Report: Americans continue to drive brakes

Fewer people in work, less people go. It is a simple equation, which many experts on as explanation for the remarkable decline in the total miles of US drove motorists to refer in the depths of the recession.

So, explain like the fact that even as the economy shows driven finally real signs of recovery the miles continue to decline. This report from the Federal Highway Administration is only the latest indication that the Americans out of love can be with their cars.

In its report released this week, the Agency said the number of vehicle miles traveled – VMT in the jargon of the transport world - fall in the first half of 2013 continued. The past is prologue, the numbers would have recovered at least slightly according to the national increase in employment and income.

In a study earlier this month by John A. Volpe national transportation researchers Systems Center, that the number of miles that are individuals has greatly decreased the driving force in recent years. This number reached an average of 900 miles per month in July 2004. Until July 2012, it was up to 820 per month, a figure that the researchers had not seen since the last years of the last millennium.

"Almost 40 years of car tracks consumption, measured vehicle miles traveled, closely real gross domestic product." VMT declined during the recent recession, as it has during the previous. But unlike after previous recessions, it still not yet recovered", said Volpe researcher Don Pickrell and David pace in the report.

"Some causes are not new," said pace. "Car inventory is essentially on its saturation. Baby boomers drive less when they get older. It is more expensive to buy and own a car."

In addition, younger drivers of less not only because of the cost of buying and operating a vehicle, but also because of new restrictions on the licensing of teen can go. And there is evidence some analytical, some anecdotal, that younger Americans as expected by SMS contacts to socialize as with a drive to the to meet personally with friends.

But the Volpe study discovered some unexpected shifts. There was a remarkable decline in the vehicle-miles traveled by young adults, a group that traditionally more miles than most other groups, especially in a positive economic cycle clocked.

More observations:
The decline in driving was much more important for men than women.
Trial of men, in fact, decreased in every age group except those over 65.
The miles, the ages of 20 to 34 since the beginning of the new Millennium powered by women, dropped.

Women older than fell more driving, however, as seniors of both sexes are.

Contrary to popular opinion, the two researchers argue the decline in vehicle miles traveled does not reflect a switch to other modes of transportation, whether mass transit, biking or walking. And while there are clearly more teleworkers, the study found that it accounted for less than 1 percent of the general decline. Even the growth in e-shopping not explain happen what.

Other studies, among other things, produced by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, have similar characters that Americans spend less time in their cars, wait longer to get their driver's license and seemed found to fall usually always in love with the automobile.

"[Not] they need an increasing number of Americans [feeling] or want a car of your own" art Spinella CNW marketing, whose studied of carless households found the number doubled in the past two decades and is in line with the trend, less than 10 percent this year to reach for researchers.

Automotive proponents are thus, growing the U.S. market for new cars with a double-digit pace this year. Now company LMC automotive consulting predicts that 15.6 million of 2013, up from 14.5 million in the previous year total sales reach. But still nearly 2 million under the industry, would peak after the recession. And it remains to be seen, the rebound has much more stamina.

If anything, a study by r.l. Polk in the last month published found that the age of the average vehicle on the road from 11.2 years in 2012 on 11.4 years climbed - also with the automotive market bounced back so quickly that the manufacturer must fight to overcome capacity bottlenecks. This is a record - and a big jump from an average of 9.7 years Polk reported a decade ago.

"The car as a fetish of masculinity is probably over for certain age groups," transport behavior analyst Nancy McGuckin told The Associated Press. "I don't think that young men take care as much about the car they drive, to use as they."

Does it really matter? Affecting a culture of less enamored automobile have a widespread impact could, and not only those, once wrote that songs like "my Hot Rod Lincoln" or "Little Red Corvette."

Once money for cars distraction seems to be elsewhere, including the telecommunications industry, where smartphones become for many the car once set status symbol.

As automotive engineering, sales and service of the main sources of employment and an important factor in the country's GDP, the change for the future could have a huge impact. Also, the Volpe study points to the already under federal highway Trust Fund funded, what could be even harder pressed to cover the cost of maintenance of the infrastructure.

Each mile had motorists cut from their driving plans a significant impact on the future.

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Growing number of Americans, who go carless

Cyclists ride along market street earlier this month in San Francisco, where the number of cyclists has 71 percent between 2006 and 2011. This seems to be a nationwide trend as almost 10 percent of American households are carless.

