William Maley

BMW Group U.S. Reports April 2013 Sales BMW brand sales up 10.3 percent MINI brand sales up 1 percent Woodcliff Lake, NJ - May 1, 2013… The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported April sales of 29,011 vehicles, an increase of 8.3 percent from the 26,793 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, the BMW Group (BMW and MINI combined) is up 5.3 percent on sales of 107,968 in the first four months of 2013 compared to 102,522 in the same period in 2012. “The solid April results are a good set-up for the months ahead as BMW transitions to model year 2014 with a range of new models coming to market,” said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO, BMW of North America. “Our dealers are reporting a sizeable increase in business and we expect to see even more in May and June.” BMW Brand Sales Sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 10.3 percent in April for a total of 23,225 compared to 21,062 vehicles sold in April, 2012. Year-to-date, the BMW brand is up 6.7 percent on sales of 88,127 compared to 82,611 sold in the first four months of 2012. In April, best performing vehicles included the 5 Series, up 46.8 percent to 5,234 units; the 6 Series, up 48.1 percent to 760 units; and the 7 Series, up 68.8 percent to 871 units. BMW Pre-Owned Vehicles In April, sales of BMW used vehicles (including certified pre-owned and pre-owned) increased 5.1 percent to 14,194 vehicles compared to the 13,511 vehicles sold in April, 2012. January through April, BMW used vehicle sales are up 3.7 percent on volume of 56,869 compared to 54,863 in the same period of 2012. MINI Brand Sales MINI USA reported sales of 5,786 automobiles in April, an increase of 1.0 percent from the 5,731 sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, MINI sales in the U.S. are down 0.4 percent on volume of 19,841 compared to 19,911 in the first four months of 2012. MINI Pre-Owned Vehicles In April, sales of MINI used automobiles (including MINI NEXT certified pre-owned and pre-owned) decreased 4.4 percent to 1,637 automobiles from the 1,713 sold in April, 2012. January through April, MINI used vehicle sales are up 19.1 percent on volume of 6,483 compared to 5,443 in the same period of 2012.

Porsche Reports Best Sales Month in History; Deliveries up 29 percent YTD PCNA delivers 4,032 vehicles in April ATLANTA, May 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), importer and distributor of Porsche sports cars, Cayenne SUVs and the Panamera four-door sports sedan line-up in the United States, today announced April 2013 sales of 4,032 vehicles, marking the highest sales month in PCNA history. This compares to 3,437 vehicles sold in April 2012, an increase of 17 percent. For the year, PCNA has delivered 13,681 vehicles in the U.S., up 29 percent over last year's total (10,596). Sales of the Cayenne SUV remain strong, up 27 percent compared to April 2012 – with the Diesel model accounting for 29 percent of overall Cayenne sales. The Boxster/Cayman model line saw an impressive increase as well, with current year-to-date sales (2,252) up more than 350 percent over the same period last year (486). "This is the first time in history that Porsche has delivered more than 4,000 cars in one month in the United States – which can mainly be attributed to a very attractive and young model line-up," said Detlev von Platen, President and CEO, Porsche Cars North America, Inc. "We are on track to have another very successful year, as long as the current U.S. economic situation continues to improve." In addition to strong new car sales, Porsche dealers sold 824 Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) models in April, a five percent increase over last April. For the year, Porsche has sold 3,195 CPO vehicles.

