Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Starts at $91,030 In Early 2013

The new Porsche 911 Carrera 4, the seventh-generation of the 911 Carrera with the latest active all-wheel-drive system PTM (Porsche Traction Management), is being launched in four versions – the 911 Carrera 4 and 911 Carrera 4S (above), each as Coupe and Cabriolet. The new 911 Carrera 4 is up to 143 lbs. lighter compared to the previous generation 911 Carrera C4 with as much as 16 per cent in fuel savings. The Coupe and Cabriolet of the 911 Carrera 4 S each have a 400 horsepower 3.8-liter rear-mounted boxer engine with acceleration to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds (Cabriolet: 4.1 seconds) and a top-track speed of 185 mph (Cabriolet: 183 mph) with a suitable equipment configuration. Fuel consumption values with PDK are EPA estimated at 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway for both the Coupe and the Cabriolet.

The 911 Carrera 4 Coupe (below) has a 350 horsepower 3.4-liter, flat-six engine can sprint from zero to 60 mph in as little as 4.3 seconds (Cabriolet: 4.5 s) and reach a top-track speed of up to 177 mph (Cabriolet: 175 mph), depending on equipment features. Fuel consumption with PDK is EPA estimated at 20 mpg city / 28 mpg highway for the Coupe and EPA rated 20 mpg city / 27 mpg highway for the Cabriolet. All new models have a seven-speed manual gearbox as standard, and the Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) seven-speed gearbox is available as an option.

The new Porsche 911 Carrera with all-wheel-drive will make its first public appearance at the Paris International Motor Show on September 29, 2012. The new 911 models will launch in the US early in 2013. The 2013 911 Carrera 4 will have a base MSRP of $91,030, and the 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet base MSRP will be $102,930. The 911 Carrera 4S will have a base MSRP of $105,630 and the Cabriolet will have a base MSRP of $117,530.

2014 Mazda6 On Sale In U.S. In Early 2013

The all-new 2014 Mazda6 with the full suite of SKYACTIV® technologies will launch in Europe this year and go on sale in the U.S. and Canada in early 2013 with an added slew of all-new safety features and fuel efficiency-improving technologies. Under the hood of the Russian-specification Mazda6 is a 134 horsepower SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter gasoline engine that can be paired with either the SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual transmission or SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission. A 189 horsepower SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter gasoline engine also will be available in the Russian market.

Similar to TAKERI concept, the Mazda6 features a new front fascia with a five-point "signature wing"  on a 111-inch long wheelbase, allowing for a roomier interior and ample storage space. Compared to the previous generation, the front wheels have been pushed forward nearly four inches in relation to the A-pillar, resulting in reduced overhang while the rear deck has been shortened, further enhancing the vehicle's lower, leaner and longer stance. Final specifications for other global markets, including the U.S. and Canada, will be disclosed at a later date.

2013 Nissan Sentra Coming This Fall

 
The all-new 2013 Nissan Sentra, built on a new platform, is 150 pounds lighter than the outgoing model, on a 0.6-inch longer wheelbase (106.3 inches) and a 2.3-inch longer overall length (182.1 inches) offering more interior room. The new Sentra has a more fuel-efficient 130 horsepower DOHC 4-cylinder 1.8-liter engine that's matched with a new-generation Xtronic CVT® that helps deliver a 13 percent improvement in EPA combined fuel economy of 34 mpg combined (City and Highway).

The 2013 Nissan Sentra is offered in a selection of well-equipped S, FE+ S, SV, FE+ SV, SR and SL trim levels.  All models come with standard Xtronic CVT®, except the base Sentra S that is available with a choice of 6-speed manual or CVT. The all-new 2013 Nissan Sentra goes on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide this Fall.

Volkswagen of America Chief Product & Marketing Officer Tim Mahoney

Tim Mahoney executive vice president and chief product and marketing officer for Volkswagen of America discusses Volkswagen's U.S. goal of selling 800,000 per year by 2018 along with diesel, hybrids and commercials. VW is launching a TV commercial Labor Day weekend where a dog swallows a key fob so must be in proximity of the vehicle for his owner to operate it and to drive him to the vet - very creative and funny - good job Tim & agency Deutsche, Inc.

Mahoney reports directly to Jonathan Browning, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America and president of the Volkswagen brand. Mahoney is responsible for the strategic alignment of the brand’s product planning and marketing efforts in the U.S. He assumed this role in May 2011.

Prior to joining Volkswagen, Mahoney was senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Subaru of America for five years. Prior to that he spent seven years with Porsche Cars North America where he held the positions of general manager of marketing and, later, vice president of marketing. Mahoney joined Subaru of America in 1984 as a marketing research analyst, and was promoted through the organization holding a number of management roles until going to Porsche in 1999.

BMW Zagato Roadster Debuts At Pebble Beach

The BMW Zagato Roadster debuts three months after the premiere of the BMW Zagato Coupé, a collaboration between BMW and Italian coach builder Zagato, founded in 1919 by Ugo Zagato who learned his trade in aviation, where aerodynamics and lightweight construction play a central role. Zagato became a body construction partner to Alfa Romeo and today, Andrea Zagato and Marella Rivolta-Zagato are the third generation running the company which describes itself as a design studio combining the emotion and hand-craftsmanship of body construction with the precision of state-of-the-art technology. Because this is a piece of art, there were no performance specs to be found but being a BMW one can only expect that this could be the ultimate of ultimate driving machines.

2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek Coming In the Next Few Weeks

The new 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek compact crossover, on the Impreza platform, has the standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive powered by a 148-horsepower 2.0-liter BOXER engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission or available second-generation Lineartronic® Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with fuel economy figures of 25 mpg city / 33 mpg highway / 28 mpg combined. The new 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek, introduced at the New York Auto Show in April, will have two versions, the Premium  and the Limited model with additional luxury and technology.

The Subaru XV Crosstrek uses standard 17-inch alloy wheels with 225/55 R17 all-season tires,a  four-wheel disc brake system featuring large front rotors, a 15.9-gallon fuel tank on a 103.7-inch wheelbase with rear seat legroom of 35.4 inches. With the standard 60/40 split rear seatbacks folded into a completely flat load floor, there's up to 51.9 cubic feet of carrying space. The new 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek hits showrooms in the next few weeks so we expect pricing any day. Stay tuned.

Infiniti Emerg-e Concept Shown At Pebble Beach

The Infiniti Emerg-e Concept is the 402-horsepower mid-engined, twin electric motor-powered Infiniti capable of accelerating from 0 – 60 miles per hour in just 4.0 seconds and from zero to 130 miles per hour in a 30-second burst which operates as a zero-emission urban transport over a 30-mile range.

