2010.

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., reported May sales results of 108,387, down 33.4 percent over the year-ago month. The Toyota Division posted May total sales of 96,082, down 31.6 percent from the year-ago month.
The Lexus Division reported total sales of 12,305, down 44.6 percent compared to the same period last year. Year-to-date TMS sales are 701,851 down 0.6 percent from 2010.

American Honda posted May sales of 90,773, a decrease of 16.1 percent based on the daily selling rate compared to May 2010 results. American Honda year-to-date sales of 523,550 represent an increase of 7.4 percent compared to last year. Honda Division sales were 81,773, a decrease of 16 percent versus May 2010. Acura total vehicle sales for May were 9,000, down 17.1 percent based on Daily Selling Rate.

Nissan North America reported May U.S. sales of 76,148, a decrease of 9.1 percent.  Nissan Division sales were down 7.8 percent for the month at 69,759. Sales of Infiniti vehicles decreased 21 percent from the prior
year to 6,389. For 2011, NNA sales have increased 15.2 percent to 433,032.

Hyundai Motor America announced all-time record May sales of 59,214, up 21 percent compared with the same record-breaking period last year. For the year, total sales are 263,588, up 29 percent, with retail volume rising 40 percent. 

Kia Motors America's had its best-ever monthly sales of 48,212, a 53.4-percent increase from May 2010.  KMA's year-to-date sales are up 44.8 percent over 2010, while the brand's U.S. market share climbed to an all-time high on the strength of May sales. 

Volkswagen of America reported  sales of 30,100 in May, a 27.9 percent increase over prior year sales and the company's best sales month since August 2003.  Year-to-date sales are up 19.7 percent. Separately, Audi reported its fifth-consecutive record-setting month for 2011 with the best May U.S. sales in company history. Audi sold 10,457 vehicles, an increase of 13.6%, marking the third-best month in Audi of America history.

The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported May sales of 26,452, an increase of 19.7 percent from the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, BMW Group sales of 116,656 is up 18.7% in the first five months of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.

Daimler reported U.S. sales of 20,798 Mercedes-Benz and smart vehicles, an improvement of 4.7 Percent compared to May 2010. Mercedes-Benz USA reported May sales of 20,306 vehicles, a 5.9 percent improvement over May 2010, and the best May on record since May 2008. On a year-to-date basis, the 95,458 vehicles sold represent an 8.5 percent increase. 

Subaru of America May sales were 20,036, a 15.3 percent drop from May 2010. Year-to-date sales increase sales of 112,255 is a 7.6 percent increase. 

Jaguar Land Rover May sales were 4,162, a gain of 13 percent over May 2010. Jaguar accounted for 1,271 of the May total, a 32 percent rise while Land Rover sales were 2,891, up 7 percent from 2010.  Year-to-date JLR sales are 19,161, up 17 percent over last year with Jaguar making up 5,021 and Land Rover 14,140 of the year so far.

Mazda North American Operations reported May sales of 17,875, down 20.9 percent versus May of 2010.  Year-to-date sales stand at 103,072, and are outpacing last year’s sales at this time by 5.7 percent.

Mitsubishi Motors North America reported May sales of 7,568, an increase of 59.8 percent compared to May 2010.  Year-to date sales are up 60.7 percent.

Volvo North America sold 7,359 vehicles in May, up 58 percent from a year ago and year-to-date has sold 29,203, a 25.8 percent increase.

Porsche Cars North America May sales were 2,817, an increase of 50 percent compared to the same period last year, the German sports car maker's best May sales total in the United States since 2007. So far in 2011, Porsche sales are 12,996, a 47 percent increase.

American Suzuki may sales were 2,290, up 20 percent from 2010. Year-to-date sales are 11,124, a gain of 17 percent from the first 5 months of 2010.

Sales will be updated as manufacturers report.

2012 Volkswagen Passat Starts at $20,765

The all-new 2012 Volkswagen Passat built in Chattanooga, Tennessee, has a starting MSRP of $20,765 (including $770 destination charge) for the 170 horsepower 2.5L model with manual transmission and is available in eight equipment levels. It comes standard with automatic dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, steering wheel audio controls and Volkswagen's no-charge three-year/36,000 mile scheduled Carefree Maintenance Program. The up-level SE model starts at $24,495 and the 2.0L TDI® Clean Diesel model offers three trim levels starting at $26,765 with an expected 43 mpg highway and a range of nearly 800 miles. The 280 horsepower 3.6L VR6 is offered in three trim levels with a starting MSRP of $29,765. The all-new midsize Passat sedan is 191.7 inches long and has a 110.4 inch wheelbase.

Carlos Tavares Appointed Chief Operating Officer for Renault

Carlos Tavares has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer for Renault from his post as head of Nissan Americas. Carlos Tavares will gradually assume his responsibilities and will have fully assumed his responsibilities by July 1, 2011.

Carlos Tavares is a graduate of Ecole Centrale de Paris. He has spent most of his working life with Renault, where he held a wide range of posts in France, in the Engineering and Programmes division. He joined Nissan in 2004 as Programme Director and then as Vice President, Product Strategy and Product Planning. In 2005 he was appointed Executive Vice President at Nissan, joining the Board of Directors. In 2009 he assumed responsibility for operations at Nissan Americas.

Colin Dodge, currently Executive Vice President and Chief Performance Officer for Nissan globally and Chairman of the AMIE region (comprising Africa, Middle East, India and Europe) will take on the additional responsibility as Chairman of the Americas region (comprising North, Central and South America). This change is effective June 13. In his role as Chairman of the Americas, Colin is succeeding Carlos Tavares.