Whether by choice or financial need, the number of American households without a car, doubled in the last two decades - and now approaching 10 percent.

The effects of this could be significant, especially when it comes, alternative forms of transportation like car-sharing and mass transit, according to a survey by CNW marketing.

"While the recession in large part was responsible for the latest growth spurt, the trend was already clear," says CNWs research boss art Spinella. "A growing number of Americans felt they do not need or want an own car."

CNW reportedly amounted to a modest 5.7 percent in 1991 the number of US households without a car. That figure has remained relatively stable until the early of 2000s. However, in early 2007 have been slowly increasing since then with a "rapid rise". The total number of carless households affected in the past year 9.3 percent.

The new study is in line with a separate study last week published by the U.S. public research interest group, or PIRG, which explains that "The driving boom is over." Noted that a decline in the average household fleet, for one thing, and found that the wait thousand years motorists longer until a driver's license than previous generations both clock of less miles are on the move.

But, CNWs research revealed that it is restricted to no phenomenon on Millennials. The trend of Spinella says, is especially noticeable in the "youngest and oldest Americans."

Where it resurgence urbanization among US adolescents, he points out, moved to a growing number of older people, age settlement age apartment where is own car not more requirement for services, for example always. This is a particularly remarkable transformation for older baby boomers, a generation, America's defined car culture "on the road".

Without a sudden reversal, the trend line suggests that the number of carless households could reach 10 percent this year or shortly thereafter. The question is whether the trend continues indefinitely. The recession was one factor that mean economic recovery could add wheels some carless households to force. But various studies suggest that there are other factors at work, and that there was never a return to the free-wheeling 1990s.

The effect is noticeable in various ways.

While the new U.S. auto market recovers after the worst downturn since the great depression, few demand expected during the last recovery to reach more than 17 million peak.

As well as increasing the number of carless households, CNW predictions the automotive industry may be forced to more vehicles in fleets, move, whether commercial, Government, or the fast-growing list of CarSharing service.

"While full implications of this trend are still away, we includes the formation of a future that, increased use of public transportation and decreasing status have a new vehicle more CarSharing-years can see", says Spinella. "Again, this is still years away perhaps – a decade - but the shift is clearly foot cover."

Copyright © 2009-2013, the Detroit Bureau

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Americans are buckling as never previously above.

Paul A. Eisenstein, TheDetroitBureau.com
More Americans are 86% as ever, after the nation above an all-time hit of the traffic safety agency buckling record partly by a significant increase in the South.

For the dramatic decline in deaths of US over the last decade was the trend to increased seat belt use credited.

"When it comes to ensure that road, one of the most effective ways to protect and your family is a seat belt use", said Ray LaHood Secretary of the U.S. Department of transportation, adding that push the numbers will go even higher, during the upcoming holiday season.

While seat belt use is mandatory in many parts of the industrialized world decades since, the United States had a hodgepodge of laws at best and can issue yet in some States, police use tickets for the failure of the primary safety device, if a driver commits a different offense. But a growing number of States the violation a primary offense, and national efforts to motorists turned to the fasten joined.

Every State but New Hampshire requires now adult motorists to buckle this traditionally independent State in New England with the use for those under 18 thirty-two States and the District of Columbia have now primary belt laws in force.

That has a significant level of success, seat belt use a jump of only 58% only in 1994, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had.

Consumption rises and falls, NHTSA mentioned, the US average dipped to 84% in the last year down from 85% in 2010. Michigan reached a peak of 98% in 2009, but the low beam on just over 94% in the previous year.

In the latest study, Pennsylvania saw a decrease of 2.2%, less than 84%.

There are regional differences, and has in the South tend to be relatively low safety belt use. But that rose to 85% this year according to NHTSA, a 5 percentage points by 80% in 2011. Efforts seem in motorists driving to the strap on a significant role played.

The State with the lowest utilization is Massachusetts, 73.2% this year. Washington State, leads to the other side of the nation at 97.5%.

The Government Agency estimates that a one percent increase in the seat belt use saves annually 220 lives. NHTSA credits the simple device with more than 72,000 save between 2005 and 2009 - or roughly the equivalent of two years of road deaths from the current US tempo.