2013 Fiat 500 Turbo and 2013 STR Viper Introduced

The new 2013 Fiat 500 Turbo with sport-tuned suspension and exhaust and a 135-horsepower 1.4-liter MultiAir® Turbo engine arrives at FIAT Studios nationwide this Fall with an MSRP of $20,200 including the $700 destination charge. The front fascia was pushed 2.7 inches forward to accommodate the new 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine and a liftgate-mounted spoiler extends the roofline to improve aerodynamic behavior.  Inside, the new Fiat 500 Turbo features sport-styled seating, sport-designed leather-wrapped shift knob and steering wheel accented with Argento (silver) stitching, and a Grigio/Nero (gray/black) seating and also with available heated leather seating.



The 2013 SRT Viper and SRT Viper GTS with all-new carbon-fiber and aluminum skin will house an all-aluminum, mid-front, 640 horsepower 8.4-liter V-10 engine when they return to the market in fourth quarter of this year. Standard safety features include electronic multistage stability control, traction control and new 4-channel anti-lock brake system (ABS).

So we are getting affordable (FIAT) and high end (Dodge Viper) performance vehicles from the Chrysler family.

2013 Jaguar XJ and XF Offer All Wheel Drive

Jaguar announced that its 2013 model year XJ and XF sedans will now have Instinctive All Wheel Drive™ powered by a new supercharged 340 horsepower DOHC 3-liter V6 engine with an active torque-management system that uses a performance-oriented rear-drive bias which can shift power to the front wheels to either pre-empt or counter wheel slip. In addition to the Instinctive All Wheel Drive™ and supercharged 340horsepower V6 engines for the XF and XJ, Jaguar introduces a turbocharged 240 horsepower four cylinder engine available in the XF,  eight Speed ZF® Automatic Transmissions on all XF and XJ models and Auto Engine Start/Stop on select XF and XJ models.

Jaguar made the entry level all wheel drive 2.5 and 3.0 X-type sedan with all wheel drive from 2001 to 2009. With Audi's quattro® success and all wheel drive sedans from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Infiniti and Acura, it was only time before Jag brought AWD back.

2013 Buick Verano Turbo At $29,990 This Fall

The 2013 Buick Verano Turbo luxury sedan will be priced at $29,990, including a destination charge of $885 with a turbocharged  250 horsepower Ecotec 2.0L four-cylinder engine with direct injection and continuously variable valve timing and 0-60 mph acceleration of an estimated 6.2 seconds. The EPA-estimated 20/31 mpg ratings is with a six-speed manual transmission available as a no-cost option while fuel economy ratings for the standard six-speed automatic will be announced closer to production.

Buick will offer three different models with turbocharged engines and optional six-speed manual transmissions, including the Regal Turbo and Regal GS luxury sport sedans. The 2013 Buick Encore luxury crossover, on sale early next year, will feature a standard turbocharged engine. Verano sales began in late November, 2011 with a 2.4L Ecotec four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission and standard voice-activated IntelliLink. For 2013, a rearview camera is standard across all Verano models. The Verano Turbo arrives at dealerships this Fall.

2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Campaign Launches With U.S. Open Tennis

The all-new 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class seven passenger SUV will be launched in a new ad, entitled "Many Rogers" with Roger Federer  as a  "World Class Athlete," "International Celebrity" and "Dad"- is accompanied by his favorite car. The campaign is being served up in concert with the 2012 US Open, taking place August 27-September 9th in Flushing, New York. The current GL-Class starts at $61,570.

The all-new 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class has three rows and three engine choices. In the GL350 BlueTEC, a turbocharged clean diesel V-6 delivers 240 horsepower with 455 lb-ft of torque. Powering the GL450 is a twin-turbo Direct-Injection V-8 with 362 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque and in the GL550 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission.

The 2013 GL63 AMG, courtesy of a hand-built, 5.5-liter biturbo AMG engine, delivers 550 horsepower, 560 lb-ft of torque and a top speed electronically capped at 155 mph mated to the AMG SPEEDSHIFT 7-speed automatic transmission, equipped with three selectable driving modes and an automatic double-declutching function for smooth downshifts and also features the fuel-saving ECO Start/Stop function, which switches off the engine at red lights and any other time the GL63 is at standstill. Look for the all-new 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class in dealerships this Fall.

2013 Land Rover Range Rover Coming in December

The new 2013 Land Rover Range Rover is the fourth generation of the Range Rover developed from the ground up with an all-aluminum unibody structure that is 39 percent lighter than the steel body in the outgoing model making the US specification vehicle with the naturally-aspirated 5-liter V8 will be approximately 700 lbs lighter than the outgoing equivalent. The Range Rover have a choice of V8 engines in the North American market, enhanced by new eight-speed ZF automatic transmissions.

There's over 4.7 inches more legroom than the outgoing model so the rear occupants benefit from increased space and comfort.  The standard sound system is by British audio specialists Meridian™  and among the innovations featured in the new Range Rover is the next-generation of Land Rover's Terrain Response® system, which analyses the current driving conditions and road surfaces through on-board sensors, and automatically selects the most suitable vehicle settings program for the terrain. The all-new Range Rover will be available in over 160 markets worldwide, with North American customer deliveries scheduled to start in December 2012. More information is coming next month.

Ford's "Plugged In" Yahoo Webisodes Come To Finale

Yahoo! and Ford, after a two-and-a-half month collaboration on “Plugged In,” a weekly online reality competition show, put up the finale of its ten webisodes this week announcing the winners of the all-new 2012 Focus Electric (or is it a 2013 Focus Electric? The ad branding has both). The webisodes, which covered San Francisco, Washington, DC, Austin, Boston, Chicago, New York, Raleigh, Atlanta, Seattle and Los Angeles, featured two-person teams competing against each other in a series of challenges along with celebrities giving tours of their towns and favorite places - in a Ford Focus Electric, of course.

Ford Focus Electric is a five-passenger car that offers the equivalent of 110 miles per gallon (MPGe) city, 99 MPGe highway, and operates entirely on battery-generated power. Focus Electric also has been certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to offer 105 MPGe combined. By year-end, Focus Electric becomes available in 19 markets across the United States.

The question is, will the silliness of these low intellect giggly games played in these webisodes actually help sell cars or even generate credible awareness. Yahoo claims that "with 61 million unique visitors per month who come to Yahoo! to watch video and 21 of the top original online video programs, Yahoo! sets the bar for best-in-class original video programming." Will it sell cars? Or, better yet boost the price of Yahoo stock which is down 5% today or get Ford shares back into double digits?

All-New 2013 Honda Accord Sedan & Coupe Go On Sale This Fall

The all-new 2013 Honda Accord Sedan (above) and Accord Coupe (below) are set to go on sale this Fall and the ninth-generation redesigned Accord is critical to Honda as sales so far this year through July are 183,817, trailing the Civic by less than 3,800 year-to-date. In fact, the current model Accord had July sales of 28,639, up 70.2 percent from July 2011 and was Honda's top seller last month. More info on the 2013 models coming soon.