Bill Krueger becomes vice chairman, Nissan Americas, effective June 13.  In this newly formed role Krueger will be Nissan Americas' highest-ranking resident executive and will work closely with Colin Dodge, chairman, Management Committee-Americas. In his new role, Krueger will report to Dodge and be responsible for the day-to-day operations of Nissan Americas' business in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil and 37 other Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Doug Speck Named Acting SVP At Volvo Car Corporation

Doug Speck will take on the role as acting Senior Vice President for Marketing, Sales & Customer Service at Volvo Car Corporation. He succeeds Gerry Keaney who has decided to leave Volvo Car Corporation after more than twenty years.

Doug Speck presently holds the position as President of Volvo Cars of North America. He has thirty years of experience from the automotive business, with key positions within Ford Motor Company, Jaguar and Premier Automotive Group.

"Doug Speck will play a very important role for Volvo Car Corporation´s ability to achieve its ambitious growth plan and for the redefinement of the Volvo brand", says Stefan Jacoby, President & CEO of Volvo Car Corporation.
"We will undertake a global review of the entire marketing and sales organisation and Doug Speck will play a major role in this very important work, adds Stefan Jacoby".

"Gerry Keaney has, since he took the role as head of Marketing Sales & Customer Service in 2003, led the global team in a very professional way through difficult times and I wish him all the best in his future career, says Stefan Jacoby".

Doug Speck will take up his new role at Volvo Car Corporation on 1 June.

"I am excited to take on this challenge at a time when Volvo Car Corporation enters a very important growth period in its history", says Doug Speck.

The successor of Doug Speck at Volvo Cars of North America will be subject to a separate announcement shortly.

Hyundai Genesis Is Refreshed For 2012 - Starts At $35,050 Now

The refreshed Hyundai 2012 Genesis sports sedan, starts at $35,050 for a well-equipped 333-horsepower 3.8 liter V6, $45,350 for the 385-horsepower 4.6 liter DOHC V8 and $47,350 for the new 429-horsepower 5.0 R-Spec model (all include $850 delivery charge). All Genesis models are now coupled with a new in-house eight-speed transmission and are on sale now.

The 2012 Genesis is highlighted by exterior design improvements, new direct injection technology for its Lambda V6 engine, new eight-speed automatic transmission, and enhanced chassis tuning. In addition, a new 5.0-liter direct injection V8 engine is now available exclusively with the 5.0 R-Spec model. Fuel economy is estimated at 16 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, nearly matching the 4.6-liter V8 (17 mpg city/26 mpg highway). Hyundai Genesis sales in 2011 through April are 9,536, up 21.6 percent compared to the first 4 months of 2010. The value-priced Genesis is on the shopping list for those looking at luxury sedans with much higher price tags.

Toyota Friend Will Connect Customers To Their Car, Dealer & Toyota

Toyota Friend will be a private social network that connects Toyota customers with their cars, their dealership, and with Toyota. Friend, powered by Salesforce.com's Chatter,  will be first offered in Japan, initially with Toyota's electric vehicles (EV) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHV) due in 2012. For example, if an EV or PHV is running low on battery power, Toyota Friend would notify the driver to re-charge in the form of a "tweet"-like alert. In addition, while Toyota Friend will be a private social network, customers can choose to extend their communication to family, friends, and others through public social networks such as Twitter and Facebook. The service will also be accessible through smart phones, tablet PCs, and other advanced mobile devices.

So far TMC has developed its own telematics services to connect people, cars and their surroundings and through Toyota Friend, TMC aims to offer its telematics services worldwide. Moving forward, TMC plans to advance toward the realization of future mobility by teaming up proactively with global IT companies.

Although TMC and salesforce.com will launch their partnership with the building of Toyota Friend, in the future the companies plan to develop cloud services for TMC's open platform and create new business opportunities leveraging their respective strengths. Salesforce.com and TMC will each make investments in Toyota Media Service Co. (TMS), which oversees TMC's global cloud platform development. Salesforce.com will invest 223 million yen and TMC will invest 442 million yen. Microsoft Corporation, which on April 6 announced a strategic partnership with TMC to build a global platform for next generation telematics services, will invest 350 million yen.

Cadillac Escalade Has Highest Overall Satisfaction In 2011: AutoPacific

AutoPacific announced its 15th annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards last week based on over 68,000 new vehicle owners with the winners performing well in 48 separate categories that objectively measure the ownership experience. At the manufacturer level, multiple top-ranked award winners are: Ford with seven wins; Toyota with four wins; and General Motors and Hyundai with three wins.

The vehicle - car or truck - registering highest overall satisfaction in 2011 is the Cadillac Escalade Luxury SUV.  The car with the highest overall satisfaction score is the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Top 2011 model year performers are:
HIGHEST SATISFACTION PREMIUM BRAND:   Lincoln
HIGHEST SATISFACTION POPULAR BRAND:  Chrysler

PASSENGER CARS:
Premium Luxury Car: Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Aspirational Luxury Car: Hyundai Genesis
Luxury Mid-Size Car: Lincoln MKZ
Large Car: Ford Taurus and Toyota Avalon (tie)
Premium Mid-Size Car: Hyundai Sonata
Mid-Size Car: Suzuki Kizashi
Premium Compact Car: Volvo C30/S40/V50
Compact Car: Hyundai Elantra
Economy Car: Honda Fit
Sports Car: Porsche 911
Sporty Car: Scion tC
Hybrid Car: Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
   
LIGHT TRUCKS:
Heavy Duty Pickup: Ford F-Series Super Duty
Large Light Duty Pickup: Chevrolet Avalanche
Compact Pickup: Honda Ridgeline
Luxury Sport Utility Vehicle: Cadillac Escalade
Large Sport Utility Vehicle: GMC Yukon
Premium Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle: Jeep Grand Cherokee
Premium Luxury Crossover SUV: Lincoln MKT
Luxury Crossover SUV: Lexus RX
Large Crossover SUV: Ford Flex
Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV: Ford Explorer
Mid-Size Crossover SUV: Mitsubishi Outlander
Compact Crossover SUV: Kia Sportage
Minivan: Chrysler Town & Country
Hybrid Truck: Lexus RX450h Hybrid

