Demand surging for highest-mileage GM models

Handout / Getty Images

Autoworker Maurice Vauss inspects the fit and finish of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco during final inspection on the assembly line.

By Joseph Szczesny , The Detroit BureauThe surge in fuel prices has led to a huge shift in buyer demand, according to General Motors, the maker reporting it sold more high-mileage models than ever last month.

Demand for products delivering 30 mpg or better has grown so much GM recently had to up incentives on less efficient V-6 versions of several crossover-utility vehicles because it was running out of higher-mileage four-cylinder models.

“GM’s strategic investments in four-cylinder and turbocharged engines, advanced transmissions and vehicle electrification have been very well timed,” said Mark Reuss, president of GM North America.

With the industry set to report March sales later today, GM gave a hint of what is happening as the market responds to $4 gas.  Sales of the 12 models it offers in the U.S. getting at least 30 mpg will total more than 100,000 for the month, an all-time record, the company said.

“Three years ago, about 16 percent of the vehicles GM sold achieved at least 30 mpg on the highway. Today, that number is about 40 percent,” noted Reuss, “and we have more new fuel-economy leaders on the way, including the Chevrolet Spark, Cadillac ATS and the Buick Encore.”

The dozen current models include the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, Chevrolet Cruse, Chevrolet Volt, Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Malibu Eco, Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Impala, Chevrolet Equinox and 2012 Buick Verano, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ratings.

The automaker offers multiple powertrain offerings on many of those products, such as the Chevrolet Equinox and its near-twin, the GMC Terrain.  Demand for the higher-mileage I-4 models has now exceeded capacity – prompting the maker to recently add another $1,000 in incentives to try to get some potential buyers to opt for the V-6 models.

But the trend appears to be well-entrenched, according to most industry analysts, few expecting to see a significant return to lower-mileage models barring a wholesale collapse in fuel prices.  As a result, manufacturers are expecting to continue adding to their high-mileage offerings.

In GM’s case, it will add still more all-new or significantly freshened 30 mpg-plus Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac cars and crossovers by the end of 2012.  Collectively, they will flesh out  segments that
represent 60% of the U.S. light vehicle industry.

The new models include the all-new 2013 Cadillac ATS 2.5-liter and 2.0-liter turbo I-4s, the all-new Chevrolet Spark and the four-cylinder 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, all of which are expected to achieve EPA estimates of 30 mpg highway or better when the ratings are released later this year, Reuss said.

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Midlife crisis? New Corvette convertible unveiled

Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau 11 clock.

It was the star of the hometown car show now motor hopes General but to prove that his new seventh generation Chevrolet Corvette international broadcasting has, how it up on the so-called "C7" is, by the introduction of the convertible Edition of next week Geneva Motor Show.

Although a few hazy last "spy shots" in the weeks to come up, these are the first official pictures of the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette convertible, and they reveal that GM designers and engineers went very far, to maintain the distinct shape of the Coupe, which was first introduced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January.

In fact, Tadge Jadhav, senior engineer on the C7 Corvette program, stressed in conversation with TheDetroitBureau.com, that "the convertible in mind designed." That is different than the way GM and many other auto manufacturers have been developing an advertising traditionally approached.

All too often, they start with a Coupe and then way find the roof panels. But that weakens the entire vehicle platform, something clearly sports car, which supports the introduction of significant and bracing shall not in a required. With 2014 Corvette convertible but there essentially added nothing. Even Jackie said, is the basic model of the C7 Droptop 20% stiffer than the old hardtop Coupe version of the more powerful Corvette Z06.

There is a modest gain in weight, he acknowledged, because of the wrinkles on the roof rails and the motor drive system. Specific details are not released to Geneva, but the new convertible is expected to be served with a single button and is looking can be raised and lowered during the movement slowly. When you consider that competitive convertible sports cars like the Porsche 911 can operate convertible in less than 20 seconds, the new C7 convertible is probably faster, just be.

Chevrolet plans a range of Corvette Coupe variants finally as in the past with the camp hardtop shown in Detroit, and a more powerful Z06 and a track ready-ZR1 follow in the next few years, according to various sources. It is still not clear whether the Detroit manufacturer offer several versions of the convertible, but that seems very likely.

Chevrolet marked the last year - and the 60th anniversary - the Corvette nameplate by the introduction of a tire-shredding version of the last generation, "C6" ' Vette. Dubbed the Grand sport, it was the most powerful version of the 2-seater, which ever produced 430 HORSEPOWER and 424 pound-feet of torque.

When starting the new C7 convertible of the same Powertrain as the share new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe, meaning that it lb-ft would run sports 450 HORSEPOWER and 450 more power than the Grand. And although slightly heavier than the hardtop, the al-fresco Edition should also deliver 0-60 time of 4 seconds or less.

All that is fine, but why go to Geneva to introduce that the new Chevrolet Corvette convertible rather than say, wait less than a month, and while the last of the big US car of the season show above in New York shows?

The answer has to do with changes in the essence of the Chevy itself. While you think of him as "the heartbeat of America," perhaps as it is long settled, the modern reality that all three Chevrolet products outside are sold almost two of North America this year. In an otherwise retrenching European automotive market, it is one of the few growing Marques. It is an increasingly powerful player in China and the bowtie brand traditionally is one of the most powerful in Latin America as well.

While many of these markets have unique products, such as for example the Captiva crossover, we don't see even in the States the Corvette was as much a show car for Chevrolet abroad as at home. And with GM's largest brand with the aim of the C7 remake of "America's sports car" make a truly global competitors, to their own turf takes targeting exotics such as far afield as Porsche and even Ferrari, Geneva in the fight.

Copyright © 2009-2013, the Detroit Bureau

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Muscle cars hit the road again

ALT: 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Ford was not the only one with a track-centric Pony Car, which debuted in 1969. Chevrolet rolled out the Camaro ZL1 in the same year.

This car was more the result of ingenuity as a planned intention. In contrast to the boss, not the ZL1 someone was to do designed. Instead, it was the result of a creative Illinois Chevrolet dealers ordered, that 50 Camaros of the company's aluminum block 427 cubic inch racing engine ZL1 with the code name.

A few other retailers idea caught on and was 69 cars were rated then engine officially 430 PS, but more than 500 produce tested was built hp.

The $4,200 racing engine doubled the price of the Camaro, so that she are not terribly popular in regular customers, but drag racer car's ability to rocket down the Strip in just 11 seconds estimated.

ALT: 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

In the early 1960s American automakers agreed not officially back racing with "Factory" team. But the company had customers who wanted to drive even their cars, and so wanted to win for this team.

Sports car racing team wanted the fastest Corvette, Ferrari and Carroll Sheby Cobras and Chevrolet commits, offers regular production option code Z06 Corvette challenge. Select this option to the ' Vette's order form gives the factory install a 360 hp 327 cubic-inch V8, M21 4-speed manual transmission, stiffer Springs, shocks and AMG, racing-grade drum brakes (the Corvette have nor have disc brakes), alloy wheels and a huge 36, 5-gallon gas tank for endurance racing.

At $5,975 Chevy 1963 found only 199 customers for the Z06.

New: 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

In 2001, Chevrolet was ready to defend a more powerful version of the Corvette of the car call roll-out, which March had claimed performance against the Dodge Viper. The company achieved in their archives and dusted off the Z06 moniker. This meant the usual steps of the installation of a more powerful engine and stiffening the suspension, track performance, while the base model with softer springs and available automatic for the Boulevard cruiser to update.

Today, Chevrolet offers even the Corvette Z06, but its position as the apex of the Corvette performance since replaced the supercharged Corvette ZR1. So the 2011 Z06 Corvette is model with a 427-cubic-inch V8 (7.0-liter) loads 505 HP, one driving the car the most powerful naturally-aspirated engine top speed of 198 mph. the Z06 carves widespread use of lightweight carbon fibre and magnesium mass 3.175 a sum, the outrageous in today's crop of Porky is lbs performance models. If that's not enough, one brings in available performance package wheels, tires, shocks and brakes the ZR1 for maximum handling and braking.

ALT: 1968 Dodge Charger R/T

Dodge debuted the fastback designed medium-sized charger 1966 with a design originally intended for Chrysler turbine car, which has reached not production. But an updated design in 1968 tripled charger sales, and together with the new sheetmetal, a new high performance option, the R/T came for road/track stand.

The R/T base engine was the 375 hp 440 Magnum but the optional 425 bhp 426 Hemi with two four barrel carburetor was the legendary pinnacle of the line, with a top speed of 156 mph, a test of the car magazine car and driver.

With modest changes in the following year the charger 1969 later fame won in garish citric acid as the street of running racecar "General Lee" in the popular weekly 1980s TV series "The Dukes of Hazard."

New: 2011 Dodge Charger R/T

Widespread dismay of enthusiasts return of the Dodge Charger to the company's lineup, was it not as a swoopy Coupe, but as Pug-faced 4-door sedan. Dodge soothes ruffled feathers with a model of R/T the charger fidelity to the original performance, if not look to confirm.

For 2011, the charger R/T powered a 370-hp 5, 7-litre Hemi V8 which in a nod to modern realities, in which a fuel-saving cylinder mode changes, when all these horses are not required. Another modern reality is customers lack of interest in manual transmissions, in a departure from the original so shocking as the new car block there are styling, so no manual transmission available.

But there are all-wheel drive, give their first realistic chance to have a normally rear-wheel drive American muscle car as the year of Snow plagued driver. And for those, the current R/T feel lack of power compared to the original, there is always the 425-hp 6.1-liter SRT-8 version.

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Chevy introduces buy-back guarantee program

By Paul A. Eisenstein, The Detroit Bureau
Hoping to maintain its momentum as key Japanese competitors recover from last year’s production cuts, General Motors’ largest brand has announced its new Chevy Confidence program which includes a “Love it or Return it” vehicle buy-back guarantee on all 2012 and 2013 models.

The maker is also launching a “Total Confidence Pricing” discount program aimed at clearing out inventories of leftover 2012 models. Most GM plants take a mid-summer break this month to convert production to the 2013 line-up.

“We have transformed the Chevrolet lineup, so there is no better time than now to reach out to new customers with the love it or return it guarantee and very attractive, bottom line pricing,” said Chris Perry, Chevrolet global vice president of marketing.