The 2013 Accord will debut new available features, such as Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning and the Honda-exclusive LaneWatch™ blind spot display. The new Accord also introduces HondaLink™, a cloud-based system that connects you to Bluetooth® Streaming Audio, Pandora® internet radio SMS text message function and all your favorite digital content without hassling with your mobile phone. The available Aha™ feature on HondaLink gives you access to personalized restaurant searches, Facebook audio feeds, audiobooks and more via the audio system interface and voice recognition.

2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid Officially EPA-certified At 47 MPG

The all-new 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid, with the combined energy of an electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery and the 2.0L Atkinson-cycle I-4 gas engine, is now officially EPA-certified at 47 mpg city, 47 mpg highway and 47 mpg combined, the same fuel economy whether driving cross-country or across the city with a top speed of up to 62 mph in EV mode. The gas engine and the electric motor work together to deliver maximum horsepower with the engine kicking in extra power when needed, such as when passing or merging to provide the main source of power.

SmartGauge® with EcoGuide helps the driver get better fuel efficiency by providing growing green leaves in the gauge cluster as a reward for economical driving and ECO Cruise, assists in optimizing powertrain elements for economical highway travel. The Ford C-MAX Hybrid has a base price of $25,995, including destination and delivery and is currently available for order at select dealerships. Ford brags that the C-Max is rated at 7 mpg better than the Toyota Prius for $1,300 less.

The all-new C-MAX Energi Plug-in is hybrid plus combining a high-voltage lithium-ion battery and electric motor with a gasoline engine. The C-MAX Energi has a button that lets you switch between EV Now, Auto EV and EV Later so you can choose which mode to drive in electric only, gasoline only, or a combination of gas and electric. The plug-in capability allows you to fully charge easily in under three hours using a 240-volt charging station, or overnight using a standard 120-volt outlet.The Energi starts at $33,745 including $795 destination charge.

2013 Nissan Pathfinder Goes On Sale This Fall

Nissan showed off the production version of the all-new 2013 Pathfinder SUV which is 500 pounds lighter than the outgoing model with a 260 horsepower 3.5-liter DOHC V6 engine that delivers up to 26 miles per gallon on the highway and features a towing capacity of 5000 pounds and an Around View™ Monitor.

The all-new Pathfinder has the EZ Flex Seating System™ with LATCH AND GLIDE™ with a 2nd row tip-up seat for use with a child safety seat, which also provides easy access to the 3rd row while keeping the child seat securely fastened. The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder will be offered in 4x4 and 4x2 drive configurations and in four models – S, SV, SL and Platinum (above) and goes on sale nationwide this fall.

July 2012 U.S. Auto Sales

General Motors reported July U.S. sales of 201,237 vehicles, down 6 percent compared with a year ago.  Sales to retail customers declined 3 percent.  Sales to rental fleet customers declined 41 percent, in line with the company’s previous guidance. Year-to-date sales of 1,516,950, is a 2.7 gain over 2011.

Ford Motor Company's July U.S. sales totaled 173,966, a 3.8 percent decline due to lower fleet sales while July retail sales grew 2 percent compared with last year. Year-to-date, Ford sales are 1,317,589, a 5.1 percent gain over 2011.   

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. reported July sales of 164,898, up 26.1 percent on an unadjusted raw volume basis. Year-to-date, Toyota sales are 1,210,994, a 28.3 percent gain over the first 7 months of 2011.

Chrysler Group reported U.S. sales of 126,089, a 13 percent increase compared with sales in July 2011 and the group's best July sales since 2007. Year-to-date sales of 960,157 is a 28 percent increase over 2011.

American Honda reported July 2012 U.S. sales of 116,944, an increase of 45.3 percent compared with July 2011. The Honda Division posted July 2012 sales of 104,119, an increase of 46.4 percent compared with July 2011. Acura’s U.S. July sales of 12,825 increased 36.4 percent compared with July 2011. Year-to-date sales are 817,926, an 18.9 percent increase over last year.
   
Nissan North America reported July U.S. sales of 98,341, up 16.2 percent.  Nissan Division sales increased 12.3 percent for the month at 86,722 while sales of Infiniti vehicles were up 56.8 percent over the prior year, to 11,619. Year-to-date sales of 676,062 is a 14.7 percent increase of 2011.

Hyundai Motor America announced an all-time July sales record of 62,021 units, up four percent over last year's all-time July record and up 9.5 percent, year-to-date with sales of 418,690.

Kia Motors America had its best-ever July sales of 48,074, a 5.6-percent increase over the same period last year.  KMA's year-to-date sales are 336,781, up 15.9 percent over 2011.

Volkswagen of America reported July sales of 37,014, a 27.3 percent increase over prior year sales for the best July since 1973. Year-to-date VW sales are 245,739, a 34.1 percent increase. Separately, Audi established a new July record, with sales of 11,707, a 28 percent increase above the old mark set in July 2011. Audi sales of 76,865, up 18.2 percent for the first seven months of 2012 set a year-to-date record, as well.

The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported July sales of 27,152 vehicles, an increase of 4 percent from the 26,120 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, BMW Group is up 9.5 percent on sales of 185,715 in the first seven months of 2012 compared to 169,641 in the same period in 2011.

Subaru of America reported record sales for the month of July of 25,183 vehicles, a 16 percent increase over July 2011 with year-to-date sales of 189,487, a 23 percent increase over prior year.

Mercedes-Benz USA reported July sales of 19,311 for its Mercedes-Benz models, delivering a record year-to-date total of 147,905 new vehicles to customers, up 13.8%. Combined sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles, smart and Sprinter of the month totaled 22,294, up 5.8% bringing an MBUSA year-to-date total of 164,912, up 18.6%

Mazda North American Operations reported July U.S. sales of 19,318 vehicles, decrease of 7 percent versus last year. Year-to-date sales through July are 163,115, up 13.9 percent.

Mitsubishi Motors North America reported July 2012 sales of 4,194 units, down 47.4 percent compared to July 2011.  

Porsche Cars North America announced July 2012 sales of 2,803 vehicles, an increase of one percent. For the year, Porsche has sold 19,253 cars in the U.S., a five percent increase over last year.

Sales will be updated as manufacturers report.

2013 Lexus LS Sedans Have World Debut In San Francisco

The new 2013 Lexus LS line-up which includes the Lexus LS 460, LS 460L, LS 600hL hybrid, and the first-ever LS 460 F SPORT had their world debut at the "Lexus Laws of Attraction" exhibit in San Francisco. The LS 460 and LS 460L is available in RWD and AWD and the LS Hybrid is available with a full-time AWD system. The standard navigation system is displayed on a 12.3-inch, split-screen, high-resolution multi-media display which is large enough to support simultaneous viewing of a large map display and other vehicle functions. A next-generation Remote Touch, with one-push confirmation which is standard on all models allows the user to operate the climate, audio, phone controls, navigation system and more. The screen menus are selected with a controller located within reach on the center console. A number of buttons on the steering wheel and instrument panel enable the direct control of frequently used functions (e.g. temperature setting, fan speed, preset audio stations, etc.)