2012 All-new CLS-Class Four-door Coupe Starts At $72,175

The 2012 all-new CLS-Class four-door coupe comes in three models, all powered by new biturbo direct-injection V8 engines and, for the first time, offers 4MATIC all-wheel-drive. The CLS550 with a new 402 horsepower 4.6-liter direct-injection twin-turbo V8 gettig an estimated 18 city / 26 hwy starts at $72,175 including the $875 delievery charge. The CLS550 4MATIC starts at $74,675 and the high-performance CLS63 AMG (pictured above) which starts at $95,775 has a 518 horsepower 5.5-liter version of the new direct-injection V8 engine and there's an optional AMG Performance Package increasing output to 550 horsepower. The 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS is about 1.2 inches longer and wider than its predecessor and fits between the S-Class-based CL and the E-Class two-door.

Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class

The Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class is front-wheel drive with a new 2.0-liter turbocharged 210 horsepower four-cylinder gasoline engine mated to a dual clutch transmission and also has radar-based collision warning system with adaptive Brake Assist.

A smartphone is fully integrated into the infotainment systems of the Concept A-Class. When the phone is inserted into the recess provided in the center console, it is automatically synchronized with the COMAND multimedia system and all the functions of the smartphone, including internet radio, email and social networks such as Twitter or Facebook, are shown as applications on the 7-inch display and operated by the rotary/push control.

With U.S. gas prices soaring again, small fuel efficient cars are in focus again so this concept may become reality very soon to satisfy luxury-hungry, gas-conscience urban drivers.

Kia's Orth Hedrick Discusses 2011 Optima Hybrid

Kia Motors America Director of Product Planning Orth Hedrick talks about the 2011 Optima Hybrid that hits showrooms next month. Click video to play:

2011 Kia Optima Hybrid Starts At $26,500 Next Month

The 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid, Kia's first hybrid in the U.S., will have a starting price of $26,500 (excluding delivery charges) with an available Hybrid Premium Technology Package for another $5,000, when it hits showrooms in June. The Kia-developed powertrain uses advanced lithium polymer batteries from LG Chem, to deliver up to 35 miles per gallon in city driving and 40 miles per gallon on the highway. The 2011 Optima Hybrid uses a full parallel hybrid system and can be driven in zero emission, full-electric drive mode at speeds up to 62 miles per hour or in blended gas-electric mode at any speed. When the car comes to a stop and the electrical load is low, the engine shuts off to completely eliminate idle fuel consumption and emissions. The Virtual Engine Sound System (VESS), standard on the Optima Hybrid, plays a pre-recorded engine sound during electric-only operation to help notify people outside the vehicle that it is approaching.

The Optima Hybrid is the first Kia vehicle to offer the company's proprietary UVO powered by Microsoft® hands-free, voice-activated infotainment and communications system which is paired with the AM/FM/CD/MP3/Sat audio system and features a rear-view camera, SIRIUS® Satellite Radio capabilities with three months complimentary service, auxiliary and USB audio input jacks for connecting with MP3 players and Bluetooth wireless technology connectivity with steering wheel-mounted controls. 

It's a lot of car for the money with impressive zero to 60 acceleration and many luxury car features.

Tim Colbeck Leaves Subaru of America To Head Saab North America

Tim Colbeck becomes president and chief operating officer of Saab Cars North America today as Saab is going through a re-birth, re-financing and is in the midst of launching the all-new Saab 9-5 Sedan, Saab's first crossover- the 9-4X, the 9-5 SportCombi and the 9-3 Griffin range. Colbeck will report directly to Saab Automobile AB vice president and head of global sales & aftersales, Matthias Seidl and the Saab Cars North America Board of Directors.

Colbeck joins Saab from his post of senior vice president sales at Subaru of America leading record sales and market share in the last two years and making Subaru the only brand to achieve sales increases in each of the last three years in The U.S.  During his career at Subaru, Tim has been in various executive roles, with experience in sales, ebusiness, finance and fixed operations.

An opportunity to take control of a company that had a brush with extinction from a company that has had recent unmatched sales success is a gutsy move Tim, but no doubt a huge new challenge, that if successful, will put you in very high regard in the entire industry - good luck!

2012 Cayman S Black Edition For $67,500 This Summer

Porsche introduces the new monochromatic limited edition 2012 Cayman S Black Edition arriving late this summer with a 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine with direct fuel injection, mounted in front of the rear axle, producing 330 horsepower, 10 more than the Cayman S with an MSRP of $67,500. With PDK, the Cayman S Black Edition will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in as little as 4.6 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono Package and reaches a top track speed of 172 mph while achieving EPA estimated fuel economy of 20 city and 29 highway (19/26 when equipped with six-speed manual and top track speed of 173 mph), the same as the Cayman S.

Jaguar To Build 250 C-X75 Supercars With A Price Of $1.1M Or More

Jaguar confirms that it will launch the C-X75 concept car as an exclusive hybrid supercar with a carbon-fiber chassis that is expected to deliver CO2 emissions of less than 99g/km while being able to achieve in excess of 200mph. The Jaguar C-X75, seen last November at the Los Angeles Auto Show, will be developed in association with Williams F1 who will provide their engineering expertise in areas including aerodynamics, carbon composite manufacture and hybrid technologies. Only 250 examples will be built, each costing between 700,000 - 900,000 British pounds depending on market and local taxes. That converts to about $1.1 million - $1.5 million U.S. dollars.