Mercedes-Benz Sails Into Second Quarter With Record April Sales Of 23,635 MBUSA sees double-digit growth at 101,371 units sold MONTVALE, N.J., May 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported the highest second quarter start in its history with record April sales of 26,157, a 4.4% increase overApril 2012. Mercedes-Benz models alone saw a 5.8% gain in sales volume at 23,635 bringing year-to-date totals for the brand to 92,822. Combined with monthly sales from smart (667) and Sprinter Vans (1,855) MBUSA saw a year-to-date total of 101,371, a 10.2% increase over the previous year, making this April the earliest month ever to break 100,000 units. "We've entered the second quarter of 2013 at an incredible pace," said Steve Cannon , president and CEO of MBUSA. "A record first quarter gave us a great start. With our completely redesigned E-Class now in showrooms, I fully expect to see continued momentum in the months ahead." Mercedes-Benz April sales were driven by the C-, E-, and M-Class model lines. The sporty C-Class – the current gateway to the brand on the car side for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers – took the lead, posting sales of 7,338, up 14.2%. The E-Class, which receives a complete redesign for 2014 now available in dealerships, followed with sales of 4,431. MBUSA's top-selling SUV, the M-Class, rounded out the top three with sales of 3,280. At the high-end, strong performers were the company's flagship S-Class, which saw 16.4% growth, and the SL-Class, which increased 275.2% over April 2012. The Sprinter model line saw sales of 1,855 for the month, while smart recorded sales of 667 vehicles. Sales of the high-performance AMG models were 574 for the month, up 8.5% from the same period last year. Sales of the company's BlueTEC diesel models finished the month of April at 1,171. Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 8,748 vehicles in April, an increase of 37.4% when compared to April 2012 (sales of 6,368 vehicles). On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 33,118 vehicles, an increase of 26.0% over the comparable period (with sales of 26,292 vehicles).

Nissan Reports 23.2% Increase in U.S. April Sales Strong retail demand for core Altima, Pathfinder and Sentra models drive April sales growth Infiniti G Line, JX push luxury sales up 10% NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nissan North America, Inc. today reported April U.S. sales of 87,847 units versus 71,329 units a year earlier, up 23.2 percent. Nissan Division sales rose 24.6 percent for the month at 80,003 units, driven by retail sales gains by top-selling models like Altima, Pathfinder, Sentra and Rogue. Sales of Infiniti vehicles were up 10 percent over the prior year, to 7,844 units. NISSAN HIGHLIGHTS Nissan Division posted 80,003 sales, an increase of 24.6 percent over last April's 64,200 unit total. Sales of Nissan Altima rose 35.4 percent to 21,991, driven by a 42 percent increase in retail deliveries. Nissan Rogue crossover sales set a new April record at 11,904 units, an increase of 39 percent over the prior April. Nissan Pathfinder sales were up 214.7 percent to 6,473, setting a new April record and marking the sixth consecutive month it posted an increase in deliveries of at least 145 percent. Pathfinder sales are up 180.9 percent in 2013. Sales of the all-electric Nissan LEAF jumped 423.5 percent to 1,937, spurred by the move of vehicle assembly to Nissan's vehicle and battery assembly facilities in Smyrna, Tenn., as well as a substantial price repositioning to include a wider range of trim levels and added value. Year-to-date, LEAF sales are up more than 160 percent. The all-new Nissan Sentra posted a 44.9 percent sales increase, at 10,734 deliveries. Comments from Jose Munoz, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing – Nissan Americas: "April was a very good sales month for the Nissan division, not only from an overall volume standpoint where we were up more than 24 percent, but also in retail where our sales rose more than 32 percent." "In the first quarter of 2013, we improved our retail sales by more than 4 percent while reducing deliveries to fleet customers by more than 17 percent. We continued this trend in April with retail up 29 percent and fleet mix down over four percentage points from one year ago, which proves that our new products such as Altima, Sentra and Pathfinder are taking strong hold in the marketplace." "Our strong performance in April was driven largely by double and even triple digit increases on some of our core products, such as Altima up more than 35 percent, Sentra up nearly 45 percent, Rogue up 39 percent and the all-new Pathfinder up over 214 percent." "We expect to have gained market share in April due to our strong retail performance, which we have full intention to continue through the summer months given the building momentum that we are seeing with Altima, Sentra and Pathfinder in particular." "With a strong April building on a record-breaking March, Nissan LEAF sales are now up over 160 percent year-to-date. The wider array of trim levels and lower price driven by the start of U.S. LEAF production at our Smyrna plant are bringing more new customers to our showrooms every day." INFINITI HIGHLIGHTS Infiniti today reported sales of 7,844 units in April, an increase of 10 percent from 7,129 units during April 2012. Deliveries of Infiniti G Sedan totaled 2,696, an increase of 29 percent. Infiniti FX performance crossover was up 12.8 percent. Sales of the Infiniti JX 7-passenger luxury crossover increased 24.1 percent to 2,580 in April. NOTE: To ensure consistency in global sales reporting, Nissan North America calculates monthly variances on a straight-percentage basis, unadjusted for the number of selling days. April 2013 had 25 selling days, while April 2012 had 24 selling days.