Although preliminary data 2012 shows a very slight increase in deaths in the first half of the year will be the interstate highway system reached the lowest U.S. traffic Toten last year since 1949, even before the founding of the American.

According to estimates of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 32.310 accident killed a decrease of 1.7% in 2011 year compared to the previous year. Marks the seventh consecutive year that the death rate has declined.

Decreased since 2005 of only fatalities by more than 25% - and measured in terms of deaths per mile dangers the figure reached its lowest level since the beginning of records in 1921, according to NHTSA.

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Americans buy fewer new cars lifetime income

Anne Rippy / Getty Images

American consumers will buy significantly less new cars in the course of their lives, says a new study.

Chalk another one for the recession and how it has changed life in America. Now fewer new cars in the course of their lives expect new analysis of the automotive research that shows solid Polk Americans to buy.

On average, we buy almost four fewer new cars at the time each of us hits 76 years old, the age, when Polk believes most people are done buying new vehicles.

"The days when you purchased a vehicle for 4 or 5 years are probably over,", said Anthony Pratt, Polk Director of forecast.

How much have things before the recession since changed? Pratt analysis is here.

To buy new, but not so often

We have talked longer clinging to their new cars for some time about Americans and the reasons have been well documented. Cars last longer and as their prices gone, people are less inclined to taking a monthly payment. Since the recession, they have the length of time a new loan pay off stretched. In other words, people expect six, seven or eight years after they buy it now in your car.

That is a dramatic change from established generally in the automotive industry. For years buy automakers on Americans on average a new car or truck-counted every three or four years. Some of that was due to our vehicles, showing their age earlier.

"When we were younger, we had vehicles from the need to replace out." "This not the case is more", said Pratt. "The vehicles have a much better quality, so really they are much longer, there is no need to replace vehicles."

Less chance for automakers to keep and stealing from customers

Because Americans are now forecast to buy fewer new vehicles in their lifetimes, this means that automakers have less chances to steal customers.

"Conquest buy", if a customer of a brand switch a brand to another brand is persuaded, has long been an important part of the building, sales and market share. This is won the Korean car manufacturer in the United States, such as the Japanese automaker and recently, market share

That's harder, with people on their new cars that last longer. In the past you would start looking for a new car every three or four years, and if you perhaps begin look at several brands not only that which you drove.

Conversely, as we longer between new car what we want or need to buy already, can change in a new model more the years pass. As a result Pratt said, the brand that on the road we are possibly not the type of vehicle, or styles, we want for the next phase of our lives.

"It is more difficult to keep a buyer especially if they have changed phases in their lives," said Pratt. "Their needs for a vehicle may have changed, so they can abandon the brand, which have sold for many years."

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Cheap cars of the richest Americans drive

David Dewhurst / AP

The Prius is popular with the rich.

By Douglas A. McIntyre, 24/7 Wall Street.
The richest Americans are Misers, at least as far as their taste in cars. Maybe that's why some rich Americans Empire remain.

Car asked 24/7 Wall St. trends research and light, to find company Truecar to the top-selling cars that America richly with the truck. Revenue analyses industry sales data of the 10 richest US ZIP codes of median income, according to the internal service, including neighborhoods in the gated community of Fisher's Iceland, New York and Greenwich, Conn., Truecar, FLA due to the 20 best selling cars from the Truecar report, 24/7 Wall St. the richest Americans drive identifies eight reservation details.

Affordable cars drive the most wealthy Americans. The average price of eight cars in the top 10 was less than $40.000. 24/7 Wall St. closed out the two most expensive cars because they luxury models considered, but by the standard of the end cars, they very little cost.

A model, that out of the top 10 is the Mercedes E class, which had paid an average price of $48.362. As Mercedes makes a number of models, which sell for more than $100,000, the E-class hardly Center the car of company model line on the basis of price. The second luxury car in the top 10 is the BMW X 5 SUV, which has paid an average price of $56.050. The X 5 M, the high performance model, costs more than $102.000 fully loaded.

The taste of rich vary not much of the average car owner. Five cars, buying rich Americans be Honda or Toyota. These two brands consistently among American buyers well done have and have taken market share from US manufacturers over for years. They continue to offer high quality, relatively low prices and efficient engines, the good gas mileage get. Toyota and Honda are cars at the top of the quality surveys. Two cars on our list are the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The remaining three on the list are from German automakers.