If interested in getting one call:
UK: 0800 015 8605
International: +44(0)1932 335370 or +44(0)1932 335365
China: 400 820 8955

April 2011 U.S. Car Sales

General Motors dealers in the United States reported 232,538 total sales in April, a 27-percent increase versus April a year ago. Year-to-date GM sales are 825,083, up 24.8 percent from the first four months of 2010.

Ford Motor Company April sales were 189,778, up 16 percent. Year-to-date, Ford total sales were 686,498, up 16 percent.

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. reported April sales results of 159,540 units, up 1.3 percent over the year-ago month. The Toyota Division posted April total sales of 141,964 units, up 2.1 percent over the year-ago month.  The Lexus Division reported total sales of 17,576 units, down 4.3 percent from last April. All sales on a raw not adjusted basis.

American Honda Motor posted April sales of 124,799, an increase of 5.7 percent based on the daily selling rate compared to April 2010 results of 113,697. American Honda year-to-date sales of 432,777 is an increase of 14.6 percent based on the daily selling rate.

Chrysler Group LLC reported U.S. sales of 117,225, a 22 percent increase compared with sales in April 2010 (95,703 units), and the best April sales since 2008. Year-to-date sales are at 404,175, a 23 percent increase from 2010.

Nissan North America reported April U.S. sales of 71,526, an increase of 12.2 percent. For 2011, NNA sales have increased 22.2 percent to 356,884 units.  Nissan Division deliveries are up 23.4 percent to 322,287 and Infiniti sales have increased 11.9 percent to 34,597 units.

Hyundai Motor America today announced all-time record April sales of 61,754 units, up 40 percent compared with the same record-breaking period last year. For the year, total sales are up 31 percent, with retail volume rising 40 percent. 

Kia Motors America announced all-time record monthly sales of 47,074, a 56.7-percent increase from April 2010, and a 6.6-percent increase over the previous record set last month.

Volkswagen of America reported sales of 28,542 April 2011, a 23 percent increase over prior year sales and the company's best sales month since November 2003.  Year-to-date sales are up 17 percent. Audi April U.S. sales of 10,018 was a 7.5 percent rise.

The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported April sales of 25,247 vehicles, an increase of 19.6 percent from the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, BMW Group is up 18 percent on sales of 90,204 in the first four months of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.

Subaru of America reported April sales of 24,762, a gain of 6.7 percent from April 2010 and year-to-date Subaru has sold 92,219, a 14.3 percent rise.

Mercedes-Benz USA reported April sales of 19,157 vehicles, a 5.1 percent improvement over April 2010, and the best April on record since April 2008.  On a year-to-date basis, the 75,152 vehicles sold represent a 9.2 percent increase.

Mitsubishi Motors North America reported April 2011 sales of 8,081, an increase of 106 percent compared to April 2010.  It was Mitsubishi's largest month of sales in two-and-a-half years (August 2008) and the eighth consecutive month that the company has achieved a year-over-year sales increase.  Year-to-date sales are up 60.9 percent.

Jaguar Land Rover North America April U.S. sales for both brands totalled 4,231, up 16 percent from April 2010. Land Rover sales were 2,982, up 8 percent from April 2010 and Jaguar sales at 1,249, up 39 percent from April 2010. For 2011, year-to-date, Jaguar Land Rover North America sales are up 18 percent to 14,999 units, with year-to-date increases from both Jaguar and Land Rover brands.

Porsche Cars North America announced April sales in the U.S. of 3,172 vehicles compared to the same period last year, an increase of 82 percent.

American Suzuki sales in April were 2,132, a 9 percent gain over last year and year-to-date sales are 8,834, a 16 percent rise.


Page will be updated as manufacturers report.

New York Auto Show Video: Don Esmond, SVP, Toyota Motor Sales, USA

Toyota's Don Esmond, Senior Vice President of Automotive Operations at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., at the introduction of the Scion FR-S concept in New York discusses the impact of the devastation of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami on Toyota and the auto industry. Esmond also comments on the new or refreshed vehicles that Toyota will be bringing to market this year, next year and beyond.

New York Auto Show Video: Laura Soave, Fiat North America

Laura Soave, head of Fiat North America, shows the new Fiat 500c cabriolet with soft top at the New York Auto Show and discusses models, dealer network, sales and sales projections for the entire Fiat line-up in the U.S.

New York Auto Show Video: Linda Marshall of OnStar Describes IntelliLink

Linda Marshall, President of OnStar, General Motors' technology unit, describes IntelliLink, a hands-free and touchscreen interface coming on the 2012 Buick Verano, Regal and LaCrosse and the 2012 GMC Terrain. IntelliLink is an in-vehicle wireless connectivity and customizable infotainment system using Bluetooth or USB to connect the driver’s smartphone to a new 7- or 8-inch, high-resolution, full-color touch screen display radio allowing smartphone control via voice activation and steering wheel-mounted controls. It also enables streaming stereo audio from the phone through services like PANDORA® Internet radio and Stitcher SmartRadio®. Buick IntelliLink enables seamless integration of stowed portable devices with each vehicle’s infotainment system, allowing drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

New York Auto Show Video: Michael Sprague, Kia Motors America

Michael Sprague, Vice President of Marketing at Kia Motors America describes features packed into the all-new Rio sedan and Rio5.

New York Auto Show Video: Carlos Tavares, Nissan Americas

Carlos Tavares, Executive Vice President of Nissan Americas and Board Member of Nissan Motor Corporation comments on the new Versa sedan, U.S. production of the next generation Rogue crossover, the all-electric Leaf and gives an update on the Japan supply issues following the earthquake and tsunami.