Available safety enhancements include the Pre-Collision Safety (A-PCS) system with Collision Avoidance Assist. designed to assist the driver in avoiding or mitigating collisions with vehicles and pedestrians under a wide range of city and highway speeds. At speeds lower than 24 miles per hour, this technology helps the LS to avoid accidents by automatically bringing the LS to a full stop. Available Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) constantly monitors the distance to vehicles ahead and is capable of operating at any speed. The system can bring the vehicle to a complete stop, and accelerate away once the road ahead is clear. An upgraded, optional Lane-Keep Assist system helps the driver stay in the intended lane. New to LS, the Blind Spot Monitor uses rear millimeter-wave radar to monitor the vehicle rear side blind spots at 10 miles per hour or more. This feature includes Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) which automatically operates when the vehicle is in reverse, alerting drivers to the approach of other vehicles when backing out of a parking place.

Joel Ewanick Resigns AS GM's Global Chief Marketing Officer

General Motors said that Global Chief Marketing Officer Joel Ewanick has elected to resign effective immediately. Word is that it may have been related to his negotiation of a marketing deal with the Manchester United soccer team. GM announced that Chevrolet will be Manchester United's shirt sponsor beginning with the 2014/2015 season replacing Aon. The seven year deal makes Chevrolet, the current Official Car Partner of the Club, only the fifth shirt sponsor in the Club’s 134-year history.

Ewanick, 52, joined GM in May 2010 in charge of marketing for the company’s North America unit. He was named global chief marketing officer in December 2010. Prior to joining GM, Ewanick was vice president of marketing and chief marketing officer for Nissan North America. Before joining Nissan, he served as vice president of marketing for Hyundai Motor America. Alan Batey, vice president, U.S. Sales and Service, will assume the role of global chief marketing officer on an interim basis.  

2012 J.D. Power and Associates APEAL Study

The J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study which examines how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive, based on owner evaluations of more than 80 vehicle attributes, has Porsche the highest-ranking nameplate for an eighth consecutive year. The study also finds that 27 percent of new-vehicle buyers who replaced a vehicle downsized, in other words, they purchased a new vehicle in a smaller segment than the vehicle they replaced while only 13 percent of buyers "upsized," and 60 percent purchased a new vehicle in the same size segment as their previous vehicle.

The vehicles currently being traded in for new ones are approximately six years old, on average, according to data from J.D. Power's Power Information Network®.  During that period of time, vehicle appeal overall has significantly increased, and today's smaller vehicles are, in many cases, more appealing than the larger vehicles being replaced. In 2012, the average APEAL Study score for vehicles in the compact/sub-compact segment is 765 points (on a 1,000-point scale), which is the same as the average for midsize vehicles in the study in 2008.  Similarly, in 2012, the average APEAL Study score for vehicles in the midsize premium segment is 844, the same as the average for large premium vehicles in 2008.

The downsizing trend also has an impact on owner satisfaction with the fuel economy of their new vehicle. While overall vehicle appeal continues to improve, increasing seven points year over year, the greatest improvement is in fuel economy. Forty-seven percent of owners say gas mileage was one of the most important factors in choosing their new vehicle, up from 40 percent in 2011.

Chevrolet receives the highest number of segment awards of all brands included in the study for the Avalanche, Sonic and Volt models. Seven brands each receive two model awards: Audi (for the A6 and A8); Dodge (Challenger and Charger); Ford (Expedition and Flex); Kia (Optima in a tie and Soul); MINI (Countryman and Coupe/Roadster); Nissan (Frontier and Quest); and Porsche (Cayenne and 911). The Audi A8 achieves the highest APEAL Study score of any model in the industry in 2012. Also receiving awards are the BMW 3 Series; Infiniti QX56, Range Rover Evoque; Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class; and Volkswagen Passat in a tie.

Courtesy JD Power and Associates

Romano Zoom Zooms Away from Mazda

With four years of losses due to a rising yen and slumping sales in markets outside the U.S., Mazda Motor Corp. has been cutting employees at a hefty rate. Reports are there have been more than a hundred hand shakes already at their Irvine, California, North American headquarters which did employ about 700 before the severances. One report has their reduction target at 550 for Mazda North American Operations. The cuts are also underway in Europe with no reductions expected in Japan, according to published reports.

One Mazda star exec, Don Romano, 51, President of Mazda Canada, who was given the role of U.S. Chief Marketing Officer in March of 2010 then had it stripped away recently, departed Mazda last week. Romano, a southern California native living in and liking Toronto, was president of Mazda of Canada from April of 2006 until "he elected to leave" last week. He had held various roles within the organization working on brand development, business planning and global integration since joining Mazda in 2000. Expect Romano to re-surface very soon in a new position.

Shusuke “Kory” Koreeda, a 32 year veteran of Mazda and most recently Executive Vice President of Mazda Canada, has been named interim President of Mazda Canada succeeding Romano. Koreeda has served in a variety of executive positions at MC in Japan and with Mazda North American Operations in the United States.

Mazda Motor Corp. has the biggest losses among Japan’s eight biggest carmakers and has been looking for ways to boost capital. It was recently announced that Mazda and Fiat are partnering for the development and manufacturing of a new roadster for the Mazda and Alfa Romeo nameplates based on Mazda's next-generation MX-5 rear-wheel-drive design.

Ford F-450 Fire Prevention Workhorse

The basic Ford F-450 has a 390 horsepower turbocharged 6.7 liter Power Stroke V8 diesel engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and sells for $49,395. Those F-450's have four-wheel drive with Crew Cabs and 8 foot bed. This special Chartis Property and Casualty Ford F- 450 is one of six trucks that are designed to service their insurance clients who are threatened by wildfires. At a cost of nearly $200,000 these trucks carry 200 gallons of water and another 200 gallons of Phos-Chek fire retardant. Fire prevention to save homes saves lives, irreplaceable valuables and huge insurance claims is the mission of this Ford F-450.

2013 BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon Coming In Spring 2013

The all-new 2013 3 Series Sports Wagon, slightly larger than its predecessor, will launch in Europe later this year and is set to arrive in US showrooms in the Spring of 2013. The BMW 328i Sports Wagon will have a 240 horsepower 4-cylinder TwinTurbo engine, 8-speed automatic transmission with the same option choices as the recently introduced 328i sedan. Larger dimensions produce nearly ten percent more cargo volume both with the rear seats up and when folded. The new BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon again features a rear window that opens separately from the tailgate. In addition to the standard trim level, the new BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon can now also be specified with any of three equipment lines or an M Sport Package.