GM has used buy-back programs before, notably to prop up the Chevy Volt in the months after reports of battery fires threatened to unplug demand for the plug-in hybrid last year. But the breadth of the new program is significant, covering all 2012 and ’13 models.

To qualify, vehicles must be returned within 30 to 60 days, have less than 4,000 miles on the odometer and experience no damage.

The launch of the new Chevy Confidence program comes less than a week after June auto sales were announced – with key Japanese competitors making major gains. Toyota, for example, was up more than 60% for the month and has been steadily regaining market share lost last year when it struggled to keep its assembly plants running after the March 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

This is a particularly significant year for Chevrolet which is rolling out some critical new products, notably including the new midsize Malibu, which had been making gains against traditionally dominant Asian imports such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

The challenge for Chevy is to ensure its offerings land on motorists’ buying lists. Research shows that the average car shopper only closely considers two to three vehicles – and for a sizable chunk of the population Detroit products aren’t a factor.

“We know through first-hand experience that once they get behind the wheel of one of our new products, they are more likely to take one home,” said Steve Hurley, co-chair of the Chevrolet Dealer Council.

Along with the buyback program Chevy will institute a no-haggle pricing strategy as part of the new campaign. It hopes that by starting out with good discounts it can convince buyers and dealers alike to avoid the often-frustrating negotiations that are generally seen as the most painful part of buying a car.

That approach could work, suggests Jesse Toprak, chief analyst with TrueCar.com, an auto pricing and data service.

As for the buyback program, Toprak says, “(It) is an indication of how confident Chevrolet is in its’ new product line up. It is a way to get people into showrooms and experience firsthand the significant investments the dealer body has made in the recent years. It is a smart and cost effective program that will work towards diminishing the perception gap of the Chevrolet brand particularly in coastal metropolitan areas where consumers have a stronger preference towards the import brands.”

Chevrolet remains a major force in the U.S. market, its largest, but has become increasingly dependent upon overseas sales. The brand generated 4.76 million sales in 2011 and is shooting for another record this year.

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2014 Corvette offers 455 HP

Paul A. Eisenstein Detroit Bureau may 29, 2013 at 1:06 PM ET
Chevrolot / the Detroit BureauThe 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is powerful "Base" ' Vette ever.

When it comes to the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette stingray, decided General Motors Soni and Mr.

The manufacturer had originally said it expected a fans than the C7, the new sports car to make already-impressive 450 HP, known as soon as the final numbers were calculated. In fact, the Corvette come in at 455 Horsepower, and the optional high performance exhaust package, will be up to 460 ponies came.

This is the Chevrolet Corvette of the strongest base car make in the long and colorful history of the ' Vette, which debuts six decades ago. But he alone is not the whole story of the new two-seater has completely for 2014 remake and the GM now hopes it helps more directly with the European brands to compete, have dominated the global car market.

The heart of the Stingray is its LT1-6, 2-liter V8. The brand new engine has extensive tests and optimizations approaching production, leading GM engineers originally conservative estimates, who spend their last performance subjected numbers. Other manufacturers, the first over promised and under delivered heavy hits on the market - have and even penalties to pay if their production versions were found, had to to less than as promised to produce.

In base trim, the LT1 makes 455 HP and 460 pound-feet of torque. In comparison to the end of 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 430 Horsepower and 424 lb-ft. New C7 can also be ordered with an optional exhaust package, which improves breathing its engine and ups ante 460 HP and 465 lb-ft.

"The 2014 Corvette Stingray LT1 engine is a triumph of the advanced technology, delivers more power and torque than ever with greater efficiency," Jordan Lee, Chief Engineer on the motor program boasts.

"The LT1 performance complemented the Corvette low mass with a tremendous sense of power, which builds as the RPM climbs", he added. "Drivers experience more power and Acceleration than ever, with the standard motor-in fact, its power and torque exceeding many parent modules from competitors offered."

But that is only part of the story. The new C7 is balanced as the outgoing model easier and better. Engineers has a wide variety of light-weight materials, such as roof and bonnet made of the same carbon-fiber, found in many of the most exotic models from the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini - for much more money. Meanwhile, the Powertrain as low as possible to improve, has mounted the new Corvette focus.

With a better ratio of "Weight of power" then the 2014 Corvette Stingray will supply Chevrolet is still better off-the-line starts as raw performance around 4 seconds 0 to 60 could be suspect. Now meet his improved weight and balance in better handling in curves and corners translate, if the new model is expectations.

Chevrolet since certainly builds expectations, especially after it, that it would have to delay the introduction of the C7, which it originally hoped acknowledged in a timely manner to the last year's celebration of the 60th anniversary of the sports car will be launching. TheDetroitBureau.com revealed earlier this year, had the program be stopped in fact twice again in 2009 due to financial problems of GM once in the run-up to and during its bankruptcy. Senior Program Manager have joked that this proved to be as advantage, by them the way the original plans to exceed.

Among other things, this allows them to revise, the adoption of a more radical form as originally adopted the design of the edgy new sports car.

"This version almost does not happen," C7-Design Director Tom Peters, discovered during a private conversation.

Despite more power than all previous versions of the Corvette, get best mileage of 26 mpg on the highway according to EPA testing the 2014 model.

The apparent contradiction highlights the adoption of new drive technologies such as direct injection, variable valve timing and active fuel management, which some of the close the eight cylinders when the new Corvette roll off or cruises.

The new sports car is the "Stingray" designation, previously only the most powerful corvettes is reserved provided the first in the coming decades. But Chevy Insider have on the whole, suggested that even more powerful spin-offs, such as the Corvette Z06 and ZR1 ' Vettes follow over the next few years, as well as the convertible version was during the Geneva Motor Show in March

The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe will end this summer for a starting price of $51.995 start. The convertible will follow by the end of the year.

Copyright © 2009-2013, the Detroit Bureau

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Toyota Camry can dethrone Ford F-150 in the year 2013.

Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau
The Ford F-series, the best-selling truck in America for three decades and the chart among all vehicles for a quarter was crowned century. The Toyota Camry and Honda Accord not far behind traditional.

In fact, the estimated 14.3 million cars, trucks and crossovers, which are, expected to be sold with time which closed the books on 2012, perhaps the vast majority of this volume make two dozen models. And this list contains a number of usual suspects, such as the F-series, Camry and accord.

This means that the U.S. market is some of the most dramatic changes in the middle in decades experienced. Fuel economy is one reason. Since the middle of the last decade has the compact car segment by almost 13 percent of total U.S. sales by more than 20 percent, a trend likely to continue increased. And new competitors such as the Korean Hyundai and Kia, have even as policy-makers in segments show Detroit new capacity where it has long been "also-rans", especially with midsize sedans, the established order – are shaken.

Based the likely top seller by 2013 24/7 Wall Street on traditional ranking, the first 11 months of the year sales 2011 - and current trends in the industry, a list with the expected next year predicts a turnover of at least 200,000 apiece 16 models.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is the prediction that the Camry of the newest generation of the F-series as the nation will dethrone best-selling vehicle for the first time for decades. The Camry is fusion, Honda Accord and Chevrolet Malibu already facing some serious competition from newer players such as the updated 2013 Nissan Altima, Ford and approaching the middle of its life cycle. But in fact, all four of these models are also among the predicted winners.

Sweet 16 includes in particular any models list, whose base price is more than $25,000- or about $5,000 less typical than the current US transaction price, details of the tracking service TrueCar.com.

Meanwhile, 14 of the 16 inline-four-cylinder options offer. High-mileage-4s are the only powertrains available several models. The two exceptions are the Ford F-series and Chevrolet Silverado. The Ford Pickup scored a great success with its optional V-6 s, including the premium 3.5-liter EcoBoost. Chevy is expected to offer new, higher mileage Powertrain packages when it presents the updated Silverado next year.

The top 10 expects the chart dominated by Japanese makers with six different models. Detroit comes with four options, including the two trucks, as well as the highly acclaimed Ford Fusion sedan and the new Ford Escape crossover. In fact, 24/7 Wall Street expected Ford are three models in the top 10, more than any other manufacturer - and four in the Sweet 16, where it is expected to link with General Motors.

Hyundai, now rounds the 16, landing the last two models - the sonata and Elantra - twice as many as the Nissan.

While light trucks in the U.S. sales charts since the mid 1980s have dominated and they have late lost, is backed by the forecast that it expects bottom six medium-sized sedans under the sweet will be 16 and five compact models.

Three compact crossovers country on the list, but only two classic "truck trucks," the F-series and the Silverado.

Here is the full list the probably best selling cars, trucks, and crossovers for 2013 and expected sales:

(1) Toyota Camry: 483.977

(2) Ford F-150: 455.305

(3) Honda Accord: 387.779

(4) Nissan Altima: 358.187

(5) Honda Civic CRX: 357.621

(6) Toyota Corolla: 333.933

(7) Honda CR-v: 327.955

(8) Ford Fusion: 290.424

(9) Chevrolet Silverado 1500: 282.627

(10) Ford Escape: 273.846

(11) Chevrolet Malibu: 251.403

(12) Chevrolet Cruze: 247.870

(13) Chevrolet Equinox: 247.468

(14) Ford Focus: 243.965

(15) Hyundai Sonata, 235.218

(16) Hyundai Elantra: 215.721

The forecast shows an another significant trend in the American market. Motorists are now an estimated 250 models of US, more than ever before. But this means a smaller and smaller percentage for each product. Only two models are expected to top the 400,000 mark, only five are probably generated in the range of 300,000 sales. The rest ends up somewhere North of 200,000.

Not that many decades back, a long list of offered would regularly top 400,000 or more. At one point, Chevrolet sold Impala 1 million. But as this product trend continues to spread, even the best sellers demand are likely to continue to decline, analysts expect.

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Automakers are going back to the future in '12

AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota Everything old is new again.

Revamped versions of some of America's best-known cars — the Toyota Camry, the Chevrolet Malibu, the Ford Taurus, the Volkswagen Beetle, the BMW 3 Series — are all going on sale in the 2012 model year. The industry hopes that as buyers trickle back after the economic slump, they'll be delighted by new styling, significantly better fuel economy and, in the Camry's case, lower prices.