New York Auto Show: Bob Lutz "Car Guys vs. Bean Counters" June 8th

Bob Lutz, who has been an executive with many auto manufacturers, the latest as Vice Chairman of General Motors, is now a consultant for Lotus Cars and held a presentation at the New York Auto Show last week with media more intense on learning about his thoughts on GM than Lotus and Bob more than willing to deliver because he discusses much of that in his new book due out on June 8th. Lutz reviewed his thoughts on the demise of U.S. auto industry:
1. 1970 CAFE rules gave the Japanese an advantage because they already had small more fuel efficient engines and the U.S. was forced to change their large engine past.
2. The State Department allowed the dollar-yen foreign exchange rate to give the Japanese a $3-$4,000 per vehicle advantage.
3. The focus on financial results by management.
4. UAW with unrealistic demands that made the U.S. uncompetitive.
5. The media's pro-import bias.

We'll have to wait for the June 8th release of Car Guys vs. Bean Counters from Penguin Books to learn about Lutz' narration on his impressive career in the automotive business which is far from over.

New York Auto Show: Scion FR-S Concept - Star Of The Show

Scion unveiled the rear-wheel drive FR-S Concept sports coupe at the 2011 New York International Auto Show. The FR-S Concept, which stands for Front-engine, Rear-wheel drive, Sport; is Scion's definition of a rear-wheel-drive sports car using Subaru's 2.0-liter flat-four boxer engine that can mate with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission incorporating Toyota's D4-S injection system, which utilizes both direct and port injection, resulting in increased horsepower and torque throughout the entire powerband, without sacrificing MPG.

The FR-S is 168.2 inches long on a 101.2 inch wheelbase and 71.5 inches wide. Toyota says it's most inspired by the AE86 generation of the Corolla, better known as the Hachi-Roku, meaning "8-6" in Japanese but some will say Ferrari, especially with the rich coats of Code Red, the appropriately named color that consists of a custom blend of candy and a developmental additive from BASF called Mearlite SSQ.

It's a sharp departure from the typical Scion vehicle and a welcomed change. Scion FR-S gets my vote as the Star of the Show from New York this year.

New York Auto Show: 2012 Nissan Versa

The 2012 Nissan Versa Sedan goes on sale this summer with a starting Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of $10,990 with a second-generation 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine that includes a range of technologies such as a dual injector system and twin Continuously Variable Timing Control (CVTC) system.  Fuel economy is estimated at 30 mpg City, 37 mpg Highway and 33 mpg combined mpg. (CVT transmission), an improvement of five mpg versus the 2011 Versa Sedan.  The 2012 Nissan Versa Sedan will be available in S, SV and SL models.

The Nissan LEAF NISMO RC (for Racing Competition) utilizes a production Nisan LEAF powertrain wrapped in a 2-door carbon fiber body with removable front and rear sections and a large adjustable rear wing. Like the production Nissan LEAF, the NISMO RC is powered by a lithium-ion battery composed of 48 compact modules and a high-response 80kW AC synchronous motor that generates 107 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque.

New York Auto Show: 2012 Kia Rio & Soul

Kia Motors America unveiled the all-new 2012 Rio sub-compact sedan at the New York International Auto Show to join its hatchback sibling unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show last month. The all-new ISG technology helps produce fuel economy of 40 miles per gallon.

The 2012 Rio's all-new platform is longer, wider and lower than the previous generation with an overall length of 171.9 (Rio sedan) or 159.3 (Rio5) with a platform measuring 67.7 inches wide and 57.3 inches high. Rio is available in LX, EX and SX trim levels with a 138 horsepower 1.6-liter GDI four-cylinder engine with the option of either a six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic providing 30 city / 40 highway mpg.  Rio now offers ISG technology where the engine turns off when the vehicle is not in motion such as at a stop light or in traffic. The engine restarts automatically when the driver releases the brake pedal, resulting in lower levels of fuel consumption.

The 2012 Soul gets a new 1.6-liter gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission to produce 135 horsepower (an 11 percent increase in horsepower from the previous engine) and 121 pound-feet of torque.  A new 160 horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (a 13 percent increase in horsepower from the previous engine) is available with either the six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission and is standard on Soul+, Soul! and Soul sport models.  Fuel economy for the 1.6-liter comes in at 28 city / 34 highway, three miles per gallon more than the previous engine while the 2.0-liter offers 27/33 mpg for both the automatic and manual transmissions.

New York Auto Show: 2012 Honda Civic

The all-new 2012 Honda Civic, shown as a concept in Detroit in January and for real in New York has a manufacturer's suggested retail pricing ranging from $15,605 for the value-oriented Civic DX Coupe (plus $750.00 destination charge) to $26,750 for the Civic Hybrid with leather-trimmed seating surfaces, the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ and XM Radio®.

The 2012 Civic lineup includes a sedan and a coupe with conventional gasoline models, a new "HF" high fuel-economy version with an EPA-estimated 41 mpg on the highway, two sporty "Si" performance versions, along with one hybrid and a natural gas alternative-fuel variant. The Honda Civic and hybrid went on sale April 20th, the day they were unveiled in New York, the Civic Si will hit showrooms a month later with the HF and Natural Gas models to be available this Fall.

New York Auto Show: 2012 Hyundai Accent

Hyundai Motor America introduced the all-new fourth generation 2012 Accent subcompact sedan and Accent five-door to hit dealerships this summer. It has the all-new 138 horsepower 1.6-liter GDI “Gamma” engine producing 123 lb-ft of torque, paired with proprietary six-speed automatic or manual transmissions with fuel economy of 30 mpg city/40 mpg highway.
     

New York Auto Show: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

The all-new 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 arrives this summer as one of four vehicles from Chrysler's Street and Racing Technology (SRT) team. The others are the Challenger, Charger and 300 sedans with owners of any SRT vehicle receiving one day of professional driving instruction from the Richard Petty Racing School.