Honda April Sales Up on CR-V Monthly Sales Record; All-New RLX Flagship Sedan Bolsters Acura Sales Gain Both Honda and Acura gains driven by record light trucks sales 05/01/2013 - TORRANCE, Calif. American Honda today reported April 2013 U.S. sales of 130,999 units, an increase of 7.4 percent compared with April 2012 (up 3.1 percent based on the Daily Selling Rate, or DSR*). The Honda brand posted April 2013 sales of 117,100 units, an increase of 6.6 percent compared with April 2012. Acura U.S. April sales of 13,899 units increased 14.2 percent compared with April 2012. Honda Award-winning CR-V sets all-time April sales record, up 12.2 percent in to 26,519 units, breaking the record set in April 2012 Hot-selling Accord continues its retail sales strength, topping 33,500 units with year-to-date sales up over 26 percent Sales for ultra-functional and efficient Fit up 33.9 percent for April "The April sales record for the CR-V exemplifies the incredible retail sales success of Honda’s core models," said John Mendel, executive vice president of Sales at American Honda. "The Accord and Civic also continue to resonate, one customer at a time, with overall year-to-date sales well ahead of last year." Acura Sales of the all-new luxury flagship RLX sedan strong with 400 units in its first full month, as dealer inventory builds RDX sets its twelfth-consecutive monthly sales record, up 106.0 percent from last April, and is the top-selling Acura model in April with sales of 4,088 units Acura sets an April truck sales record, with total Acura year-to-date sales up over 13 percent "With a full year of record sales growth, the RDX is a resounding success," said Jeff Conrad, vice president and general manager of Acura Sales. "Continued record-breaking sales of the RDX is laying a solid foundation for the new RLX and MDX Acura models launching this year." *The daily selling rate (DSR) is calculated with 25 days for April 2013 and 24 days for April 2012. Year-to-date, the DSR is calculated with 101 days for 2013 and 101 days for 2012. All other percentages in release are unadjusted; see table for adjusted DSR figures.

Subaru Reports Best-Ever April Sales April 2013 is best April sales month in Subaru history Sales of 32,943 units represent a 25 percent increase over April 2012 CHERRY HILL, N.J., May 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Subaru of America, Inc. today reported 32,943 vehicle sales for April 2013, which represents a 25 percent increase over April 2012 and the best-ever April sales month in company history. Year-to-date sales for Subaru total 125,470– a 17 percent increase over the same period in 2012. These results build on strong sales from 2012 where Subaru achieved five consecutive years of sales increases and exceeded 300,000 annual sales in 2012 – a first in company history. April sales for the all-new 2014 Forester increased 65 percent over April 2012 Forester sales. XV Crosstrek and BRZ sales were also notably strong at 4433 and 812, respectively. "Demand for the all-new 2014 Forester has been especially strong," said Thomas J. Doll , president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. "We expect to see sales for the Forester and XV Crosstrek continue to grow throughout the year." "Our 25 percent increase in sales was primarily driven by the all-new 2014 Forester and strong performance across the rest of the model lines," said Bill Cyphers , senior vice president of sales, Subaru of America, Inc. "We look forward to adding the XV Crosstrek Hybrid – Subaru's first-ever hybrid – to our line-up."