Not a single American car made the list. Also, 20 shows beyond the eight top seller among the top German and Japanese models dominate. The only two American models on the broader list are the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Wrangler. As further evidence of the economy of the wealthy owner of the Grand Cherokee has an average price of $26.158. The Wrangler is only $22.510.

For those who assume that Americans drive cars usually $80,000 middle income far into the double digits, is different. If anything, the rich drive the same cars that most people do.

These are the eight cheap cars of the richest Americans drive.

1. BMW 328

Average: $35.146 type: car sold 2012: 54.415 (No. 1-BMW-model)
The BMW 3 series is the German automaker best-selling car in the United States. 147.801, Which sells BMW in the United States in the first seven months, were 54.415 3 series. With the exception of the 1 series, which sold very few units, the 3 series is BMWS cheapest model. The 328 base comes with a four-240 hp-engine, which hazard 33 MPG for motorway - gets exceptionally good for a car with such high HP. This base model comes with rear-wheel drive. More are versions with all-wheel drive the 3 series line and greater Motoren.Die is top of the line race Division of BMW "M". The M3 Coupe has a 414-HP V8 engine and a low price of $60.100. This includes not the $1,300 gas guzzler tax. In the new Vernon, n.j., this car is the second most popular and it is one fourth in century city, California, and Ross and Manhattan.

2. Mercedes c-class

Average: $34.064 type: medium-sized car sold 2012: 43.349 (1-Mercedes 1-Mercedes model)
Once again, has the rich go to offer a luxury brand for the cheapest car. The c-class is the best-selling Mercedes car. 164.918 Cars and light trucks that sold in the first seven months of the year 2012 Mercedes, were 43.349 c-class. The c-class has six versions. The cheapest is the 250 sport sedan. It has a small four-cylinder engine and four doors. The car can be purchased with all-wheel drive and a larger engine. The version of Mercedes AMG race Department has built a 451 HORSEPOWER-engine and retails for $59.800. This car as a third-party ranks the most popular in Palm Beach, Florida, and century city, California.

3. Lexus RX

Average: $38.561 type: SUV sold 2012: 45,1374 (Nr. 1-Lexus model)
The Lexus RX is the top-selling vehicle in the Lexus line, despite the fact that it is an SUV. It is also one of the least expensive models offered by Lexus. The car company, a division of Toyota sold two other SUVs--the $53,000 GX and $81,000 LX. The RX comes with rear or all-wheel drive and is powered by a 6-cylinder engine. Lexus has a high version of the name of F, the a 8-speed transmission and sold for $47,000 RX. The RX is the second most popular car in Greenwich, Conn., and the third most popular in Medina, Washington

4. Toyota Prius

Average: $29.762 type: car sold 2012: 143.297 (15)
The Toyota Prius was the 15th best-selling car in America through the first seven months of the year. The car is the best selling hybrid ever. It was introduced in 1997. Since then, more than 4 million units were sold. The Prius was also the third best-selling car of the world in the first quarter of 2012. The hybrid-electric vehicle is in four versions. One is a plug-in, which gets 95 MPG in highway driving, if only the electric motor is used. A 4-door sedan is the Prius. The Prius is the number one selling cars under the range from century city and Ross, California, a suburb north of San Francisco. The only other California city to the list of the richest zip codes in America, Atherton, crack buy Priuses only second in the Mercedes-Benz E-class.

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Americans depend on cars at least 10 years

Vehicles to used cars have parts adhere much more miles on them to their vehicles for a long time before the trade with them these days as the owner.

By Paul A. Eisenstein, TheDetroitBureau
American motorists wait longer than ever to Act in their cars, trucks and crossovers - 10 years or 150,000 miles to the new standard, not the exception, with new after a few reports.

In the golden era of planned obsolescence it was usual, that American new car buyers as often as all two or three years in the trade. Perhaps it was no surprise, as a secondary were quality and reliability to design and automotive a Upsmanship. But as quality and reliability are essential requirements for automakers, consumers feel can that a car is - longer something that has become a requirement, as prices rise and the economy in the recommend device, analysts.

Almost eight in 10 owners will keep now trade, according to a survey of AutoMD.com on your car for a decade or longer before the . Meanwhile, a black book survey finds anything but rare in these days are that the majority of the owner not in trade will, until their vehicles have at least 125.00 up to 150,000 miles on the speedometer - 200,000 km part-exchange.