The new BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon is equipped with an Auto Start-Stop function, which automatically switches off the engine during short stops at traffic lights or in stationary traffic, so as not to waste fuel.The BMW 328i xDrive, all-wheel-drive models will go on sale at launch along with the introduction of the rear wheel drive 328i Sports Wagon. Pricing details and standard/optional equipment will be announced closer to the on sale date.

Sergio Pininfarina, Legendary Car Designer, Dies at 85

Sergio Pininfarina, the great Italian car designer who was almost synonymous with Ferrari died yesterday at age 85 in Turin, Italy.  Pininfarnia is pictured above with this reporter at the 1997 Beverly Hills Rodeo Drive Ferrari Concours d'Elegance where 175 Ferrraris of all vintages were on display.

Among his design credits are the Fiat 124 Sport Spider, Alfa Romeo Spider, Ferrari 250 and 500, Dino, Daytona, 356 and Modena. Pininfarina, the company, was founded in 1930 by his father, Battista "Pinin" Farina, who later changed the family name to Pininfarina, to design cars for Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Cadillac, Rolls-Royce and Volvo. The fame was with Ferrari, designing nearly all of its models since the 1950's. Sergio Pininfarina was born Sept. 8, 1926, in Turin and joined the family business after earning a degree in mechanical engineering from Turin Polytechnic in 1950. He became general manager in 1960, managing director in 1961 and president in 1966, the year his father died. Yesterday we lost a car design legend.

June 2012 U.S. Auto Sales

General Motors reported June sales of 248,750 vehicles in the United States, up 16 percent year over year and it’s highest sales since September 2008. Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac all reported double-digit increases. Year-to-date GM has sold 1,315,713 vehicles, a 4.3 percent increase over 2011.

Ford Motor Company’s U.S. sales June sales of 207,759 was an increase of 7 percent over last year. So far this year, Ford sales were 1,098,421 also an increase of 7 percent from last year.

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. reported June 2012 sales results of 177,795, an increase of 60.3 percent from the year-ago month.The Toyota Division posted June total sales of 157,773, an increase of 57.5 percent from the year-ago month. For the first half of the year, TMS reported sales of 1,046,096, up 28.7 percent during the first half of the year.

Chrysler Group  reported U.S. sales of 144,811, a 20 percent increase compared with sales in June 2011, the group's best June sales since 2007. Through the end of June, Chrysler Group total sales are at 834,068, for a 30 percent clip ahead of 2011.

American Honda reported June 2012 U.S. sales of 124,808, an increase of 48.8 percent compared with June 2011. The Honda Division posted June 2012 sales of 109,438, an increase of 45.6 percent compared with June 2011. Acura's U.S. June sales of 15,370 increased 76.5 percent compared with June 2011.

Nissan North America reported June U.S. sales of 92,237, up 28.2 percent.  Nissan Division sales increased 24.6 percent for the month at 81,801 units. Sales of Infiniti vehicles were up 66.1 percent over the prior year, to 10,436. Year-to-date total sales for Nissan and Infiniti are 577,721, a 14.4 percent gain over last year.

Hyundai Motor America announced an all-time June sales record of 63,813, up 8 percent over last year's all-time June record. For the first half of the year, sales are up 10 percent to a record 356,669 units, with retail sales up 13 percent.

Kia Motors America had its best-ever June sales of 51,326, a 13.9-percent increase over the same period last year. Year-to-date sales of 288,707 is up 17.8 percent over 2011.

Volkswagen of America reported 38,170 June sales, a 34.2 percent increase over prior year sales and year-to-date, VW has sold 208,725 vehicles, a 35.4 percent increase for the best June and best first half since 1973. Separately, Audi announced it sold more vehicles in June 2012 than in any month since entering the U.S. market 42 years ago. The new all-time monthly U.S. sales record of 12,664 vehicles was an increase of 26 percent over June 2011. For the first half of 2012, Audi sales are 65,158, a 16.5 percent gain.

The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported June sales of 27,720, an increase of 3.2 percent from the same month a year ago.  Year-to-date, BMW Group is up 10.5 percent on sales of 158,563 in the first six months of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.

Subaru of America reported record sales for June 2012 of 27,702, a 40 percent gain over June 2011 with year-to-date sales of 164,304, a 24 percent gain over prior year.

Mercedes-Benz USA reported combined sales of 25,388 with "Best Ever" months for its Mercedes-Benz, smart and Sprinter model lines.  The 12.5 percent increase for the month brings the year-to-date total to 142,619, up 20.8 percent and making this MBUSA's highest first-half on record.

Mazda North American Operations reported June U.S. sales of 19,911, an increase of 3.1 percent versus last year. Year-to-date sales through June are up 17.5 percent versus last year, with 143,797 vehicles sold.

Volvo Cars of North America sales of 7,107 in June was just 7 vehicles more than in June 2011, while year-to-date Volvo sales are 34,618, a 5 percent drop from the first six months of 2011.

Mitsubishi Motors of America sold 5,411 in June, a 35 percent drop from June 2011 and for the first half of 2012 has sold 32,873 vehicles, down 26 percent from the same period last year.

Jaguar Land Rover had sales of 4,632, a 2 percent increase with Jaguar sales at 1,030 a 26 percent decline and Land Rover at 3,602, a 14 percent gain over last June. Year-to-date, JLR sales are 27,496, up 16 percent with Jaguar at 6,506, up 2 percent over the first six months last year and Land Rover at 20,991, up 21 percent from 2011.

American Suzuki Motor reported June 2012 sales of 2,299 units, up 1 percent from last year.

Porsche Cars North America announced June 2012 sales of 3,002 vehicles, an increase of 18 percent. For the year, Porsche has sold 16,450 cars in the U.S., a six percent increase over last year.

Scott Keogh Named President of Audi of America

Scott Keogh was named President of Audi of America immediately to replace Johan de Nysschen who left to run Nissan's global Infiniti brand after a 20 year career at Audi, 7 1/2 years in the top job.

Keogh has been Chief Marketing Officer at Audi of America for the past six years leading all product planning for the U.S. market in addition to marketing and advertising campaigns including the Truth in 24 documentaries about Audi at the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race; Super Bowl advertising; a significant push into social media; and product placement, such as seen in the Iron Man movie series. Keogh helped the introduction of Audi TDI clean diesel technology to the U.S. market by positioning it as a social cause rather than an engine option. He developed the strategy to re-introduce RS performance models, including the new RS 5 coupe and also advocated for the return of the Audi allroad, as part of a strategy that has resulted in 14 new Audi model launches for American consumers since 2006.

Prior to joining Audi, Keogh worked at Mercedes-Benz USA for more than a decade as general manager of marketing communications and general manager of Smart USA  and before that Keogh was responsible for corporate communications for MBUSA. Keogh has a Bachelor of Arts from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in upstate New York.

