Used Car Values

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Incentives aid smooth Suzuki wind down

12:00 PM Thomas Ponco No comments

News Source: Automotive News - sub. req.

Category: Car Buying, Budget, Suzuki, Earnings/Financials

Tags: bankruptcy, incentives, suzuki, suzuki bankruptcy, suzuki incentives

Mercury Custom "Scrape"

9:00 AM Thomas Ponco No comments

No technical specification available

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RWD Lincolns are coming, fate depends partly on MKZ success

9:00 AM Thomas Ponco No comments

Related Gallery 2013 Lincoln MKZ: New York 2012

News Source: TheDetroitBureau.com

Category: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising, Lincoln

Tags: 2013 lincoln mkz, alan mulally, ford, ford mustang, lincoln, mkz, mulally, mustang

Hybrids Sales At All-Time High For Toyota Canada

10:00 PM Thomas Ponco No comments

Published December 4, 2012

By Philippe Crowe

Toyota sales in Canada are on a roll with 14,563 units sold in November and 179,854 units sold year-to-date, an increase of 21.1 percent.

A significant part of this success can be attributed to the company’s hybrid lineup, wearing both the Toyota and Lexus badges.

The company said November was a record month for Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) hybrids, with 1,381 units sold. That represented 9.5 percent of total TCI sales. Year-to-date, 16,330 hybrid vehicles have been sold, eclipsing, with a month to go, the previous annual best of 13,546 set in 2008.

In total, Toyota hybrid sales stand at 1,124 units for November 2012, up 88.9 percent when compared to November 2011, for a new November record.

The Prius family itself represented 750 units sold, up 100 percent when compared to November 2011, for a new November record. The Prius v represented 312 units (up 19.5 percent) and the Prius c 158 units. The c even accounted for 15.3 percent of overall TCI subcompact sales in November.

On the SUV front, the Highlander Hybrid represented 126 units (up 15.6%) for another November record.

The Camry Hybrid represented 248 units (up 123.4 percent).

"We are proud to have set an all-time record for hybrid sales," said Tony Wearing, Senior Managing Director, Toyota Canada Inc. "We are particularly excited that Canadians are attracted to the Prius family, up 100 percent from last year. Prius represents the future of personal mobility, offering a unique hybrid advantage under a proven and iconic brand."

The luxury-side of the company saw total Lexus hybrid sales stand at 257 units (up 3.6 percent) for another November record. Hybrid models accounted for 20 percent of total Lexus sales in November.

The RX 450h stands at 50 units, totaling 680 units year to date (up 9.9 percent).

Galpin announces plans for Ford GT-inspired supercar

5:00 PM Thomas Ponco No comments

Related Gallery Galpin Auto Sports GTR-1

Show full PR text
GAS Announces Supercar

Galpin Auto Sports, last home of the TV hit "Pimp My Ride," announced at the LA Auto Show that it will build its own supercar. Called the GTR-1, the low-slung coupe will be based on the Ford GT, which was built from 2005-2006. Beau Boeckmann, president of GAS, said the car can be built in either aluminum or carbon fiber skin and will offer "more than 1000 horsepower." Further upgrades will set up the suspension and drivetrain to handle the extra power, Boeckmann promised. Interiors will be done to customer specifications.

News Source: Galpin via The LA Times, HOT ROD

Category: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Ford, Design/Style

Tags: ford, ford gt, galpin, galpin auto sports, galpin gtr-1, gt, gtr-1

November 2012: Storm Surge Edition

3:00 PM Thomas Ponco No comments

Category: Car Buying, By the Numbers

Tags: auto sales, by the numbers, featured, november 2012, november 2012 auto sales

Mazda MX-5 Miata Super20

1:00 PM Thomas Ponco No comments

"Despite having a lot more power, the engine is still working way too hard at highway speeds (a sensation amplified by the overly boomy aftermarket exhaust and lack of sound deadening). Time for a taller sixth gear," Paukert notes.

Chris continues, "The ACT street clutch isn't as friendly in terms of modulation as the stock unit, but it's easy enough to get used to, and probably necessary considering the extra power the Cosworth supercharged MZR is kicking out."

As for handling, having this extra grunt in the Super20 only proves how great the NC Miata's chassis is. The Super20 had no issues putting power to the ground with poise, still being immensely forgiving all the while. "It's enough to make one wish for an intermediate stability control setting with a broader degree of play," Paukert notes.

This thing is a total attention-grabber, and not just because of the unique yellow-and-black color scheme. It's lower, wider, and looks downright mean because of it. Wherever we took it, the Super20 garnered all sorts of attention from people of all ages (and both sexes).

We love the finger-pull door latches – paying a tribute to the ones used on the original NA Miata. A nice homage.

Interior is your standard Miata fare, albeit with some suede inserts in the seats. That said, we'd love some more supportive chairs here, as the stock seats don't provide nearly enough lateral support, something we really noticed while flinging the supercharged Miata around.

Weight has been saved throughout the car's interior, including the removal of the storage and roll bar compartment behind the front seats. A half-cage has been added, as well as a fixed hardtop. Notice how the fuel door release just sort of hangs outside of the center console.

We won't fault the serious NVH issues of this car too much – it was designed to be a concept first and foremost, after all – but man, this thing is loud, and everything inside the car rattles. The fixed roof is no better for sound deadening than the normal soft top.

All in, the Super20 makes us wish for a proper stripped-out track day special edition. An all-new Miata is still probably at least two years away, so a more hardcore version would certainly be enough to keep enthusiasts entertained until then.