"There is nothing surprising about the economy drive car owners keep their vehicles for longer." "Our data shows this trend of the past three years, but what is most compelling, that more responsibility for car owners, no matter what the economy is doing, has become a habit of embedded" Brian said oats, Vice President of marketing at AutoMD.com.

The survey among 4,000 vehicle owners by AutoMD found that:

78 Percent plan to keep their current vehicle until it more than 10 years of age 15 percent expect is, that it in the trade at 8 is up 10-year-old 4 percent it in if trade is between 6 and 7 years old 3 percent expect to trade it in if it between between 3 and 5 years old
This is of course bad for an auto industry are fighting back in the showroom as soon as possible and as often as possible to draw customers. But in a sense, the industry has only itself to blame. According to other recent studies, such as the j.d. power and Associates quality initial survey and power vehicle survey, today's products last longer than ever before with fewer problems, reliability require major repairs on the way. Meanwhile, many manufacturers offer now free planned maintenance programmes, while vehicles under warranty.

Where drivers of the past knew that their vehicles in the high age at 100,000 miles have been achieved, see this number only as a milestone show friends today's consumers.

AutoMD the data indicate that 60 percent of the primary vehicles have now more than 100,000 miles on it. And the black book study adds, that most of the vehicles are traded is not until between 125,000 and 150,000 miles, with some owners hanging clock, until the odometer back clicks over 200,000.

"Americans are on their cars keep now longer, and this age vehicle is what is driven as we, seen an increase of new cars sales activity, said Ricky Beggs, black book analyst."

The shift in the attitude of consumers is obvious. While manufacturers place a renewed focus on emotional have is not design, consumers say the toll but give them quality and functionality for looks. The AutoMD study found that 52 percent of drivers say their next purchase of the vehicle in the first place of objectivity be affected. Only 21 percent said that they are more influenced by styling.

47 Percent of the respondents AutoMD asked why they their vehicles are longer, listed in a weak economy. The survey, which allowed drivers, saw more than one response, list check off 44 percent, the fact that they already more cautiously about service and repairs; 37 Percent cited the desire to save money; 28% Mentioned that they were doing their own repairs to the old Jalopy running to keep; and 19 percent pointed out that that take today's cars just longer.

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The cars Americans will not buy

Courtesy of Kia Motors America

Sales of the Kia Rio, which comes in both subcompact and hatchback models, declined 18 percent between 2010 and 2011.

By Michael B. Sauter, 24/7 Wall St.
April car sales data were not a cause for celebration. Though sales were up 2 percent overall from last April, they cooled somewhat since the February and March run. There were a few winners, however, including Toyota, Chrysler and several European auto makers, some of which were up over 20 percent. Meanwhile, General Motors and Ford were down.

While a few brands are doing incredibly well, dealers cannot even give away some models. “Days to turn,” or “days on the lot,” reflects the average number of days a vehicle is in dealer inventory before it is sold. All of the car models on our list spent more than 90 days on the lot, considerably longer than the 52-day average. Working with Edmunds.com, 24/7 Wall St. identified 10 cars that Americans are not buying.

Not surprisingly, time on the lot appears to be an excellent proxy for how vehicles are selling. The average car sold in America sold 35,593 units in 2011, according to Edmunds. Eight of the cars on this list sold less than that. Five sold less than 15,000 units last year.

24/7 Wall St.: Cars so hot they are out of stock

In addition to having poor sales last year, overall sales of seven of the 10 dropped between 2009 and 2011. Total sales of five cars plummeted more than 30 percent. Two of the cars on this list, the DTS and the Honda Element, have been discontinued, and several more may be in jeopardy.

It is not always clear what makes a car unpopular. The cars on the list are all different types, from pickup trucks to compacts. They are also made by a number of different manufacturers, although six are made in Japan.

Fuel efficiency, on the other hand, appears to be a major factor for these cars’ poor sales. As the price of gas climbs to $4 per gallon, Americans appear to be making more fuel-efficient choices for their family vehicle. Six of the vehicles on the list have combined gas mileage -- city and highway -- of 25 mpg or less. According to the EPA, the Nissan Titan, which has among the longest days on lot, gets just 15 combined mpg.