The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 has an all-new 6.4-liter HEMI® V-8 with Fuel Saver Technology that delivers an estimated 465 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque, an improvement of 45 horsepower and 45 lb.-ft. torque over the 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 it replaces.

Standard Fuel Saver Technology and a new-for-2012 active valve exhaust system allows four-cylinder operation to engage over a wider rpm range, to deliver both improved fuel efficiency (an estimated 13-percent increase on the highway) and an extended range of approximately 450 miles on one tank of gas. The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 goes on sale in the 3rd quarter of this year.

New York Auto Show: 2013 Malibu ECO

Chevrolet introduced the all-new 2013 Malibu ECO, based on the all-new, 2013 Malibu sedan, which will be sold in nearly 100 countries on six continents. Sales of the new Malibu begin with the ECO model in the United States in early 2012. The Malibu LS, LT and LTZ trim level offerings join the ECO in summer 2012. Pricing will be announced later.

Malibu ECO's eAssist system is mated to a 180 horsepower 2.4 liter Ecotec direct-injection four-cylinder engine and next-generation six-speed automatic transmission. It features eAssist™ "light electrification" technology which is engineered to deliver an estimated 26 mpg in city driving and 38 mpg on the highway without compromising performance.

An ECO gauge in the cluster continuously responds to driving behavior, encouraging fuel-efficient driving, while an Auto Stop Indicator on the tachometer informs the driver when the engine is in start-stop mode.  Malibu will include Chevrolet's new MyLink infotainment package at launch. It builds on the safety and security of OnStar and seamlessly integrates online services like Pandora® Internet radio and Stitcher SmartRadio®. MyLink integrates wireless connectivity through Bluetooth to enable hands-free use of selected smart phone apps while the device remains safely stowed. It features a high-resolution, full-color touch screen display designed to manage the number of steps required to complete a task.

New York Auto Show: 2012 Subaru Impreza Four-door and Five-door

Subaru of America introduced the all-new fourth-generation 2012 Impreza four-door and five-door compact Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive models which will arrive in Subaru dealerships this Fall. The 2012 ImprezaPowered by an all-new 148 horsepower 2.0-liter Boxer enginewith a choice of a five-speed manual transmission or the second-generation Lineartronic® CVT (continuously variable transmission) with projected EPA ratings of 27 mpg city and 36 mpg highway.

Impreza is offered in base, Premium, Sport Premium, Limited and Sport Limited models. The wheelbase grows to 104.1 inches compared to 103.2 in the outgoing model while length and width remain the same as before for both sedan and five-door models. Rear seat passengers gain nearly two inches of legroom. Sedan trunk room and five-door cargo room are both increased, and the five-door now provides a completely flat load floor with the standard 60/40 split rear seatbacks folded.

New York Auto Show: 2013 Ford Taurus

The new 2013 Ford Taurus is the first car in Ford’s North American lineup to offer the advanced 237 horsepower 2.0-liter EcoBoost™ engine, combining a turbocharger with gasoline direct injection for expected highway fuel economy of at least 31 mpg. The EcoBoost engine will deliver 250 lb.-ft. of torque. The standard Taurus engine is a 290 horsepower 3.5-liter V6 with the addition of twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT), enabling increased fuel economy while delivering 27 more horsepower, a reduction in part-throttle emissions and increased responsiveness. Both engines are mated to six-speed automatic transmissions.

The Taurus technologies include SYNC® with MyFord Touch™, which replaces many traditional buttons, knobs and gauges with clear, colorful LCD screens and steering wheel-mounted five-way toggles. These screens can be personalized to display information relevant to each driver by using voice command, keeping the driver’s eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. We can expect to see the Ford Taurus early next year with its new front & rear.

The Taurus SHO with its distinct grill will have a 365 horsepower 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, delivering 350 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to a six-speed high-capacity 6F55 SelectShift Automatic™ transmission.

2012 Volkswagen Beetle World Debut in Shanghai, Berlin & New York

The third generation of the Volkswagen Beetle is celebrating a transcontinental world debut simultaneously in Shanghai, Berlin and New York. The 2012 Beetle is 71.2 inches wide (3.3 inches wider), 58.5 inches tall (.5 inches lower) and 168.4 inches long (6 inches longer). The new focal point is the C-pillar and a rear spoiler that is integrated into the design (standard on 2.0L TSI engines with 200 hp).

The 2012 Beetle will offer three engines: the 170 horsepower 2.5 liter gasoline five cylinder, the 140 horsepower 2.0 liter TDI® Clean Diesel and the 200 horsepower 2.0 liter TSI® turbocharged gasoline engine. Transmission choices will include a 5-speed manual or optional 6-speed automatic on 2.5L models. Volkswagen’s DSG® 6-speed dual-clutch transmission will be offered on the TDI Clean Diesel and 2.0L TSI turbocharged gasoline models, while a 6-speed manual will come standard.

The transparent, panoramic tilt/slide glass sunroof is 80 percent larger than on the previous model. The insulating glass blocks 99 percent of UV radiation and 92 percent of heat energy. All scheduled maintenance is covered for the length of the New Vehicle Warranty – three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio With Dual-layer Power-operated Cloth Top

The new 2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio features a dual-layer power-operated cloth top that goes up and down with just the push of a button and retracts up to the rear spoiler during speeds up to 60 mph. The Fiat 500c with room for four passengers has three exterior soft-top colors, 14 exterior colors, 12 unique seat colors and material combinations plus a choice of two interior environments to allow customers to personalize “their own” Fiat 500c.