J.D. Power and Associates 2012 IQS Highlights

"Vehicle manufacturers posted the strongest improvement in initial quality since 2009 and are producing higher-quality vehicles than ever before", according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Initial Quality Study. 

• Overall initial quality for the industry improves by 5 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) to average 102 PP100 in 2012--an improvement of 5 percent from 2011. 
• Of the 34 brands ranked in the 2012 IQS, 26 have improved from 2011, five have declined, one scores the same as in 2011 and two were not included in the 2011 study. 
• Of the 185 models ranked in both the 2012 and 2011 IQS, 65 percent have improved. Lexus Is the highest-ranked nameplate for a second consecutive year.

Top Vehicle Category Winners:

Toyota: Toyota Yaris & Corolla, Lexus LS, ES 350 & RX
General Motors: Chevrolet Malibu, Cadillac Escalade, GMC Sierra LD & Buick Enclave.
Nissan:  Infiniti M-Series, Infiniti EX-Series, Nissan Frontier & Quest
Ford: Mustang, Taurus & Expedition
Other category winners: Mazda MX-5 Miata, Volvo C70, Porsche 911, Honda CR-V & Kia Soul.

Nameplate      PP100     
              2012  / 2011 / 2010
Lexus       73  /  73  /  88
Jaguar      75  / 114  /  130
Porsche    75  /  100  /  83
Cadillac     80 /  103  /  111
Honda      83  /  86  /  95
Acura       84  /  89  /  86
Infiniti       84  / 102  /  107
Toyota      88  / 101  /  117
Mercedes  96  /  94  /  87
BMW        97  /  109  /  113
Mazda      97  / 100   /  114
GMC         99  /  104  /  126
Nissan       99  /  117  /  111
Ram          99  /  114  /  110
Chevrolet  100  /  109  /  111
Ind. Avg.   102  /  107 /  109
Audi         105  /  113  /  111
Buick        106  /  114  /  114
Hyundai    107  /  108  /  102
Kia          107  / 113  /  126
Lincoln     107  /  111  /  106
Volvo       108  / 109  /  109
Subaru     110  /  108  /  121
Jeep         115 /  122  / 129
Suzuki      116 /  136  /  122
Chrysler    116  / 110  /  122
Scion        117  /  123  /  114
Ford          118  / 116  /  93
Land Rover  119  /  123  /  170
Dodge        124  /  137  /  130    
Mitsubishi   124  /  133  /  146
Volkswagen  124  / 131  /  135
MINI           139  /  131  /  133
Fiat            151
smart         151

Courtesy of J.D. Power and Associates

J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Initial Quality Study

Derek Jenkins, Design Director Mazda Design Americas

Derek Jenkins was appointed to the position of Design Director, Mazda Design Americas in April 2009 and one of his first projects was the new highly successful CX-5 that recently went on sale and is in very short supply. As the former Chief of Design for Volkswagen Group North America, Jenkins is credited with numerous concept and production vehicles including the Audi A2, A8 and Volkswagen Scirocco concept.  Prior to joining VW in 2000, he held various design roles at both VW and Audi, both in North America and abroad. As Design Director, Jenkins oversees a staff of about 25, which pushes creative boundaries by developing advanced ideas for Mazda's next generation of cars. In this video he shows us the MX-5 Spyder. Derek, 42, like many successful global car designers, is a graduate of Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and comments on what influences his design ideas.

Mazda's TAKERI Concept made its North American debut at the 2012 New York International Auto Show in April and is Mazda's first concept vehicle to feature the SKYACTIV-D clean diesel engine and as well as other Mazda-developed, fuel-saving technologies such as i-stop, a stop-start system, and i-ELOOP, a regenerative braking system. TAKERI is likely the next generation 2014 Mazda6 sedan with confirmation expected in late September at the Paris Auto Show.

Kia Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer

Peter Schreyer, 58, is a highly decorated German car designer who spent most of his career at Audi, starting in 1980, going to Volkswagen and then was Audi's Chief Designer from 1994 to 2002, during which time he was credited with designing the Audi TT, among many radical designs.  He was named  Automobile Magazine 2012 Man of the Year for his design accomplishments transforming Kia vehicles over the past six years as its Chief Design Officer. He spends a lot of his time commuting between Kia's European design studio in Frankfurt, Germany, Kia's North American headquarters with a design studio in Irvine, California and company headquarters in Seoul, Korea. In this interview, Schreyer says the newly-introduced-to-Korea rear wheel Kia K9 luxury sedan will likely be coming to the U.S. market. The K9 is powered by a 285 horsepower 3.8 liter V6 engine.

2013 BMW X1 Designer Richard Kim

2013 BMW X1 Arrives In U.S. This Fall Starting At $31,545
The new 2013 BMW X1 will arrive in the U.S. this Fall starting at an MSRP of $31,545 (including $895 Destination and Handling) with global sales having already exceeded 275,000.  X1s destined for the U.S. will be built in BMW’s Leipzig, Germany plant and X1s for the Chinese market will now be built in a newly opened plant at Tiexi in Shenyang Province.

The BMW X1 sDrive28i ($31,545) and xDrive28i ($33,245) feature BMW’s newest 240 horsepower 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder engine which delivers maximum torque of 260 lb-ft developed at just 1,250 rpm and remains constant up to 4,800 rpm and is mated to BMW’s latest 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. This combination powers the X1 sDrive28i and xDrive28i from 0-60 mph in 6.2 and 6.3 seconds respectively. Preliminary EPA mileage estimates are 24 mpg city/33 mpg highway/27 mpg combined for the X1 sDrive28i while the AWD X1 xDrive28i has preliminary EPA estimates of 22 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined. The 2013 BMW X1 xDrive35i ($39,345) with xDrive all-wheel drive is exclusive to the North American market with a 300 horsepower 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder engine mated to a 6-speed Steptronic automatic transmission with a 0 to 60 mph time of just 5.3 seconds and EPA mileage estimates of 18 mpg city/27 mpg highway/21 mpg combined. (All prices include $895 Destination and Handling.)

All models feature Brake Energy Regeneration while the X1 sDrive28i and xDrive28i models also have Auto Start/Stop and ECO PRO mode to further reduce fuel consumption. BMW xLine, BMW Sport Line and M Sport Package are offered as an alternative to the base trim level. On the tech front, there's Apple iPhone and other smartphones integration as well as music players, including the use of Internet-based services. The Apps option enables iPhone users, among other things, to receive Internet radio stations and to display Facebook and Twitter posts on the onboard monitor. With BMW Apps, iPhone users can access and listen to music streaming services like Pandora and MOG. Other available packages include the Cold Weather Package, Lighting Package and Premium Package. The Driver Assistance Package, Premium Package and Technology Package may be order together as the Ultimate Package. The rear seatback can be split 40:20:40, with the three sections folding down individually or jointly according to need and can be adjusted in ten stages so two 46-inch golf bags can be stowed widthways or, after folding down the central section of the seatback, lengthwise. The through-loading aperture between the outer rear seats can also be used for two snowboards or four pairs of skis. Can't wait!