While gas prices have moderated since the spring, automakers say efficiency remains one of buyers' top considerations, and they'll have plenty of new gas sippers to choose from.

The new Chevrolet Sonic subcompact and redesigned Hyundai Accent, Nissan Versa and Kia Rio are all expected to get close to 40 miles per gallon. Toyota is releasing the Prius V, a wagon version of its wildly popular Prius hybrid, that's expected to get 43 mpg. There will be several new small cars on the market, including the Mini Coupe, Scion iQ, an as-yet-unnamed Dodge and the sporty Hyundai Veloster.

And for those who don't want to use any gas at all, electric carmaker Tesla will be bringing out an all-electric family sedan called the Model S, while Ford will release an all-electric Focus.

But driving enthusiasts, take heart. There will be plenty of brawn on the market, too. The 2012 Jaguar XKR-S coupe is one of the fastest Jaguars ever built, capable of accelerating to 100 miles per hour in 8.7 seconds. Jeep is releasing the Grand Cherokee SRT8, a performance version with a 470-horsepower Hemi V-8. The fifth generation of the BMW M5 sports sedan boasts a 560-horsepower V-8. Even the little Fiat 500 will be getting an Abarth sport edition.

Here is a rundown of new cars that will go on the market between now and next fall:

Acura
TL: Refreshed 2012 version went on sale last spring. Gets new front and rear styling, noise and vibration improvements and a six-speed automatic transmission. City fuel economy goes to 20 miles per gallon and highway to 29, an increase of 3 mpg over the 2011 model. Base price is $36,490 including shipping.

Audi
A6: The big luxury sedan is all new for 2012 with styling that matches the rest of the German automaker's car lineup. The company used aluminum body panels and a steel frame to cut weight by 78 pounds from its predecessor. The new version also has an aluminum suspension. It will be powered by two engines, a 3-liter supercharged V-6 with 310 horsepower and a 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 211 horsepower. Prices start at $42,595 including shipping.

A7: The five-door fastback coupe also is all new for 2012, powered by a 310-horsepower V-6 engine and standard all-wheel-drive. It also has aluminum and steel construction and comes standard with 18-inch wheels, all-season tires and a leather interior. Prices start at $60,125 including shipping.

A8: Gets a 6.3-liter 12-cylinder engine with 500 horsepower.

TT RS: Gets the RS nameplate in the United States with a turbocharged 360-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that goes from zero to 60 in 4.1 seconds. The RS starts at $57,725 including shipping.

Bentley
Continental GT: Bentley has fiddled with the V-12 engine on the Continental GT coupe to squeeze out 15 more horsepower, bringing it to a total of 567. What else would you expect from a six-liter engine that gets 19 mpg on the highway? The GT can go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 4.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 198 mph. Inside, there's a new 8-inch touchscreen in the dash with navigation and other controls, and luxury touches like hand-sewn, fluted leather seats. The GT starts at $189,900.

BMW
M5: The fifth generation of this premium sports sedan is set to go on sale in the spring. The new M5 will have the most powerful engine ever fitted in a series-produced BMW mated to a new, seven-speed double clutch transmission. The V-8 is expected to get up to 560 horsepower, 10 percent more than its predecessor, and 500 pound feet of torque, a 30 percent increase. But BMW says fuel economy will improve 30 percent. A driver's footrest and standard iDrive 10-inch dashboard control screen are among the standard perks. Pricing and exact fuel economy will be released closer to the M5's arrival in dealerships.

3 SERIES: An all-new 3 Series midsize sedan is scheduled to be released this spring as a 2013 model. Few details are available, although spy photos have been popping up on the Internet. BMW is expected to offer a turbocharged, direct-injected four-cylinder engine on the entry-level 328i, instead of a V-6. It's expected to get more horsepower and torque than the current V-6, but will get far better fuel economy. Pricing hasn't been announced, but the current 3 Series starts at $34,600.

Buick
VERANO: The luxury version of the Chevrolet Cruze aimed at the Lexus IS 250 and Acura TSX goes on sale in the fall of 2012. It's powered by the same 2.4-liter, 177 horsepower, four-cylinder engine as the Regal, with a zero-to-60 time of eight seconds and an estimated 31 mpg on the highway. A turbocharged 2-liter engine will come later. General Motors promises that the car will be among the quietest in its class. It's starting price is $23,470 including shipping.

Cadillac
General Motors' luxury brand is getting a little stale, but help is coming in the 2012 model year in two key market segments where it does not now compete.

ATS: The ATS, a rear-drive small car aimed squarely at the BMW 3 Series, will debut in the summer. GM hasn't released many details, but teaser pictures look like a shrunken Cadillac CTS sports sedan with a high rear and sloping hood. We're not sure what will power the thing, but there has been speculation about a turbocharged 2.0-liter four cylinder and a 3.8-liter V6. GM says the car has to perform, handle and ride better than the BMW, and its engineers are working to make sure that comes true. No price was released, but it's expected to come in under the lowest-price 3 Series sedan, the 328i, which starts at $34,600.

XTS: Cadillac hasn't had much to compete with in the big front-wheel-drive part of the market, but that also will change in the spring with the debut of the XTS. The car is likely to have a soft ride and probably won't be a road burner. GM executives have said it's aimed at the traditional Cadillac buyer, and that means senior citizens, few of whom value cornering and zero-to-60 times. But it's likely to get good gas mileage for its size. No details were released about engines, transmissions or price of the car, to be built in Ontario.

Chevrolet
SONIC: The General gets serious about selling mini-cars in the U.S. for the first time with the Chevrolet Sonic, an Americanized version of a new tiny global vehicle. The Sonic comes as a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback, and it has the same engines as its bigger brother, the Chevrolet Cruze. That means the Sonic will be faster from zero to 60 and should get better gas mileage than the Cruze, upwards of 40 mpg on the highway. The base engine in the Sonic is GM's old 1.8-liter, 135 horsepower four banger. Drivers also can elect the Cruze's 1.4-liter turbocharged engine with 138 horsepower. Five-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions are available. GM engineers promise that the car will handle better than its main competitors, the Ford Fiesta and Hyundai Accent. With a base price of $14,495 including shipping, it's pricier than some competitors, but GM says it has more standard equipment, including 10 air bags, air conditioning and alloy wheels. It's due in showrooms this fall.

CAMARO: The all-powerful Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, equipped with massive 6.2-liter, 550-horsepower supercharged V-8 engine, is a new version of the venerable muscle car. General Motors borrowed the name from a 1960s all-aluminum racing engine. The ZL1, due out early in 2012, will look different from the existing Camaro with a new front grille and carbon fiber center section of the hood. The car will have a "track-ready" suspension, high-performance six-speed manual transmission and huge brakes. Performance numbers haven't been released, but the Cadillac CTS-V, with same engine, goes from zero to 60 mph (100 kph) in a crazy-fast 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 191 mph. No price has been announced.

MALIBU: An all-new midsize car built on European underpinnings comes out early next year as a 2013 model, replacing a car that was good in its day but has been passed up by the competition in the highly popular segment. GM says it will have an all-new, 190 horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with direct fuel injection, which makes it more efficient than older engines. The company promises a wider, more athletic stance and handling that's comparable to more expensive sport sedans. GM also brags that it will have best-in-class aerodynamics for better fuel efficiency. Mileage for the base model hasn't been released yet. The current car gets 22 in the city and 33 on the highway. An eco version of the 2013 Malibu with GM's e-Assist technology, which shuts off the engine when the car stops for traffic lights and uses an electric motor to help it accelerate, is supposed to get 38 mpg on the highway and 26 in the city. It also has 10 air bags. GM has not released the price.

Chrysler
300 SRT8: The flagship brand gets a pavement-eating version of the 300 luxury sedan, powered by a 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 with 470 horsepower. It's supposed to go from zero to 60 in the high 4-second range with a top speed of 175 mph. Chrysler promises great handling, too.

Dodge
TOP-SECRET COMPACT: With the U.S. auto market moving toward compact cars for fuel economy and cost reasons, Dodge has been left at the curb with lackluster Caliber. But the new Chrysler-Fiat company is promising far better things with the debut of a new compact sedan in the second quarter of next year. The name hasn't been released yet, but it's code-named "PF," and it's based on the stylish Alfa Romeo Giulietta. The sporty Italian compact is powered by engines ranging from a 1.4-liter turbo with 120 horsepower to a 235 horsepower turbocharged and direct-injected four-cylinder. Alfa also has some small diesels powering the Giulietta, but it's unlikely they will come to the United States. Dodge has released no information on the car but says it will debut at the Detroit auto show in January.

VIPER: The ultimate roadster makes a comeback in 2012 after a one-year absence. Chrysler says it will look different from the 2010 version and will handle better with improvements to its chassis. Horsepower is likely to increase from the 2010 version, which had a whopping 600 with a special V-12 engine. The company has released little information on the car.

CHARGER SRT8: Gets a 470 horsepower, 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 that features 45 more horsepower and 50 more lb.-ft. of torque than its predecessor. Zero-to-60 time in the high 4-second range.

Fiat
FIAT 500 ABARTH: Named for Italian race-car maker Abarth, which is now part of Fiat, the sportier version of the Fiat 500 is scheduled to go on sale in the United States in the first half of 2012. The 500 Abarth is currently sold in other countries with a 135-horsepower 1.4-liter engine, but the U.S. version could get Fiat's turbocharged 170-horsepower 1.4-liter. Fiat plans to announce more in November at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

FIAT 500 CABRIO: The 2012 Fiat Cabrio convertible went on sale earlier this summer. Its fully automatic cloth top can retract at speeds of up to 60 mph. Drivers can choose from three cloth top colors — red, black or tan — to go with the 14 exterior and 12 interior color combinations. The 101-horsepower, four-cylinder engine can get up to 38 mpg when paired with a five-speed manual transmission. The Cabrio starts at $19,500.

ELECTRIC FIAT 500: Fiat plans to sell an all-electric version of the Fiat 500 in the second half of 2012. No other details have been released.