May 1, 2013 , HERNDON, Va. Audi achieves third-best monthly sales in its history in April 2013 Audi sold 13,157 vehicles in April, up 14.2%; YTD sales up 15.5% Only December 2012, March 2013 topped the April 2013 sales totals Top-end A8, A7, A6, Q7 models make up 32% of total April sales Audi today reported April 2013 sales of 13,157 vehicles, a 14.2% increase over the previous April record set last year. April stands as the 28th consecutive month of record sales for the brand. Audi year-to-date sales through the end of April 2013 were 15.5% above the pace set a year earlier when Audi finished with record annual results in the U.S. Sales in April 2013 were only exceeded by the sales of 14,841 vehicles in December 2012 and 13,253 vehicles in March 2013. Sales of Audi premium category vehicles (Audi A8, Audi A7, Audi A6, and Audi Q7) increased 23% YTD, and represent 32% of total Audi sales YTD. Demand for the Audi flagship cars the Audi A8 and S8 sedans, jumped 30% while the Audi Q5 luxury SUV posted a 32% gain for the month. Audi momentum also benefitted strongly from robust demand for the Audi Q7, which generated a 33% sales increase for the month, and a 44% increase above sales in the January-April 2012 period. “Audi shows no sign of slowing down in the U.S. market, and April clearly demonstrated that fact,” said Mark Del Rosso, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Audi of America. “To record the third-best sales totals ever in the traditionally fickle month of April is a remarkable achievement for our brand.” Highlights: Sales mix for Audi S performance variants finished the month at 17% for the S4 sedan; 39% for the S5/ RS 5 Coupe; 27% for the S5/ RS 5 Cabriolet; 10% for the S6; 21% for the S7; 22% for the S8; 52% for the TTS / TT RS coupe and 41% for the TTS Roadster. Audi A5 sales up 27% compared to April 2012; YTD sales grew 13% compared to previous period. Sales of Audi A6 increased 22% compared to April 2012; YTD sales grew 22% compared to previous period. Sales of the Audi A8 increased 30% compared to April 2012; YTD sales grew 36% compared to previous period. Sales of the Audi Q5 increased 32% compared to April 2012; YTD sales grew 36% compared to previous period. Sales of the Audi Q7 increased 33% compared to April 2012; YTD sales grew 44% compared to previous period. Audi sold 468 allroad models in April, bringing YTD sales to 1,758 of the sport wagon. Sales mix for Audi TDI clean diesel models finish the month at 9% for the A3 TDI and 29% for Q7 TDI. A3 sales in April 2013 were down substantially as the brand prepares for the arrival of the all-new A3 sedan in early 2014. For the record-setting month of April 2013, five Audi models recorded year-over-year sales increases of 20% or more, including the Audi A5, Audi A6, Audi A8, Audi Q5 and Audi Q7. Audi Certified pre-owned sales increased 14% to 3,257 vehicles in April; YTD increased 6% to 12,311 vehicles sold.

GM’s U.S. Sales up 11 percent for Best April in Five Years Cadillac and Buick sales continue to surge on new models 2013-05-01 DETROIT – General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) sold 237,646 vehicles in the United States in April, up 11 percent compared with a year ago. Retail sales increased 10 percent, fleet sales were up 16 percent and the fleet mix was 28 percent of total sales. “Car-buying conditions are strong and will continue to release pent-up demand,” said Kurt McNeil, vice president of U.S. sales operations. “We’re very optimistic because GM’s market share is growing, the economy continues to move forward and important car and truck launches are just getting underway.” Chevrolet dealers began receiving their first shipments of the all-new 2014 Impala in mid-April, and the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 crew cabs will begin arriving in dealerships in the summer. Buick is launching redesigns of the Regal and LaCrosse in late summer and Cadillac will launch an all-new CTS luxury sedan in the fall. April Highlights (vs. 2012) All four GM brands posted higher total and retail sales. Crossovers were up 14 percent; trucks, which include pickups, vans and SUVs, were up 17 percent; and car sales were up 6 percent. Large pickups were up 23 percent. Strong sales of the all-new Chevrolet Spark and double-digit sales increases for the Buick Verano , the Chevrolet Sonic and the Chevrolet Cruze drove a 31 percent increase in sales of GM mini, small and compact cars. The new Chevrolet Malibu achieved its best sales and retail segment share since launch. Calendar Year to Date Highlights (vs. 2012) Cadillac was the industry’s fastest-growing brand in the first quarter, and April’s results bring the brand’s year-to-date sales increase to 37 percent. Through April, Buick total sales are up 23 percent. Retail sales are up 19 percent and have increased for 12 consecutive months. Sales to small business customers totaled 57,030 units, which is up 32 percent. Chevrolet had its best-ever year-to-date crossover sales, driven by a 14 percent increase for Equinox and an 18 percent increase for the redesigned Traverse. GM’s large pickup sales are up 21 percent and GM’s estimated retail segment share is up more than 1 percentage point and its total share is up almost a point. GM’s fleet mix is 26 percent.