Even when these cars belong to categories that generally get poor gas mileage, such as SUVs and pickups, they are still among the worst in their class. The Cadillac DTS, for example, gets a combined 18 mpg. By comparison, the Honda Accord, another full-size sedan, averages 27 combined mpg.

Based on car reviews, poor quality appears to hurting the sales of the cars on the list as well. JD Power reviewed eight of the 10 models on our list. Only one car scored better than a 3 out of 5 in both “overall quality and design” and “initial quality” -- considered only passable scores. Three models on this list only scored a 2 out of 5 in initial quality.

24/7 Wall St.: America's most miserable states

24/7 Wall St. obtained days-to-turn data for the full year 2011 provided by auto industry analytics organization Edmunds. To avoid inconsistencies that can arise from small data sets, we only looked at vehicles that sold at least 10,000 units in 2011. We also looked at the list prices of these vehicles as provided by the dealer, fuel efficiency data from the U.S. EPA, and quality ratings provided by JD Power & Associates and Consumer Reports. Edmunds also provided sales figures going back to 2006. All unit sales listed are U.S. only.

These are the cars Americans will not buy.

1. Volkswagen Routan

2011 Days to Turn: 107Price: $27,020Configuration: 6 Cyl, 4 DoorMpg: 17 City, 25 Hwy
In 2005, Volkswagen entered into a partnership with Chrysler to develop its own minivan, using the American automaker’s Town & Country as the base model. The Routan, when it was introduced in 2008, became the first minivan made by the German company in North America. Sales, however, have been poor from the start. In 2009, the first full year of sales, just 14,600 units were sold. In 2010, sales were up slightly, to 15,900, but fell more than 20 percent to 12,470 in 2011. The car spent, according to Edmunds, an average of 107 days on the lot -- more than double the U.S. average.

24/7 Wall St.: America's most peaceful states

2. Nissan Titan

Days to Turn: 106Price: $28,520Configuration: 8 Cyl, 2 DoorMpg: 13 City, 18 Hwy
The Nissan Titan was introduced in 2004 as the company’s full-size pickup. The Titan sold well in its early years. In 2007, Nissan sold 65,700 units of the truck in just one year. However, by 2008, sales had declined nearly 50 percent to 34,000. In 2011, the truck sold just fewer than 22,000 in total. Rising gas prices may be a factor in this. The truck’s current generation has an abysmal estimated mileage of 18 mpg on the highway and just 13 mpg in the city.

3. Kia Rio

Days to Turn: 101Price: $13,400Configuration: 4 Cyl, 4 Door/4 Cyl, 5 DoorMpg: 30 City, 40 Hwy
According to Edmunds, “As far as small economy cars go, there are better choices than the 2011 Kia Rio.” The average Kia Rio spent 101 days on the dealer lot in 2011, just shy of twice the length the average vehicle spent on the lot. Sales of the Rio, which comes in both subcompact and hatchback models, declined 18.3 percent, between 2010 and 2011, from 24,600 to 20,100.

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Americans keeping their autos longer than ever

Elaine Thompson / AP

Traffic moves across the Highway 520 floating bridge in Medina, Wash. American drivers are holding on to their cars and trucks for longer, new data suggest.

By msnbc.com staff and wire

American drivers are holding on to their cars and trucks longer, new data suggest, as they put off buying new vehicles in the face of high unemployment and a struggling economy.

The average age of a vehicle on the road has climbed to a record 10.8 years, according to automotive research firm Polk. Last year the average vehicle on U.S. roads was 10.6 years old, up from 10 years in 2008, Polk said.

While the average age of passenger cars has shown a modest increase since 2010, rising from 11 years to just 11.1 years at the end of June 2011, light trucks (including pickups and SUVs) have seen a more sizeable gain, rising from 10.1 years to 10.4 years in the same timeframe. Overall, average vehicle age has risen quickly over the past five years, Polk said. The firm uses national vehicle registration data in its analysis.

Polk says the average vehicle age has been rising since 2008, but a rebound in vehicle sales last year is likely to slow the aging rate. Automakers sold 12.8 million vehicles in the U.S. last year, up from 11.6 million in 2010. Analysts expect auto sales to continue rising in 2012.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Electric cars? Americans want more muscle

This is the year of the electric car, or so one might think, based on the headlines of recent months, with new vehicles like the Chevrolet Volt plug - in hybrid and Nissan electric leaf racking up awards and roles in car dealerships.