Ferrari
FF: New for 2012, the FF is Ferrari's first four-wheel-drive car. The company says the FF also is its most powerful four-seater ever. It has a new 6.3-liter V-12 with 651 horsepower and can go from zero to 62 mph in 3.7 seconds. The price hasn't been released, but Ferrari says it will be around $300,000.

Ford
ELECTRIC FOCUS: Ford's first all-electric car, the 2012 Ford Focus Electric, goes on sale at the end of 2011. Ford hasn't said how many miles the car will be able to go on a charge, but says it will be competitive with other electric cars like the Nissan Leaf, which has a range of around 73 miles. Ford is also releasing the sporty Focus ST in the latter half of 2012, a specially tuned version with a turbocharged four-cylinder with 247 horsepower. Pricing on those models hasn't been announced.

TAURUS: Ford is releasing a redesigned Taurus sedan in the spring as a 2013 model. It's lower and wider, for a more aggressive look, and will have the MyFord Touch voice-activated entertainment and navigation system. It will also get Ford's 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, which will give it 237 horsepower but keep fuel economy at 31 mpg.

VERTREK: Ford is expected to replace the boxy, aging Escape small SUV with a new small SUV in early 2012. The sleek Vertrek concept, introduced at the Detroit auto show in January, gave a strong hint at what it will look like, but Ford hasn't released other details.

Honda
CIVIC: Redesigned for 2012 but doesn't look dramatically different from the old model. New Civic has a re-engineered 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 140 horsepower and boosts fuel economy. There's also a more powerful 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 201 horsepower in the Si performance version, and a new powertrain in the Civic Hybrid that boosts combined city-highway fuel economy to 44 mpg with a new lithium-ion battery. The gas-powered "HF" — or "high fuel economy" — model gets 41 mpg on the highway. Prices start at $16,355 for a stripped-down DX model, including shipping.

CR-V: The fourth generation of the small crossover SUV vehicle gets a redesign with a sleeker exterior and improvements that make it more fuel efficient. Details haven't been released, but the new CR-V goes on sale in late 2011.

PILOT: The venerable people hauler gets an update with sleeker styling and better gas mileage due to aerodynamic refinements. Goes on sale in September. Further information wasn't released. Prices start at $29,280 including shipping.

Hyundai
ACCENT: The revamped fourth-generation subcompact went on sale in the summer. It has Hyundai's 1.6-liter direct injection engine that puts out 138 horsepower and gets 40 mpg on the highway. Fuel economy is 18 percent better than its predecessor with a manual transmission and 11 percent better with an automatic. It has electronic stability control and six airbags standard. Hyundai claims it has the roominess of a compact even though it's smaller. Base price is $13,205 with a manual transmission, including freight.

GENESIS: Hyundai's full-size luxury entry gets an update with an aggressive grille and front fascia. The 3.8-liter V-6 gets direct fuel injection to boost horsepower by 15 percent to 333, as well as improved gas mileage. Hyundai adds an R-Spec model with a new 5-liter direct injection engine that makes 429 horsepower. All engines get a Hyundai-developed eight-speed transmission. Prices start at $35,050 including shipping.

VELOSTER: The sporty three-door compact coupe has a 138-horsepower, 1.6-liter direct-injection four-cylinder engine and a six-speed manual transmission or dual-clutch automatic and will get 40 mpg on the highway. It has a hatch, one large door on the driver side and two shorter doors on the passenger side. The Veloster will start at $18,060, including shipping, when it goes on sale this fall.

Infinity
JX: Nissan plans to introduce the JX, a seven-passenger crossover, in the spring of 2012 as a 2013 model. The company says the all-new vehicle will have Infiniti's elegant design, flexible seating with easy access to the third row and advanced technology. The company plans to release more details at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

Jaguar
XKR-S: The 2012 XKR-S coupe is one of the fastest Jaguars ever built, capable of accelerating to 100 miles per hour in 8.7 seconds. It has a top speed of 186 mph. The XKR-S's five-liter V-8 engine, now in its third generation, has been supercharged to give it 550 horsepower, but also has more precise direct injection to save fuel. The XKR-S gets 22 miles per gallon on the highway. It starts at $132,875, including shipping.

Jeep
GRAND CHEROKEE SRT8: The top-selling Grand Cherokee SUV gets a souped-up version from Chrysler's Street and Racing Technology (SRT) team. The high-performance SUV will go from zero to 60 in 4.8 seconds with a top speed of 160 mph, which is comparable or faster than many performance sedans. It's the most powerful Jeep ever with an all-new 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 with 470 horsepower. The company also says it's the best-handling Jeep ever with a new adaptive damping suspension.

Kia
RIO/RIO5: Kia has redesigned its compact sedan and hatchback, giving them more power — 138 horsepower — while still improving highway fuel economy to 40 mpg. The Rio also has some luxurious options, including a hands-free entertainment system and back-up camera. Pricing hasn't been released for the Rio, which is expected to go on sale in October, but its predecessor started at $12,990.

CADENZA: Kia's replacement for the flagship Amanti sedan is expected in the summer. Kia hasn't released details, but dealers say it will have a more luxurious interior and a 165-horsepower four-cylinder engine or 290-horsepower V6.

Lamborghini
AVENTADOR LP 700-4: The new model has a V-12 engine that puts out 700 horsepower. The four-wheel-drive car can go from zero to 62 mph in 2.9 seconds. It costs $389,995 including shipping.

Land Rover
RANGE ROVER EVOQUE: Land Rover is targeting new entry-level customers with the Evoque, a small crossover that comes in either three- or five-door configurations. Land Rover bills the Evoque as its lightest, most fuel-efficient vehicle ever, with highway fuel economy of 28 mpg. But the crossover still has power, thanks to its new 240-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and off-road capability. It also has lots of luxury features, including a heated windshield and steering wheel. The Evoque starts at $45,995, including shipping.

Lexus
GS 350/450h: Lexus plans to release both the gas version and the hybrid version of the midsize GS sedan early next year as 2013 models. The GS has a new look, with an aggressive, hourglass-shaped grille and a clean design meant to maximize aerodynamic efficiency. Inside, Lexus put more emphasis on the driver by lowering the steering wheel, improving the field of vision and making the seats more supportive. There are nice perks, too, like 18-way power seats. The 350 has a 3.5-liter V-6 engine with 306 horsepower. The 450h mates that engine to an electric motor, boosting horsepower to 338. Fuel economy numbers haven't been released, but Lexus says the 450h will have 30-percent better fuel economy than the outgoing GS hybrid, which gets 25 mpg on the highway.

Maserati
GRANTURISMO CONVERTIBLE: Gets a sport version for 2012 with a 4.7-liter, 444-horsepower V-8 engine, improved handling, new seats and a sportier sound.

GRANTURISMO MC COUPE: Maserati adds a coupe at the top of the MC line and says it's the fastest and best-handling of its cars. The coupe gets the same 444 horsepower V-8 as the GranTurismo convertible plus aerodynamic body work. It has a top speed of 185 mph.

Mazda
CX-5: The CX-5 small crossover, due out in February as a 2013 model, has a new 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that is expected to significantly improve fuel economy. Mazda plans to release more details this fall at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

MAZDA5: The 2012 Mazda5, a small, six-seat minivan that went on sale last winter, has distinctive, swooping lines carved into its sliding doors and more interior room. There's a new, 157-horsepower four-cylinder engine that gets up to 28 miles per gallon. For a sportier ride — or to help you forget you're in a minivan — there's a six-speed manual transmission and an optional spoiler. The Mazda5 starts at $19,990, including freight.

Mercedes-Benz
C-CLASS: A two-door coupe is new for 2012, and the four-door sedan has been refreshed with new bumpers, front grille, headlights and an aluminum hood. The interior also was redesigned. There's a choice of two new direct fuel injection engines with a seven-speed automatic transmission. Depending on trim line, available engines include a turbocharged 1.8-liter, 201-horsepower four-cylinder and a 3.5-liter V-6 with 302 horsepower. The high-performance C63 AMG has a 6.3-liter V-8 with 451 horsepower.

CLS-CLASS: The four-door coupe is all new for 2012 with all models powered by new biturbo direct-injection V8 engines. The CLS550 is powered by a 4.6-liter V-8 with 402 horsepower, yet it gets 17 mpg in the city and 26 on the freeway. The CLS63 AMG has a stop-start system that stops the engine at traffic lights and restarts it almost instantly when the light turns green. The high-performance version has a 5.5-liter V-8 with 518 horsepower. An optional performance package raises output to 550 horsepower.

M-CLASS: The all-new third generation of the SUV hit showrooms earlier in the summer. It sits about an inch lower than its predecessor and is slightly longer and wider. The ML350 BlueTec diesel version has more power than in the past with 240 horsepower, while the ML350 4Matic gets a new direct-injection V-6 engine with 302 horsepower. It starts at $49,874, including shipping.

SLK-CLASS: The third-generation small SLK Roadster is new for 2012. The SLK250 is powered by a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine that has 201 horsepower, while the SLK350 is powered by a 3.5-liter, 302 horsepower V-6. The high-performance SLK55 AMG is the most powerful SLK ever, with a 5.5-liter V-8 with 415 horsepower, and it can go from zero to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. It also features cylinder shutoff to get better gas mileage. The SLK starts at $55,675, including shipping.

Mini
COUPE: The mini-car from BMW that made tiny trendy comes out with its first two-seater, the Mini Coupe. Powerplants range from a 121-horsepower four-cylinder in the Coupe and 181 horsepower in the Cooper S Coupe to the MINI John Cooper Works Coupe, with 208 horsepower. The car has a hard-shell, sloping roof and rear spoilers, as well as a hatch and 9.8 cubic feet of luggage space.

Mitsubishi
LANCER: SE model gets all-wheel drive with its 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a snowbelt state focus. Heated seats and 16-inch alloy wheels are added. Pricing hasn't been released, but the 2011 model started at $15,295.

Nissan
GT-R: Nissan has modified the 3.8-liter, V6 engine on the 2012 GT-R sports car so it now gets 530 horsepower, compared to 485 on the previous model. To reduce air resistance, Nissan has enlarged the grille openings and added lighter weight, aluminum-forged 20-inch wheels. The GT-R will also be available in a new "Black Edition," with custom black-and-red leather seats and metallic black wheels. The car also gets slightly better fuel economy — 23 miles per gallon on the highway, compared to 21 on the 2011 model. The 2012 GT-R is available now at 650 select Nissan dealers, starting at $89,950.