Scott Vazin Leaves Nissan For VP Post At Volkswagen Of America

Scott Vazin

Scott Vazin left Nashville last Friday after nearly 15 years at Nissan North America to join VW as vice president of Volkswagen Public Relations reporting to Tony Cervone, Executive Vice President, Group Communications, Volkswagen Group of America. Vazin joins Volkswagen from Nissan where he most recently served as Director of Product and Consumer Communications. Vazin started his automotive career at Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America in California in 1990. Congratulations Scott! Vazin starts at VW Monday in time for the New York International Auto Show next week.

VW also announced that veteran automotive journalist Mark Gillies has joined the Volkswagen team as product and technology communications manager.

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Photo Revealed Before Monday's Kick-Off

The all-new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet’s and General Motors’ best-selling car in the U.S. in 2010, will be revealed on Monday night at 8:30 p.m. EDT in high-definition video streamed live over the Internet at www.watchthenewchevymalibuinhd.com.  The new Malibu will be sold in nearly 100 countries on six continents. This photo was on the GM website today.

Edsel B. Ford II Speaks On Racing in America at The Henry Ford Museum

Edsel B. Ford II spoke to a packed gathering of automotive media in Los Angeles yesterday and gave a chronology of Ford's racing heritage dating back to his great-grandfather, Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford's winning debut race on Oct. 10, 1901. The prize was a cut-glass punch bowl which has been missing for more than 50 years so the search is on to get it back. It was that racing win 110 years ago that led investors to line up and contribute to the formation of Ford Motor Co. 20 months later in June, 1903. Ford also spoke about his Racing in America exhibit aiming to educate today's youth on automotive technology developed through racing.

In attendence yesterday were racing legend Parnelli Jones (right) who won six Indy races including the 1963 Indianapolis 500 and 88 year old Caroll Shelby (middle), a retired designer and racing driver most well known for his Mustangs and Mustang Cobras.

Parnelli Jones by the famous Boss 302 Mustang that he raced in the early 1970's.

Countdown To 2011 New York Auto Show: Lexus LF-Gh Hybrid Concept

The Lexus LF-Gh hybrid concept will make its world debut at the 2011 New York International Auto Show. The LF-Gh, which stands for Lexus Future Grand Touring Hybrid, conveys original thoughts and ideas that may migrate to future Lexus vehicles on a global scale.

Lexus is teasing us with the left rear and left front photos and we'll bring you the entire vehicle in two weeks from the New York International Auto Show.

Get Behind The Wheel Of An All-New Chrysler At The Mall

The Chrysler brand is bringing its re-engineered and re-designed 2011 vehicle lineup directly to consumers to generate awareness and has launched a new test drive campaign at local malls across the country that will offer you an opportunity to get behind the wheel and experience the 2011 200 sedan and 200 Convertible, Chrysler 300 sedan and Town & Country minivan.

The test-drive program will have product specialists to answer questions and provide information on Chrysler brand products "without any sales pressure" and those of you who test drive a Chrysler vehicle at the event may end up in a future Chrysler commercial and you will receive a $15 shopping mall gift card for completing a test-drive. Go for it!

Countdown To 2011 New York Auto Show: 2012 Mazda3 Refreshed

Mazda will debut its refreshed 2012 Mazda3 with SKYACTIV technologies at the New York International Auto Show in two weeks and goes on sales in the Fall.

SKYACTIV is a suite of technologies, including completely redesigned, highly efficient, internal combustion gasoline and diesel engines, manual and automatic transmissions, and an advanced body and chassis to improve the driving experience, including the vehicle's performance, handling, fuel economy and safety.

The MINAGI Concept (left), a compact SUV which was shown in Geneva a month ago will also be on display in New York. It's the first Mazda concept vehicle to fully adopt its new SKYACTIV suite of technologies and its new KODO ("Soul of Motion") design theme, which was initially seen in the SHINARI Concept that debuted last year.  Combining Mazda's latest technology and design elements, MINAGI provides direction for the brand's next generation of vehicles, and is the inspiration for an upcoming production model.

Chrysler's Marketing Push For 16 New Vehicles Hitting Showrooms

Sixteen all-new vehicles, with the same model names except the Sebring to 200, were introduced by Chrysler last year and the marketing push is hard to sell them as they hit showrooms. Chrysler executives and engineers are making the rounds to remind the automotive media that the latest Chrysler, Dodge, Ram and Jeep vehicles are better than ever. Chrysler brand executives showed off the Chrysler 300, 200 sedan and convertible and Town & Country mini-van at an all-new dealership in the heart of Los Angeles yesterday.

The 2011 Chrysler 200 LX starts at $19,245 with fuel economy of 21 mpg city / 30 mpg highway from the standard 173 horsepower 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine on the LX, Touring and Limited models. A 3.6 liter Pentastar Flex Fuel V6 Engine is available on the Touring and Limited versions.

The all-new 2011 Chrysler 300 is a little less "bad ass" than its popular predecessor but still maintains that character with the ability to be customized to suit the owner's personality. The 300 starts at $27,995 (including $825 destination) and runs up to a starting price of $41,145 for the 300C AWD. The all-new 2011 Chrysler 300 and 300 Limited models feature the 292 horsepower 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine with EPA-ratings of 18 mpg city / 27 mpg highway. The all-new 2011 Chrysler 300C has the 363 horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 engine delivering up to 25 highway mpg. The engine’s Fuel Saver Technology allows for transition between high-fuel-economy four-cylinder mode when less power is needed and V-8 mode when more power is in demand.

The 2011 Chrysler Town & Country has the all-new 3.6-litre Pentastar V-6 engine for improved fuel economy of 36 mpg highway with a new fuel-economizer mode that helps maximize fuel efficiency. There are more than 40 safety features including a new driver-side knee blocker airbag, front seat-mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags, electronic stability control and tire pressure monitoring. It also comes with the Super Stow ‘n Go seating and storage system, with larger, more comfortable seats and a new one-touch fold down function.