2013 Hyundai Elantra GT Starts At $19,170 This Month

 
The new 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT five-door compact hatchback with manual transmission will have a starting price of $19,170 (including $775 freight charges) and bragging 39 highway miles per gallon when it begins arriving in dealerships later this month. Elantra GT is powered by a 1.8-liter Nu four-cylinder engine with 148 horsepower and 131 lb-ft of torque, the same as the Elantra sedan. The engine is mated to either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic with SHIFTRONIC®. Elantra GT is available as an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) or Partial Zero Emission Vehicles (PZEV). The Elantra GT with automatic transmission has a starting MSRP of $20,170 (including $775 freight). A couple of the standard features are a driver knee airbag, hidden rear camera, Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System with voice recognition and Blue Link Telematics System. There are two available option packages: the Style Package for $2,750 and the Technology Package for $2,350 which requires the Style package.

Test Drive: 2012 Audi A4 Prestige S Line MT6 Sedan

The Audi A4 sedan starts at $32,500 for the front wheel drive version but with 9 engine/transmission options the price can quickly run up. I drove the A4 2.0 TFSI® quattro MT6 (six-speed manual transmission) Sedan which starts at $33,300. Add the $9,500 top-of-the-line Prestige trim package, the $1,250 S line plus package, the $750 Sport Package and the $875 Destination charge and now the A4 has a sticker price of $45,675.

The Prestige package features Audi adaptive xenon headlights which pivot up to 15 degrees to allow you to see ahead in the dark by lighting up corners, LED daytime running lights, Audi side assist which helps monitor blind spots and fast-approaching vehicles at a range of 150 ft. at speeds over 19 MPH. MMI® Navigation plus features a 7" full-color LCD screen and MMI control logic equipped with the latest generation of MMI, powered by a 40-GB hard drive and an NVIDIA® processor.

When I first saw the A4 parked in the lot - "wow"! I jumped into the comfortable, snug sport driver's seat in Oakland, California and quickly found the key node simple to use for unlocking the doors and opening the trunk. There are two start options, a push button or pushing the node deeper into its slot on the dash. All the controls were ergonomically well-placed so I just had to align the mirrors, press the clutch, press start and was underway. First stop, Ikea where I effortlessly folded down the back seats to make room for the cargo. A performance sedan that can transport long, large and odd-sized objects - great second impression of the A4.

It took a while to figure out the sequence and methodology of the driver wheel-mounted controls for the radio which required a combination of using the mode button and rolling scroll control to cycle through the functions to pick a source and then station, but once understood, it was very intuitive and easy to operate without distraction. The sound from the 14 speaker, 505 digitally amplified watt Bang & Olufsen® Sound System was truly incredible. Apparently, microphone-based noise compensation ensures optimum sound under varying road conditions and speeds - I'll take Audi's word on that.

The climate controls were efficient, using the same knob for both fan speed and temperature. The rear back-up camera and monitor, an option on many vehicles today, was very helpful. The 211 horsepower turbo-charged 2.0 liter inline 4 cylinder engine provided plenty of power making the six speed manual transmission a fun-to-drive experience.

After dropping off the Ikea items in Berkeley in exchange for a passenger, it was time to hit the freeway north over the Richmond Bridge. My passenger quickly noticed that the silver decorative panel in front of him reflected light in his face so had to cover it with a book to cut the glare. Prone to car sickness, my passenger seemed to handle the smooth shifting manual transmission and road-hugging attributes of quattro on the challenging windy roads through the redwoods along the Russian River and the return trip on the scenic back-road route to Berkeley. The Audi A4 passenger comfort even induced a snooze.

Time to assemble the Ikea dresser in an apartment two floors above the parking garage. With the key node in my pocket, I assembled the dresser, then took the trash to the parking garage to find the Audi trunk open. Apparently, the "open trunk button" on the node must have depressed during my Ikea efforts. Luckily, nothing was stolen but could have been. This could happen to any vehicle with keyless entry devices where proximity permits vehicle access. So be sure to leave your keyless entry key nodes in a place where this can't happen.

The Audi A4 Prestige S Line MT6 Sedan oozed with high performance prestige, provided cargo versatility, demonstrated sporty handling with peppy power and cozy comforts combining to definitely show off, inside and out, as an all-round classy vehicle. The Audi A4 deserves all the accolades.

2013 Nissan Altima Heads To Showrooms With 38 Hwy. MPG

All-new 2013 Nissan Altima, Nissan's top selling nameplate, is on its way to dealers. The 182 horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder Altima, with a standard 18-gallon fuel tank, is capable of going up to 684 miles on a single tank of fuel getting 27 mpg city, 38 mpg highway and 31 mpg combined. Nissan says more than 30,000 customers have expressed an interest in the Altima through the pre-order website, which also offers those placing an order a complimentary three-year scheduled maintenance program valued at $700.

The first 2013 Altima rolled off the assembly line in Canton, Mississippi on Wednesday, a few weeks after the first Smyrna, Tennessee-built 2013 Altima. Nissan has an aggressive goal to triple the number of exported Altimas in the next two to three years. Prices for the 2013 Nissan Altima start at $22,500 USD for the Altima 2.5 S. With the all-new Altima set to go on sale, through the first five months of 2012, current Altima sales are 112,599, up 29.7 percent over 2011. Altima has accounted for 28.6 percent of all Nissan and Infiniti sales this year. This is a BIG new product launch for Nissan, as Altima is the first of five all-new vehicle introductions in the next 15 months.

Off-Roading Shows Off Vehicle Features

Photo courtesy: Brad Nelson

If you have an all-wheel or four-wheel-drive SUV or truck, you may have never used some of the features designed for off-road, steep hill and rugged terrain driving. I spent my birthday this week behind the wheel of SUVs and trucks crawling along the uneven, rock-filled, dusty dirt roads of the hills of Malibu and celebrated the use of on-board vehicle systems, like Hill Descent Control (HDC), that took away the stress and risks of dangerously steep downhill manoeuvrings. Engaging four-wheel drive low gear for the steep climbs, tight turns and unexpected slipping and sliding was par for the course in these carefully selected, capable vehicles.

The Toyota 4Runner Trail edition (below) and Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland (above) were two vehicles with the extremely useful Hill Descent Control that I drove on the more challenging red course at Calamigos Ranch. The temptation is to step on the brake pedal, but you must resist, because that will override the HDC system. The vehicle does it all while HDC is operating - it controls acceleration and braking as needed with the ABS brake system controlling the speed.