VERSA: Nissan has redesigned the Versa small car from the ground up. It has a new, lighter underbody for more nimble driving, a new, more fuel-efficient engine and transmission, and a more aerodynamic design. Nissan says the Versa will get 30 miles per gallon in the city and 38 on the highway, an improvement of around 4 mpg over its predecessor. The 2012 Versa went on sale in August and starts at $10,990, excluding shipping, for a manual transmission and hand-cranked windows. If you want power windows and an automatic, the Versa SV starts at $14,560.

Porsche
911 CARRERA: The seventh generation of the 911 Carrera, due out in February, is 4 inches longer but 100 pounds lighter thanks to its new aluminum and steel frame. Porsche said the 350-horsepower, 3.4-liter boxer engine will also save more fuel than previous models, thanks to an automatic stop/start function that reduces engine usage, and other improvements. The sportier 911 Carrera S will have a 400-horsepower, 3.8-liter boxer engine, an improvement of 15 horses over the previous model. The 2012 Carrera will be officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September. The 911 Carrera Coupe will start at $82,100, excluding shipping, while the Carrera S will be $14,000 more.

Rolls-Royce
GHOST: Gets an extended wheelbase model with an additional 6.7 inches of interior space over the standard Ghost. It costs $290,000.

Saab
9-5: Gets a wagon version and choice of two engines, a 2-liter four or a 3-liter V-6. So far, it's unclear how Saab's bankruptcy protection filing in early September will affect sales, but Saab says the filing doesn't affect Saab North America.

Scion
SCION iQ: Scion's iQ minicar, which has been sold as a Toyota in Europe and Asia since 2008, goes on sale on the West Coast in October and will come to the rest of the country over the following six months. It's 120 inches long, or about 4 inches longer than the Fiat 500, and its 94-horsepower engine gets 37 miles per gallon. It starts at $15,995, including shipping.

FR-S: Scion debuted a concept version of this rear-wheel-drive sports car at the New York Auto Show in April, and said something very similar will be out next year. Scion is using a Subaru 2.0-liter boxer engine, because of its flat size and shape, but few other details are known. Scion says the car will cost less than $30,000.

Subaru
IMPREZA: The fourth-generation of the compact debuts with new four- and five-door designs, more agile handling and better fuel economy. A new 2-liter engine gets the all-wheel-drive car to 36 mpg on the highway and 27 in the city, 30 percent better than its predecessor. Trunk and cargo room are increased. The Impreza starts at $18,245, including shipping.

Tesla
MODEL S: Electric car maker Tesla hopes to extend its customer base beyond its Roaster sports car with the Model S, a sedan due out in the middle of 2012. The sedans will cost around $50,000 — half the price of a Roadster — and will allow drivers to get different battery packs based on their needs, from one that gets 160 miles per charge to one that gets 300. Tesla said it had 5,300 reservations for the sedan at the start of this summer; it plans to produce 5,000 Model S sedans in 2012.

Toyota
CAMRY: Toyota unveiled the new Camry sedan in August. It's quieter and roomier than the 2011 model and gets significantly better fuel economy. The four-cylinder engine gets 35 miles per gallon on the highway, while the hybrid version gets 41 mpg. Toyota will also offer Entune, a new entertainment system that lets drivers connect to mobile phone applications like Pandora through voice commands or a touch screen. The Camry goes on sale in October and starts at just over $22,000, including shipping.

PRIUS V: The five-passenger, wagon version of the wildly popular Prius hybrid goes on sale in October, a launch that was delayed by several months because of the earthquake in Japan. The "V" stands for "versatility," with 6 more inches of cargo space. It's also slightly taller and wider. The Prius V is expected to get 42 miles per gallon. Toyota hasn't announced the price.

YARIS: The three-door and five-door hatchback versions of the Yaris small car are getting a makeover. They've got a sportier design and are nearly 3 inches longer than the 2011 models, improving cargo space. The Yaris starts at $14,875, including shipping.

Volkswagen
JETTA: Gets a GLI high-performance version for 2012 with a starting price of $23,495, excluding shipping. The GLI is powered by a 2-liter turborcharged gas engine with 200 horsepower. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, with a dual clutch automatic optional.

GOLF: Golf R version arrives early next year with a high-output version of the 2-liter turbocharged four, with more than 250 horsepower.

NEW BEETLE: The company's iconic Beetle gets a squat, sloped design for 2012 with 2.5-liter five-cylinder and 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engines. The 170-horsepower in-line five-cylinder engine gets 22 mpg in the city and 29 on the highway. Prices start at $18,995 excluding shipping.

PASSAT: The midsize Passat is all-new with a significantly lower price than its predecessor at $19,995, excluding shipping. The base model has a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine. It also comes with a 2-liter TDI diesel, a turbocharged 140-horsepower 2-liter four-cylinder engine and a 3.6-liter V-6 with 280 horsepower.

TIGUAN: The small crossover SUV gets an update with a sleeker look, and a redesigned grille and redesigned taillights. The transmission was also tweaked to improve fuel economy.

Volvo
S60: The 2012 S60 midsize sedan has a sportier design and improved fuel economy, now up to 30 mpg. The base engine is a five-cylinder with 250 horsepower. Volvo is also offering the world's first pedestrian detection technology. The S60 starts at $32,025, including shipping.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Automakers are going back to the future in '12

AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota Everything old is new again.

Revamped versions of some of America's best-known cars — the Toyota Camry, the Chevrolet Malibu, the Ford Taurus, the Volkswagen Beetle, the BMW 3 Series — are all going on sale in the 2012 model year. The industry hopes that as buyers trickle back after the economic slump, they'll be delighted by new styling, significantly better fuel economy and, in the Camry's case, lower prices.

While gas prices have moderated since the spring, automakers say efficiency remains one of buyers' top considerations, and they'll have plenty of new gas sippers to choose from.

The new Chevrolet Sonic subcompact and redesigned Hyundai Accent, Nissan Versa and Kia Rio are all expected to get close to 40 miles per gallon. Toyota is releasing the Prius V, a wagon version of its wildly popular Prius hybrid, that's expected to get 43 mpg. There will be several new small cars on the market, including the Mini Coupe, Scion iQ, an as-yet-unnamed Dodge and the sporty Hyundai Veloster.

And for those who don't want to use any gas at all, electric carmaker Tesla will be bringing out an all-electric family sedan called the Model S, while Ford will release an all-electric Focus.

But driving enthusiasts, take heart. There will be plenty of brawn on the market, too. The 2012 Jaguar XKR-S coupe is one of the fastest Jaguars ever built, capable of accelerating to 100 miles per hour in 8.7 seconds. Jeep is releasing the Grand Cherokee SRT8, a performance version with a 470-horsepower Hemi V-8. The fifth generation of the BMW M5 sports sedan boasts a 560-horsepower V-8. Even the little Fiat 500 will be getting an Abarth sport edition.

Here is a rundown of new cars that will go on the market between now and next fall:

Acura
TL: Refreshed 2012 version went on sale last spring. Gets new front and rear styling, noise and vibration improvements and a six-speed automatic transmission. City fuel economy goes to 20 miles per gallon and highway to 29, an increase of 3 mpg over the 2011 model. Base price is $36,490 including shipping.

Audi
A6: The big luxury sedan is all new for 2012 with styling that matches the rest of the German automaker's car lineup. The company used aluminum body panels and a steel frame to cut weight by 78 pounds from its predecessor. The new version also has an aluminum suspension. It will be powered by two engines, a 3-liter supercharged V-6 with 310 horsepower and a 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 211 horsepower. Prices start at $42,595 including shipping.

A7: The five-door fastback coupe also is all new for 2012, powered by a 310-horsepower V-6 engine and standard all-wheel-drive. It also has aluminum and steel construction and comes standard with 18-inch wheels, all-season tires and a leather interior. Prices start at $60,125 including shipping.

A8: Gets a 6.3-liter 12-cylinder engine with 500 horsepower.

TT RS: Gets the RS nameplate in the United States with a turbocharged 360-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that goes from zero to 60 in 4.1 seconds. The RS starts at $57,725 including shipping.

Bentley
Continental GT: Bentley has fiddled with the V-12 engine on the Continental GT coupe to squeeze out 15 more horsepower, bringing it to a total of 567. What else would you expect from a six-liter engine that gets 19 mpg on the highway? The GT can go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 4.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 198 mph. Inside, there's a new 8-inch touchscreen in the dash with navigation and other controls, and luxury touches like hand-sewn, fluted leather seats. The GT starts at $189,900.

BMW
M5: The fifth generation of this premium sports sedan is set to go on sale in the spring. The new M5 will have the most powerful engine ever fitted in a series-produced BMW mated to a new, seven-speed double clutch transmission. The V-8 is expected to get up to 560 horsepower, 10 percent more than its predecessor, and 500 pound feet of torque, a 30 percent increase. But BMW says fuel economy will improve 30 percent. A driver's footrest and standard iDrive 10-inch dashboard control screen are among the standard perks. Pricing and exact fuel economy will be released closer to the M5's arrival in dealerships.

3 SERIES: An all-new 3 Series midsize sedan is scheduled to be released this spring as a 2013 model. Few details are available, although spy photos have been popping up on the Internet. BMW is expected to offer a turbocharged, direct-injected four-cylinder engine on the entry-level 328i, instead of a V-6. It's expected to get more horsepower and torque than the current V-6, but will get far better fuel economy. Pricing hasn't been announced, but the current 3 Series starts at $34,600.

Buick
VERANO: The luxury version of the Chevrolet Cruze aimed at the Lexus IS 250 and Acura TSX goes on sale in the fall of 2012. It's powered by the same 2.4-liter, 177 horsepower, four-cylinder engine as the Regal, with a zero-to-60 time of eight seconds and an estimated 31 mpg on the highway. A turbocharged 2-liter engine will come later. General Motors promises that the car will be among the quietest in its class. It's starting price is $23,470 including shipping.

Cadillac
General Motors' luxury brand is getting a little stale, but help is coming in the 2012 model year in two key market segments where it does not now compete.