So we should what this month Chicago Auto show, make where potential customers in the spotlight shining on the latest lithium-ion powered wonders, but also on some of the most powerful cars which roles are found from the Assembly line?

At the booth of Chevy, for example, the Volt made for the new Camaro ZL1 - a 550 PS version of the born again "pony car," way which General Motors design proclaimed chief Ed Welburn "technically advanced Camaro ever built."

A short walk through the huge McCormick Place Convention Center found Ralph Gilles, the Dodge brand's general manager, kneeling a kiss on the wing of the new, 465-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT8 to plants. Who serves as Chrysler corporate design Chief Gilles- - is one of the first in line for the high-performance sedan, traces its roots back to showcase shock era is all muscle cars.

"Performance is back," said Mark Reuss, GM's President of North American operations on numerous occasions.

For all the attention given the GM electric Volt Coupe has supplied more muscle car has the automaker models on the market last year, including an assortment of Camaros and several new versions Cadillac V series, including the CTS-V 550 HP.

The Chevy Camaro was actually (with an EPA fuel economy rating of 19 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway) one of the hottest cars 2010, the King of the Hill Pony Car, the Ford Mustang, knocking down for the first time in 25 years.

Ford used the Detroit Auto show, last month to several new battery-based vehicles, including an electric version new orientation to reveal and the C-Max Energi, a plug-in hybrid version of its new Microvan. But the automaker Burns rubber with the new Mustang GT500 from an impressive 500 pumps also hp.

Even Toyota used to reveal a new family of Prius-badged hybrids, the Detroit show is always in the action. Their Lexus is Luxury Division since short supplies of LF-A supercar and Japanese automakers ready next month Geneva Motor Show, in partnership with the smaller Japanese to show developed a new high performance sports car Subaru.

High performance models like the Camaro, Mustang, the charger and the Challenger (an another Dodge muscle car) collective hybrid electric vehicles restaurant such as the Toyota Prius and Ford Fusion hybrid - the ecological crowd favorites.

But there is a limit to this success. The highest horsepower offered, such as the Camaro ZL1 and Charger SRT8, form a relatively modest niche as the most car buyers more worldly versions of these cars such as such as Mustang V6-powered opt for.

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Ridiculed as a "secretary's car", the Mustang's base model has only minimal muscle, but it delivers a juicy 305 HP still surprising performance (approx. 50% more than the top line Mustang GT two decades ago). But the Mustang V6-powered get also an EPA fuel economy rating of 30 miles per gallon on the highway that highlights some of the major changes that have occurred since the days when muscle cars dominated the street.

New technologies like turbocharging and direct injection, make it possible for cars to churn out large quantities of makes on demand, but still maintain acceptable fuel consumption. The new Charger SRT8, can, for example, idle of half the cylinders when demand is low, to improve fuel economy shows.

And this is just the beginning. Mercedes-Benz is a pure battery electric version of Gull-winged SLS supercar, prepares the debut in 2013. And little Tesla, the Silicon Valley start-up, has already more than 1,000 sold his two-seater Roadster sports car.

Lotus develops British specialty automotive manufacturers a range of new models, the a special hybrid drive punch is used - originally designed for the formula 1 racing track - out some extra power when the car manufacturers to a smaller allow engine more economical to use.

Porsche takes a similar approach with its 918 sports car, a race version of it on the car was unveiled 2011 Detroit show.

And while official comment the company will not, there were numerous reports that Ford will bring back the legendary GT nameplate. But the new version is reportedly charging and hybrid power use to deliver it in hardly 2 seconds 0-60 acceleration.

Although it's hard these days to find a manufacturer which on a battery car, plug - in, or hybrid, functional conventional can be said the same performance and muscle cars.

Even Hyundai, a brand that known is traditionally low price and high-mileage, for his always to the law. While his Chicago preview show car this year which automaker said it would another 51 Add hp to its popular Genesis sedan, the numbers come up to 429 hp.

And with federal mileage standards set some big jumps in the years ahead, automakers are under pressure, squeeze - but the market also you more muscle, will as of this year's Chicago Auto Show underscores to deliver more miles from every gallon gas. The good news is that the Powertrain technology allow the industry to do both.

© 2011 msnbc.com.

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