The Honda Pilot Touring edition performed very well on the less-rough but still tough blue course by absorbing much of the bumpy terrain while in 1st or 2nd gear. The Chevrolet Avalanche which looks like it's made for off-road, has a long wheelbase meaning it required some backing-up to make it around the tight hairpins but otherwise was flawless.

Photo courtesy: Myles Regan

The key to successfully negotiating uneven slippery dirt roads is to drive slowly and align your wheels into the potholes and water-eroded crevices because the vehicle will slip into them anyway. Also if severe heights, sheer drops and deep canyons are your issues, stay focused on the road ahead, even when the road seems to disappear as you reach the top of a steep incline. Be confident that the event organizers weren't planning to send you off a cliff, if not just to preserve the manufacturer-provided vehicle. One precaution stressed in the drivers' meeting dealt with rocks - drive over them so you're hitting the toughest part of the tire as trying to skirt them could mean a puncture in the vulnerable sidewall.

In summary, this off-road exercise showed what manufacturers have done technologically to take the risks out of driving on challenging terrain and reemphasized that being cautious at low speeds makes it much more safer to handle unpredictable, demanding conditions. Being familiar with and knowing how to operate all the features in your vehicle prepares you and makes you ready to have them at your fingertips when needed thus making you a better and safer driver.

It was a whale of a good time (pun intended) as my experienced off-road journalist passenger, Greg Whale who joined me on a few of the excursions, kept us on course. Also, my thanks to Chrysler's Scott Brown who made extra sure that I navigated his Jeep with precision utilizing all the gadgets.

Note: There were 19 vehicles available to review, including a 4WD Kia Sportage, on two off-road courses of varying difficulty and due to time constraints, not all could be driven.

Johan de Nysschen Leaves Audi for Infiniti

Johan de Nysschen will join Nissan's Infiniti luxury brand as senior vice president of Nissan Motor Company in charge of the Infiniti division based in Hong Kong starting July 1st reporting to Andy Palmer, Nissan Motor Company Executive Vice President, product planning, business strategy, marketing communications and responsible for the Infiniti division.

De Nysschen just left his role as President of Audi of America which he held for the past seven years. During his 19 years at Audi he also served in executive positions in South Africa and Japan. Prior to joining Audi, de Nysschen worked for BMW in South Africa. He holds a bachelor's degree from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, and an MBA from the University of Pretoria, South Africa.

He moves from a U.S. position at Audi where sales records are being set monthly to a global responsibility at Infiniti, a luxury brand that is just launching a worldwide footprint. Geographically, he moves from the Washington, D.C. area to Hong Kong, the former British colony and English-speaking gateway to China and an area where one might expect a factory to be built at some point. Best of luck to Johan in his new challenge.

May 2012 U.S. Auto Sales

General Motors reported May sales of 245,256 vehicles in the United States, up 11 percent year over year and the highest monthly total since August 2009.  GM retail sales were up 14 percent year-over-year and the retail mix was 70 percent.  Overall, year-to-date GM has sold 1,066,963 vehicles.

Ford Motor Company May sales of 216,267 was a 12.6 percent rise over last year and year-to-date sales are 935,864, a 6.5 percent increase over 2011.

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. reported sales of 202,973, an increase of  87.3 percent over the year-ago month on a raw volume basis. The Toyota Division posted May total sales of 181,510, up 88.9 percent over the year-ago month. The Lexus Division reported total sales of 21,463 was up 74.4 compared to last year. Year-to-date Toyota sales are 868,301, a gain of 23.7 percent over 2011.

Chrysler Group reported U.S. sales of 150,041, a 30 percent increase compared with sales in May 2011. Year-to-date sales of 689,257, is a 33 percent gain over last year.

American Honda reported May 2012 U.S. sales of 133,997, an increase of 47.6 percent compared to May 2011. The Honda Division posted May 2012 sales of 119,411, an increase of 46 percent compared to May 2011. Acura's U.S. May sales of 14,586 was an increase of 62.1 percent compared to May 2011.

Nissan North America reported May U.S. sales of 91,794, up 20.5 percent.  Nissan Division sales increased 16.4 percent for the month at 81,202 units. Sales of Infiniti vehicles were up 65.8 percent over the prior year to 10,592. Year-to-date sales are 485,484, up 12.1 percent from the first 5 months of 2011.

Hyundai Motor America had an all-time May sales record of 67,019, up more than 13 percent over last year's all-time May record, and the second best sales month in company history. Year-to-date Hyundai has sold 292,856 vehicles, an 11.1 percent increase over 2011.

Kia Motors America best-ever May sales of 51,771 was a 7.4-percent increase over the same period last year.  Year-to-date sales of 237,381, is up 18.7 percent.

Volkswagen of America sold 38,657 vehicles in May, a 36 percent jump and year-to-date sales are 170,555, up 36 percent from 2011. Separately, Audi of America sold a record 11,503 for a 10 percent gain over 2011 for a year-to-date total of 52,494 vehicles, a 15 percent increase over the first five months of 2011.

Subaru of America reported record sales for May 2012 of 29,724, a 48 percent gain over May 2011 and year-to-date sales of 136,602 is a 22 percent gain over prior year.

The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported May sales of 28,321, an increase of 7.1 percent from the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, BMW Group has sold 130,843, up 12.2  percent gain for the first five months of 2012.

Mercedes-Benz USA reported May sales of 22,515 for its Mercedes-Benz models, a 19.2 percent improvement over May 2011, delivering a year-to-date total of 106,364 new vehicles to customers, up 17.8 percent.  Combined sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles, smart and Sprinter for the month totaled 25,259, up 24.4 percent bringing a year-to-date total of 117,231, up 22.8 percent, making this the company's highest May on record.

Mazda North American Operations reported May U.S. sales of 20,357 vehicles, an increase of 13.9 percent versus last year. On a calendar year-to-date basis, Mazda's sales are up 20.2 percent with 123,886 vehicles sold.

Volvo Cars North America sold 6,246 vehicles in May, a 15 percent decline from last year and year-to-date Volvo sales are 27,511, a 6 percent drop.

Mitsubishi Motors North America reported May 2012 sales of 5,575, its second best month of sales since September 2011, but still 26 percent below the level of sales in May 2011.

Jaguar Land Rover sales were 4,513 in May, up 8 percent over May 2011 with Jaguar sales at 1,075, down 15 percent and Land Rover sales at 3,438, a 19 percent gain. Year-to-date JLR sales are 22,865, up 19 percent with Jaguar contributing 5,476, a 9 percent increase and Land Rover 17,389, up 23 percent.

Porsche Cars North America announced May 2012 sales of 2,852 vehicles, an increase of one percent. For the year, Porsche has sold 13,448 cars in the U.S., which is a 3 percent increase over last year.

American Suzuki sold 2,360 vehicles in May, up 3 percent over 2011 and year-to-date has sales of 10,695, a drop of 4 percent from last year.