ATS: The ATS, a rear-drive small car aimed squarely at the BMW 3 Series, will debut in the summer. GM hasn't released many details, but teaser pictures look like a shrunken Cadillac CTS sports sedan with a high rear and sloping hood. We're not sure what will power the thing, but there has been speculation about a turbocharged 2.0-liter four cylinder and a 3.8-liter V6. GM says the car has to perform, handle and ride better than the BMW, and its engineers are working to make sure that comes true. No price was released, but it's expected to come in under the lowest-price 3 Series sedan, the 328i, which starts at $34,600.

XTS: Cadillac hasn't had much to compete with in the big front-wheel-drive part of the market, but that also will change in the spring with the debut of the XTS. The car is likely to have a soft ride and probably won't be a road burner. GM executives have said it's aimed at the traditional Cadillac buyer, and that means senior citizens, few of whom value cornering and zero-to-60 times. But it's likely to get good gas mileage for its size. No details were released about engines, transmissions or price of the car, to be built in Ontario.

Chevrolet
SONIC: The General gets serious about selling mini-cars in the U.S. for the first time with the Chevrolet Sonic, an Americanized version of a new tiny global vehicle. The Sonic comes as a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback, and it has the same engines as its bigger brother, the Chevrolet Cruze. That means the Sonic will be faster from zero to 60 and should get better gas mileage than the Cruze, upwards of 40 mpg on the highway. The base engine in the Sonic is GM's old 1.8-liter, 135 horsepower four banger. Drivers also can elect the Cruze's 1.4-liter turbocharged engine with 138 horsepower. Five-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions are available. GM engineers promise that the car will handle better than its main competitors, the Ford Fiesta and Hyundai Accent. With a base price of $14,495 including shipping, it's pricier than some competitors, but GM says it has more standard equipment, including 10 air bags, air conditioning and alloy wheels. It's due in showrooms this fall.

CAMARO: The all-powerful Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, equipped with massive 6.2-liter, 550-horsepower supercharged V-8 engine, is a new version of the venerable muscle car. General Motors borrowed the name from a 1960s all-aluminum racing engine. The ZL1, due out early in 2012, will look different from the existing Camaro with a new front grille and carbon fiber center section of the hood. The car will have a "track-ready" suspension, high-performance six-speed manual transmission and huge brakes. Performance numbers haven't been released, but the Cadillac CTS-V, with same engine, goes from zero to 60 mph (100 kph) in a crazy-fast 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 191 mph. No price has been announced.

MALIBU: An all-new midsize car built on European underpinnings comes out early next year as a 2013 model, replacing a car that was good in its day but has been passed up by the competition in the highly popular segment. GM says it will have an all-new, 190 horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with direct fuel injection, which makes it more efficient than older engines. The company promises a wider, more athletic stance and handling that's comparable to more expensive sport sedans. GM also brags that it will have best-in-class aerodynamics for better fuel efficiency. Mileage for the base model hasn't been released yet. The current car gets 22 in the city and 33 on the highway. An eco version of the 2013 Malibu with GM's e-Assist technology, which shuts off the engine when the car stops for traffic lights and uses an electric motor to help it accelerate, is supposed to get 38 mpg on the highway and 26 in the city. It also has 10 air bags. GM has not released the price.

Chrysler
300 SRT8: The flagship brand gets a pavement-eating version of the 300 luxury sedan, powered by a 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 with 470 horsepower. It's supposed to go from zero to 60 in the high 4-second range with a top speed of 175 mph. Chrysler promises great handling, too.

Dodge
TOP-SECRET COMPACT: With the U.S. auto market moving toward compact cars for fuel economy and cost reasons, Dodge has been left at the curb with lackluster Caliber. But the new Chrysler-Fiat company is promising far better things with the debut of a new compact sedan in the second quarter of next year. The name hasn't been released yet, but it's code-named "PF," and it's based on the stylish Alfa Romeo Giulietta. The sporty Italian compact is powered by engines ranging from a 1.4-liter turbo with 120 horsepower to a 235 horsepower turbocharged and direct-injected four-cylinder. Alfa also has some small diesels powering the Giulietta, but it's unlikely they will come to the United States. Dodge has released no information on the car but says it will debut at the Detroit auto show in January.

VIPER: The ultimate roadster makes a comeback in 2012 after a one-year absence. Chrysler says it will look different from the 2010 version and will handle better with improvements to its chassis. Horsepower is likely to increase from the 2010 version, which had a whopping 600 with a special V-12 engine. The company has released little information on the car.

CHARGER SRT8: Gets a 470 horsepower, 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 that features 45 more horsepower and 50 more lb.-ft. of torque than its predecessor. Zero-to-60 time in the high 4-second range.

Fiat
FIAT 500 ABARTH: Named for Italian race-car maker Abarth, which is now part of Fiat, the sportier version of the Fiat 500 is scheduled to go on sale in the United States in the first half of 2012. The 500 Abarth is currently sold in other countries with a 135-horsepower 1.4-liter engine, but the U.S. version could get Fiat's turbocharged 170-horsepower 1.4-liter. Fiat plans to announce more in November at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

FIAT 500 CABRIO: The 2012 Fiat Cabrio convertible went on sale earlier this summer. Its fully automatic cloth top can retract at speeds of up to 60 mph. Drivers can choose from three cloth top colors — red, black or tan — to go with the 14 exterior and 12 interior color combinations. The 101-horsepower, four-cylinder engine can get up to 38 mpg when paired with a five-speed manual transmission. The Cabrio starts at $19,500.

ELECTRIC FIAT 500: Fiat plans to sell an all-electric version of the Fiat 500 in the second half of 2012. No other details have been released.

Ferrari
FF: New for 2012, the FF is Ferrari's first four-wheel-drive car. The company says the FF also is its most powerful four-seater ever. It has a new 6.3-liter V-12 with 651 horsepower and can go from zero to 62 mph in 3.7 seconds. The price hasn't been released, but Ferrari says it will be around $300,000.

Ford
ELECTRIC FOCUS: Ford's first all-electric car, the 2012 Ford Focus Electric, goes on sale at the end of 2011. Ford hasn't said how many miles the car will be able to go on a charge, but says it will be competitive with other electric cars like the Nissan Leaf, which has a range of around 73 miles. Ford is also releasing the sporty Focus ST in the latter half of 2012, a specially tuned version with a turbocharged four-cylinder with 247 horsepower. Pricing on those models hasn't been announced.

TAURUS: Ford is releasing a redesigned Taurus sedan in the spring as a 2013 model. It's lower and wider, for a more aggressive look, and will have the MyFord Touch voice-activated entertainment and navigation system. It will also get Ford's 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, which will give it 237 horsepower but keep fuel economy at 31 mpg.

VERTREK: Ford is expected to replace the boxy, aging Escape small SUV with a new small SUV in early 2012. The sleek Vertrek concept, introduced at the Detroit auto show in January, gave a strong hint at what it will look like, but Ford hasn't released other details.

Honda
CIVIC: Redesigned for 2012 but doesn't look dramatically different from the old model. New Civic has a re-engineered 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 140 horsepower and boosts fuel economy. There's also a more powerful 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 201 horsepower in the Si performance version, and a new powertrain in the Civic Hybrid that boosts combined city-highway fuel economy to 44 mpg with a new lithium-ion battery. The gas-powered "HF" — or "high fuel economy" — model gets 41 mpg on the highway. Prices start at $16,355 for a stripped-down DX model, including shipping.

CR-V: The fourth generation of the small crossover SUV vehicle gets a redesign with a sleeker exterior and improvements that make it more fuel efficient. Details haven't been released, but the new CR-V goes on sale in late 2011.

PILOT: The venerable people hauler gets an update with sleeker styling and better gas mileage due to aerodynamic refinements. Goes on sale in September. Further information wasn't released. Prices start at $29,280 including shipping.

Hyundai
ACCENT: The revamped fourth-generation subcompact went on sale in the summer. It has Hyundai's 1.6-liter direct injection engine that puts out 138 horsepower and gets 40 mpg on the highway. Fuel economy is 18 percent better than its predecessor with a manual transmission and 11 percent better with an automatic. It has electronic stability control and six airbags standard. Hyundai claims it has the roominess of a compact even though it's smaller. Base price is $13,205 with a manual transmission, including freight.

GENESIS: Hyundai's full-size luxury entry gets an update with an aggressive grille and front fascia. The 3.8-liter V-6 gets direct fuel injection to boost horsepower by 15 percent to 333, as well as improved gas mileage. Hyundai adds an R-Spec model with a new 5-liter direct injection engine that makes 429 horsepower. All engines get a Hyundai-developed eight-speed transmission. Prices start at $35,050 including shipping.

VELOSTER: The sporty three-door compact coupe has a 138-horsepower, 1.6-liter direct-injection four-cylinder engine and a six-speed manual transmission or dual-clutch automatic and will get 40 mpg on the highway. It has a hatch, one large door on the driver side and two shorter doors on the passenger side. The Veloster will start at $18,060, including shipping, when it goes on sale this fall.

Infinity
JX: Nissan plans to introduce the JX, a seven-passenger crossover, in the spring of 2012 as a 2013 model. The company says the all-new vehicle will have Infiniti's elegant design, flexible seating with easy access to the third row and advanced technology. The company plans to release more details at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

Jaguar
XKR-S: The 2012 XKR-S coupe is one of the fastest Jaguars ever built, capable of accelerating to 100 miles per hour in 8.7 seconds. It has a top speed of 186 mph. The XKR-S's five-liter V-8 engine, now in its third generation, has been supercharged to give it 550 horsepower, but also has more precise direct injection to save fuel. The XKR-S gets 22 miles per gallon on the highway. It starts at $132,875, including shipping.

Jeep
GRAND CHEROKEE SRT8: The top-selling Grand Cherokee SUV gets a souped-up version from Chrysler's Street and Racing Technology (SRT) team. The high-performance SUV will go from zero to 60 in 4.8 seconds with a top speed of 160 mph, which is comparable or faster than many performance sedans. It's the most powerful Jeep ever with an all-new 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 with 470 horsepower. The company also says it's the best-handling Jeep ever with a new adaptive damping suspension.