The pressure is on Sergio Marchionne and his team to make Chrysler profitable and there's no better way than new vehicles to add sizzle to a comeback brand where sales are up 23 percent over the first 3 months of last year. The upscale Chrysler brand trails Ram, Dodge and Jeep in sales so the push is on to boost sales of the nameplate that carries the company name.

2012 Audi A7 Starts At $60,125 Later This Month

The all-new 2012 Audi A7 3.0T quattro® Tiptronic® five-door coupe starts at $60,125 (including $875 destination charge, taxes, title, options, and dealer charges) with the first models reaching U.S. showrooms later this month. (photo from 2011 North American International Auto Show Detroit)

March 2011 U.S. Auto Sales Led By Ford

Ford’s March sales of 212,777 topped all U.S. sales, an increase of 19 percent versus a year ago. Lincoln sales were 8,501, down 2.2 percent in March. Year-to-date, Ford sales totaled 496,720, up 16 percent.

General Motors retail sales for its four brands was 206,621, an increase of 9.6 percent. Cadillac sales in March were 12,164, up 5 percent from March 2010.Year-to-date GM has sold 592,545, a 24.1 percent increase of 2010.

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. reported March sales results of 176,222 units, down 5.7 from the year-ago month. Year-to-date Toyota, Lexus and Scion sales. For the first quarter, TMS reported sales of 433,924 vehicles, an increase of 12.5 percent over 2010.

American Honda Motor posted March sales of 133,650, an increase of 18.9 percent based on the daily selling rate. Honda sales were 121,039, up 25 percent and Acura was 12,611, up 8 percent. Year-to-date sales of 307,978 is an increase of 18.5 percent based on the daily selling rate.

Chrysler Group reported U.S. sales of 121,730, a 31 percent increase compared with March 2010. This was the best March since 2008, and the highest sales for any month since May 2008. Year-to-date sales are 286,950, a 23 percent increase over 2010.

Nissan North America reported sales of 121,141, an increase of 26.9 percent for a record U.S. market share of 9.7 percent in March – the highest share ever achieved in any month in the company's history. In addition, the Nissan Altima sold 32,289 units in March to become the best-selling sedan in America, the first time the model has ever achieved this distinction. Nissan sales were 109,854, up 28 percent while Inifniti sales were 11,287, up 14 percent.

Hyundai Motor America record March sales of 61,873 units, up 32 percent compared with the same period last year. For the year, total Hyundai sales are 142,620, up 28 percent.

Kia Motors America announced its best ever monthly sales of 44,179, a 44.7 percent increase from March 2010. The record March total helped KMA achieve its best-ever quarterly sales of 104,774, surpassing the previous record of 97,955 units sold in the third quarter of 2010.

Volkswagen of America reported sales of 27,176 in March 2011, a 22.7 percent increase over prior year sales.  Year-to-date sales are 67,039, a 15 percent rise over 2010. Separately, Audi of America reported sales of 9,818 vehicles in March, 14 percent more than 2010 while year-to-date sales are 25,383, a 19.1 percent improvement over last year.

Subaru of America announced its second best sales month ever, with 26,916 vehicles sold in March 2011, a 13.2 percent increase, helping Subaru deliver its best first quarter retail sales ever with a total of 67,457, a 17.3 percent jump over 2010.

The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported March sales of 26,382 vehicles, an increase of 21.7 percent from the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, BMW Group has sold 64,958 vehicles in the first three months of 2011, 18 percent more than the 2010 first quarter.

Mazda North American Operations reported March 2011 sales of 30,905, an increase of 33.3 percent versus March of 2010.  Through the first three months of the year, Mazda's sales are 64,559, up 15.4 percent over 2010.

Mitsubishi Motors North America reported March sales of 7,560, an increase of more than 39 percent compared to March 2010.  It was Mitsubishi's largest month of sales in two-and-a-half years (August 2008).

Porsche Cars North America announced March sales in the U.S. of 2,588, an increase of 36 percent. So far in 2011, sales are 7,007,  a 34 percent increase.

American Suzuki sales were 2,497 in March, an 11 percent increase and in 2011 so far sales are 6,702, an 18 percent rise.

Countdown To 2011 New York Auto Show: 2012 Subaru Impreza Debut?

The Subaru Impreza concept shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show last November could debut in its final form at the New York Auto Show next month ahead of its August on sale date. Impreza was third in sales (44,395) in the 5-model Subaru line-up last year behind Outback (93,148) and Forester (85,080). Despite the pending new 2012 Impreza, February sales were up 40.3 percent to 3,933 from February 2010. Subaru sales continue to rise to record levels, gaining 21.8 percent in 2010 over 2009.

Countdown To 2011 New York Auto Show: Porsche Panamera Turbo S

Porsche Panamera Turbo S with its 550 horsepower 4.8 liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine will debut on April 20 at the New York International Auto Show. The newest Panamera can reach 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds and the top track speed is 190 mph.

The 50 horsepower increase delivered in the Panamera Turbo S over the Turbo can be attributed to two main enhancements: new twin turbochargers with titanium–aluminum turbines and a modified engine control. Titanium–aluminum reduces the turbine and compressor wheel's weight, which results in a quicker turbo response that improves the engine's agility. The torque is also increased over the Turbo from 516 lb-ft to 553 lb-ft.  In the "Sport" and "Sport Plus" mode of the standard Sport Chrono Package Turbo, the overboost function can temporarily generate additional torque with a peak rating of 590 lb.-ft.

The new Porsche Panamera Turbo S will go on sale in the U.S. later this spring, and will have a base MSRP of $173,200, excluding $975 for delivery and destination.

23 car manufacturers have scheduled press conferences during the two media days so we're expecting to see many 2012 models and concepts, which today become reality in the not so distant future. Stay tuned for more previews.