Kia
RIO/RIO5: Kia has redesigned its compact sedan and hatchback, giving them more power — 138 horsepower — while still improving highway fuel economy to 40 mpg. The Rio also has some luxurious options, including a hands-free entertainment system and back-up camera. Pricing hasn't been released for the Rio, which is expected to go on sale in October, but its predecessor started at $12,990.

CADENZA: Kia's replacement for the flagship Amanti sedan is expected in the summer. Kia hasn't released details, but dealers say it will have a more luxurious interior and a 165-horsepower four-cylinder engine or 290-horsepower V6.

Lamborghini
AVENTADOR LP 700-4: The new model has a V-12 engine that puts out 700 horsepower. The four-wheel-drive car can go from zero to 62 mph in 2.9 seconds. It costs $389,995 including shipping.

Land Rover
RANGE ROVER EVOQUE: Land Rover is targeting new entry-level customers with the Evoque, a small crossover that comes in either three- or five-door configurations. Land Rover bills the Evoque as its lightest, most fuel-efficient vehicle ever, with highway fuel economy of 28 mpg. But the crossover still has power, thanks to its new 240-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and off-road capability. It also has lots of luxury features, including a heated windshield and steering wheel. The Evoque starts at $45,995, including shipping.

Lexus
GS 350/450h: Lexus plans to release both the gas version and the hybrid version of the midsize GS sedan early next year as 2013 models. The GS has a new look, with an aggressive, hourglass-shaped grille and a clean design meant to maximize aerodynamic efficiency. Inside, Lexus put more emphasis on the driver by lowering the steering wheel, improving the field of vision and making the seats more supportive. There are nice perks, too, like 18-way power seats. The 350 has a 3.5-liter V-6 engine with 306 horsepower. The 450h mates that engine to an electric motor, boosting horsepower to 338. Fuel economy numbers haven't been released, but Lexus says the 450h will have 30-percent better fuel economy than the outgoing GS hybrid, which gets 25 mpg on the highway.

Maserati
GRANTURISMO CONVERTIBLE: Gets a sport version for 2012 with a 4.7-liter, 444-horsepower V-8 engine, improved handling, new seats and a sportier sound.

GRANTURISMO MC COUPE: Maserati adds a coupe at the top of the MC line and says it's the fastest and best-handling of its cars. The coupe gets the same 444 horsepower V-8 as the GranTurismo convertible plus aerodynamic body work. It has a top speed of 185 mph.

Mazda
CX-5: The CX-5 small crossover, due out in February as a 2013 model, has a new 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that is expected to significantly improve fuel economy. Mazda plans to release more details this fall at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

MAZDA5: The 2012 Mazda5, a small, six-seat minivan that went on sale last winter, has distinctive, swooping lines carved into its sliding doors and more interior room. There's a new, 157-horsepower four-cylinder engine that gets up to 28 miles per gallon. For a sportier ride — or to help you forget you're in a minivan — there's a six-speed manual transmission and an optional spoiler. The Mazda5 starts at $19,990, including freight.

Mercedes-Benz
C-CLASS: A two-door coupe is new for 2012, and the four-door sedan has been refreshed with new bumpers, front grille, headlights and an aluminum hood. The interior also was redesigned. There's a choice of two new direct fuel injection engines with a seven-speed automatic transmission. Depending on trim line, available engines include a turbocharged 1.8-liter, 201-horsepower four-cylinder and a 3.5-liter V-6 with 302 horsepower. The high-performance C63 AMG has a 6.3-liter V-8 with 451 horsepower.

CLS-CLASS: The four-door coupe is all new for 2012 with all models powered by new biturbo direct-injection V8 engines. The CLS550 is powered by a 4.6-liter V-8 with 402 horsepower, yet it gets 17 mpg in the city and 26 on the freeway. The CLS63 AMG has a stop-start system that stops the engine at traffic lights and restarts it almost instantly when the light turns green. The high-performance version has a 5.5-liter V-8 with 518 horsepower. An optional performance package raises output to 550 horsepower.

M-CLASS: The all-new third generation of the SUV hit showrooms earlier in the summer. It sits about an inch lower than its predecessor and is slightly longer and wider. The ML350 BlueTec diesel version has more power than in the past with 240 horsepower, while the ML350 4Matic gets a new direct-injection V-6 engine with 302 horsepower. It starts at $49,874, including shipping.

SLK-CLASS: The third-generation small SLK Roadster is new for 2012. The SLK250 is powered by a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine that has 201 horsepower, while the SLK350 is powered by a 3.5-liter, 302 horsepower V-6. The high-performance SLK55 AMG is the most powerful SLK ever, with a 5.5-liter V-8 with 415 horsepower, and it can go from zero to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. It also features cylinder shutoff to get better gas mileage. The SLK starts at $55,675, including shipping.

Mini
COUPE: The mini-car from BMW that made tiny trendy comes out with its first two-seater, the Mini Coupe. Powerplants range from a 121-horsepower four-cylinder in the Coupe and 181 horsepower in the Cooper S Coupe to the MINI John Cooper Works Coupe, with 208 horsepower. The car has a hard-shell, sloping roof and rear spoilers, as well as a hatch and 9.8 cubic feet of luggage space.

Mitsubishi
LANCER: SE model gets all-wheel drive with its 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a snowbelt state focus. Heated seats and 16-inch alloy wheels are added. Pricing hasn't been released, but the 2011 model started at $15,295.

Nissan
GT-R: Nissan has modified the 3.8-liter, V6 engine on the 2012 GT-R sports car so it now gets 530 horsepower, compared to 485 on the previous model. To reduce air resistance, Nissan has enlarged the grille openings and added lighter weight, aluminum-forged 20-inch wheels. The GT-R will also be available in a new "Black Edition," with custom black-and-red leather seats and metallic black wheels. The car also gets slightly better fuel economy — 23 miles per gallon on the highway, compared to 21 on the 2011 model. The 2012 GT-R is available now at 650 select Nissan dealers, starting at $89,950.

VERSA: Nissan has redesigned the Versa small car from the ground up. It has a new, lighter underbody for more nimble driving, a new, more fuel-efficient engine and transmission, and a more aerodynamic design. Nissan says the Versa will get 30 miles per gallon in the city and 38 on the highway, an improvement of around 4 mpg over its predecessor. The 2012 Versa went on sale in August and starts at $10,990, excluding shipping, for a manual transmission and hand-cranked windows. If you want power windows and an automatic, the Versa SV starts at $14,560.

Porsche
911 CARRERA: The seventh generation of the 911 Carrera, due out in February, is 4 inches longer but 100 pounds lighter thanks to its new aluminum and steel frame. Porsche said the 350-horsepower, 3.4-liter boxer engine will also save more fuel than previous models, thanks to an automatic stop/start function that reduces engine usage, and other improvements. The sportier 911 Carrera S will have a 400-horsepower, 3.8-liter boxer engine, an improvement of 15 horses over the previous model. The 2012 Carrera will be officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September. The 911 Carrera Coupe will start at $82,100, excluding shipping, while the Carrera S will be $14,000 more.

Rolls-Royce
GHOST: Gets an extended wheelbase model with an additional 6.7 inches of interior space over the standard Ghost. It costs $290,000.

Saab
9-5: Gets a wagon version and choice of two engines, a 2-liter four or a 3-liter V-6. So far, it's unclear how Saab's bankruptcy protection filing in early September will affect sales, but Saab says the filing doesn't affect Saab North America.

Scion
SCION iQ: Scion's iQ minicar, which has been sold as a Toyota in Europe and Asia since 2008, goes on sale on the West Coast in October and will come to the rest of the country over the following six months. It's 120 inches long, or about 4 inches longer than the Fiat 500, and its 94-horsepower engine gets 37 miles per gallon. It starts at $15,995, including shipping.

FR-S: Scion debuted a concept version of this rear-wheel-drive sports car at the New York Auto Show in April, and said something very similar will be out next year. Scion is using a Subaru 2.0-liter boxer engine, because of its flat size and shape, but few other details are known. Scion says the car will cost less than $30,000.

Subaru
IMPREZA: The fourth-generation of the compact debuts with new four- and five-door designs, more agile handling and better fuel economy. A new 2-liter engine gets the all-wheel-drive car to 36 mpg on the highway and 27 in the city, 30 percent better than its predecessor. Trunk and cargo room are increased. The Impreza starts at $18,245, including shipping.

Tesla
MODEL S: Electric car maker Tesla hopes to extend its customer base beyond its Roaster sports car with the Model S, a sedan due out in the middle of 2012. The sedans will cost around $50,000 — half the price of a Roadster — and will allow drivers to get different battery packs based on their needs, from one that gets 160 miles per charge to one that gets 300. Tesla said it had 5,300 reservations for the sedan at the start of this summer; it plans to produce 5,000 Model S sedans in 2012.

Toyota
CAMRY: Toyota unveiled the new Camry sedan in August. It's quieter and roomier than the 2011 model and gets significantly better fuel economy. The four-cylinder engine gets 35 miles per gallon on the highway, while the hybrid version gets 41 mpg. Toyota will also offer Entune, a new entertainment system that lets drivers connect to mobile phone applications like Pandora through voice commands or a touch screen. The Camry goes on sale in October and starts at just over $22,000, including shipping.

PRIUS V: The five-passenger, wagon version of the wildly popular Prius hybrid goes on sale in October, a launch that was delayed by several months because of the earthquake in Japan. The "V" stands for "versatility," with 6 more inches of cargo space. It's also slightly taller and wider. The Prius V is expected to get 42 miles per gallon. Toyota hasn't announced the price.

YARIS: The three-door and five-door hatchback versions of the Yaris small car are getting a makeover. They've got a sportier design and are nearly 3 inches longer than the 2011 models, improving cargo space. The Yaris starts at $14,875, including shipping.

Volkswagen
JETTA: Gets a GLI high-performance version for 2012 with a starting price of $23,495, excluding shipping. The GLI is powered by a 2-liter turborcharged gas engine with 200 horsepower. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, with a dual clutch automatic optional.

GOLF: Golf R version arrives early next year with a high-output version of the 2-liter turbocharged four, with more than 250 horsepower.

NEW BEETLE: The company's iconic Beetle gets a squat, sloped design for 2012 with 2.5-liter five-cylinder and 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engines. The 170-horsepower in-line five-cylinder engine gets 22 mpg in the city and 29 on the highway. Prices start at $18,995 excluding shipping.

PASSAT: The midsize Passat is all-new with a significantly lower price than its predecessor at $19,995, excluding shipping. The base model has a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine. It also comes with a 2-liter TDI diesel, a turbocharged 140-horsepower 2-liter four-cylinder engine and a 3.6-liter V-6 with 280 horsepower.

TIGUAN: The small crossover SUV gets an update with a sleeker look, and a redesigned grille and redesigned taillights. The transmission was also tweaked to improve fuel economy.

Volvo
S60: The 2012 S60 midsize sedan has a sportier design and improved fuel economy, now up to 30 mpg. The base engine is a five-cylinder with 250 horsepower. Volvo is also offering the world's first pedestrian detection technology. The S60 starts at $32,025, including shipping.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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GM relies on economic growth, provides new truck

Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau
Timing is everything, that old adage, and General Motors is betting that the true proves, as it gives the world a first look at his new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-sized pickups, goes.

Time is working against that in the last months of industry giant, Sales Automatic steep for the outgoing models - the oldest of the domestic full size trucks. But with signs of improvement carried further by the latest data economy housing, GM officials are confident that the new Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra models a perfect time, the streets are taken to drive the rebound.

"There is nothing more for our business as a truck, core" said Mark Reuss, President of GM's US operations during a preview of the two trucks at a movie soundstage in a suburb of Detroit. "And we think that we are counting this very well."

Gone are the days, when urban Cowboys of full-size pickups routinely parked in driveways of Greenwich, Connecticut, and Newport Beach, California. Add in the recent recession and sales of vehicles like the Silverado and Sierra saw a large decline in sales in the last half-decade.

Few expect too much revival in the segment so-called "own use" truck, stressed analyst Joe believe Phillippi, AutoTrends consulting, but he and other observers, there is a significant amount of pent-up demand among the traditional contractors, fleets and other work truck customers - and greatly increased sales in the near future. Market share, which new vehicle to less than 12% in the depths of the recession plunging almost 17% of the United States with reached back by one percentage point or two, bounce could forecast main source River.

GM has RAM of course some stiff competition from the likes of the Ford F-series, long America's best-selling truck — and best-selling vehicle overall — as well as a newly updated 2013 1500 by Chrysler. So had GM designers and engineers to respond with more than just a modest "update."

A first glance shows that the Detroit manufacturer has made an important evolutionary update in the appearance of the two trucks. If anything, was the most significant revision of the decision of to further distinguish the Chevrolet Silverado models, long been accused as largely badge-engineered products.

The Chevrolet Silverado is clearly a buyer more hunting trip and while the truck 2014 more refined and processed, it is clearly the offer more mainstream.

GMC Sierra intends to reflect the brand 'professional' theme and aims to a sophisticated buyer - probably the owner of a successful contracting business, but as someone pulls a pickup from the fleet of the company.


Both models have built some distinctive and competitive new functions, as the steps in the rear bumper, which make it easier to reach the loading area. There are new cargo tie-down and taking a cue from the luxury segment, the cargo area, the tailgates are muted now, so are easier to connect and not slamming down when opened.

GMC adds a few refinements such as projector headlights - a segment first - and protective caps on the truck bed.

Both models recognize a sustained trend in the truck market. Are ready to settle interiors for bare bones not more buyers from even the most basic models. 2014 Supply Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra cabins, easily on a par with passenger car-like pricing, plush surfaces and padded seats. There's even a segment first heated cloth seat.

"Evolutionary from the perspective of the design, are the exterior, but the Interior is a huge uptick," said main source river who participated Thursday morning preview.

No matter which segment of the automotive market you look at digital technology has become a strong selling point and two trucks equipped with the latest infotainment systems, ChevyMyLink and GMC IntelliLink. You will receive new natural voice programming, 8-inch touchscreens, and even an optional WiFi capability.

Security is now also an attractive theme in the truck segment, and along with the expected number of airbags and electronic stability control, the two brands are with such advanced features as optional lane-departure warning and forward collision alert. Get it even a new feature, the latest only on two models of Cadillac, "Safety positions" indicates that a potential issue as an obstacle in the way of the future, by shaking the seat in the desired direction.

GM officials unveiled three new engines giving 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, for the new including a 4.3 liter V-6, 5, 3-liter V-8 and a 6.2 liter V-8. All mileage is enhancing technologies like direct injection, variable displacement function allows shut down four cylinders when the demand for electricity are low - and continuously variable valve timing one V-8.

In particular GM withhold plans specifics, such as HP, torque, capacity and cost effectiveness, closer to 2013 to drag the on the official date on the sales of new trucks in the second quarter.

Jeff Hatch, executive Chief Engineer on the program, indicated that the manufacturer with the aim is to reach or surpass the numbers of its two main competitors, Ford and RAM.

Reuss is all but confirmed, that there "more is to come" on the front of the Powertrain, and seems to mean, at least a new diesel engine for the light versions of the new truck. (The manufacturer offers the diesel options for the Silverado and Sierra HD or heavy duty offers.) Reuss in particular questions passed over, now about the possibility of the hybrid versions, as also with something it has in the past.

A total six different versions of the are two nameplates by the time that they fully rolled out. Whether to catch leader Ford F-series is up to longtime GM, is anything but secure, but clearly in the hunt.

Has focus on it at the moment, drain excess stocks of the old Sierra and Silverado models, which has forced it to amp up incentives significantly in this month. Buyers appear to respond - partly on the extra cash, but also as the entire pickup market begins to pick up.

If things work properly, roles, as well as the buyer after a long break might back the new Chevrolet and GMC models in the market.

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Solid demand drives auto sales up in June

Kevin Lamarque / Reuters

Auto sales are a canary in the coal mine for consumer spending, so the sales increases could indicate U.S. consumers remain somewhat upbeat.

By msnbc.com staff and news wires
UPDATED 10:48 ET: The major automakers -- GM, Ford, Chrysler and Toyota -- reported higher domestic sales Tuesday, driven by good demand that shows American consumers remain willing to shell out dollars for a new car.

Chrysler, the No. 4 automaker in terms of new vehicle sales, posted a 20 percent increase in sales year-over-year. It was the Fiat SpA affiliate's best June sales data since 2007 and its 27th consecutive month of topping sales from the previous year.

Ford Motor Co., the No. 2 automaker, said its U.S. sales rose 7 percent in June, helped by a 28 percent increase in sales of the new Escape SUV. Ford said the Escape had its best month ever at 28,500 sold. Ford also saw strong sales for its Explorer midsize SUV, which was up 35 percent.

General Motors Co., the No. 1 automaker, said its U.S. sales rose 16 percent in June on solid demand for small and midsize cars.

Auto sales are a canary in the coal mine for consumer spending, so the sales increases from the world's major automakers could indicate U.S. consumers remain somewhat upbeat, despite a stumbling job market, a debt crisis in Europe and signs that the recovery is slowing.

They are also a sign that Americans continue to replace vehicles that they held onto longer while the economy was in the throes of the Great Recession.

Last week, General Motors Co Chief Executive Dan Akerson said he expected sales for June would be "surprisingly strong" at an annualized sales rate of between 14 million and 14.2 million.

"We are looking for U.S. light vehicle sales for the industry to come in above 14 million," on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, said GM spokesman Jim Cain on Tuesday.

On average, analysts surveyed by Reuters expect a 13.9 million annualized sales rate.

GM said its vehicle sales in June totaled 248,750, up 16 percent from the previous year. All four of GM's U.S. brands - Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC -- showed sales increases for the month. GM said June sales were its highest since September 2008.

Sales of the Chevrolet Volt electric car more than tripled over June 2011, to more than 1,700. GM also saw double-digit sales increases for the Chevrolet Malibu and Buick LaCrosse midsize cars.

Sales of the Chevrolet Cruze small car were down 24 percent. The Cruze surged in popularity last year when Japanese cars were unavailable after the earthquake. But GM made up for some of that volume with strong sales of its new Chevrolet Sonic subcompact.

GM's best-seller, the Silverado pickup, was up 3 percent as housing construction continues to recover. GM said all truck and SUV sales were up 11 percent.

Michelle Krebs, senior analyst with Edmunds.com, on Tuesday said sales were underpinned by pent-up demand, as consumers replaced older vehicles, low interest rates and marketing incentives linked to the Fourth of July holiday.

Ford sales climbed 7 percent to 207,759 vehicles, according to the automaker, with strong sales of sedans, utility vehicles and pickup trucks.

Toyota Motor Corp, the No. 3 automaker in new car sales, showed a 60-percent June sales increase as it has fully recovered from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, which pressured sales for Japan's automakers in 2011. Toyota is the third largest in terms of U.S. sales.

Chrysler sales rose 20 percent to 144,811 vehicles, the company said on Tuesday, slightly topping analyst expectations.

Nissan, which is No. 6, showed a 28-percent sales gain, to 92,237 new vehicles. The Nissan brand had record June sales of 81,801, up 25 percent, while the luxury Infiniti brand showed a 66-percent sales rise to 10,436.

J.D. Power and Associates and LMC Automotive expect a 20-percent gain in U.S. auto sales for June.

Sales in the first four months of this year were boosted by mild weather and the post-earthquake return of Japanese inventories. But since then, the economic picture has gotten cloudier. In June, employers scaled back hiring and manufacturing shrank for the first time in nearly three years. Consumer confidence — which needs to be strong for buyers to invest in new cars — fell for the fourth straight month.

The news isn't all worrisome. If sales come in at 13.8 million for the year, they would still be stronger than the 12.8 million in 2011. And they'd be much stronger than the 30-year low of 10.4 million during the recession in 2009.

Low interest rates and better credit availability could also lure buyers. The average interest rate on a 60-month new-car loan is now 4.5 percent, down from 6.98 percent two years ago, according to Bankrate.com.

"The affordability of cars is probably at an all-time high," Chrysler Group sales chief Reid Bigland said last week.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A look at what to expect from last June's auto sales, with CNBC's Phil LeBeau.

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