05.01.2013 VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA REPORTS APRIL SALES - April sales total 33,644 units delivered- • April sales total 33,644 units, representing an 10.3 percent decrease versus the prior year • Chattanooga-built Passat delivered 9,069 units for the month, 30.8 percent TDI® Clean Diesel • Jetta Sedan achieved 11,110 sales in April • Best year-to-date sales of Tiguan with 10,439 units delivered through April and 2,488 for the month • High-mileage, TDI® Clean Diesel models accounted for 21.7 percent of sales in April and 21.5 percent of sales year to date, the best year to date on record. Herndon, VA - Volkswagen of America, Inc. (VWoA) today reported 33,644 units delivered in April, a 10.3 percent decrease over prior year sales. “While it was a challenging month, particularly in the compact and midsize sedan segments, we remain solidly focused on our long term growth strategy,” said Jonathan Browning, president and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. “In spite of segment challenges with robust competition, the Jetta sedan and Passat showed strength in April and so far this year.” Jetta sedan, the volume leader for Volkswagen, delivered 11,110 units. Jetta SportWagen closed the month with 1,968 units. The Chattanooga-built Passat continued to deliver strong results with 9,069 units sold. Over 30 percent of the Passat’s sold were TDI® Clean Diesels. Last week, Volkswagen announced it will begin offering a new, value-oriented Wolfsburg Edition later this spring. Building on the well-equipped S model, the Passat Wolfsburg Edition adds distinctive 16-inch alloy wheels, perforated V-Tex leatherette seating surfaces, a power driver’s seat, heated front seats, satellite radio, and a Media Device-Interface (MDI) with an iPod® cable. The 2013 Passat Wolfsburg Edition is priced at $23,495, and will go on sale in late spring. The Beetle and Beetle Convertible delivered 1,980 and 1,699 units, respectively, for the month. The Beetle R-Line® Coupe is due to arrive in showrooms in early May, with a 210-horsepower turbocharged engine, an increase of 10 horsepower over the current Beetle Turbo with an anticipated fuel economy improvement. The Tiguan saw a significant increase in sales with 2,488 units sold, marking the best month ever for the vehicle. Total sales of the Golf (including Golf R and GTI) were 2,607 units. Volkswagen’s high-mileage, TDI® Clean Diesel models accounted for 21.7 percent of sales in April, and 21.5 percent for the year, the best year-to-date ever.

Ford Motor Company U.S. Sales Up 18 Percent; Ford Fusion, Ford Escape and new Lincoln MKZ Set Sales Records Ford Motor Company April U.S. sales up 18 percent compared to last year – best April sales since 2007, with cars up 21 percent, utilities up 16 percent and trucks up 16 percent Fusion and Escape both establish April sales records, with sales increases of 24 and 52 percent respectively F-Series, America’s best-selling pickup for 36 years, posts a 24 percent increase, with sales of 59,030 – best April sales results since 2006 Lincoln overall sales up 21 percent; MKZ delivers its best monthly sales performance ever – with April sales passing the 4,000 vehicle mark for the first time in MKZ history DEARBORN, Mich., May 1, 2013 – Ford’s April sales climbed 18 percent with gains across the portfolio – with cars up 21 percent, utilities up 16 percent, and trucks up 16 percent. Retail sales were up 27 percent. “We are working harder than ever to keep pace with record demand for our all-new, fuel-efficient Fusion and Escape – with sales growth particularly strong on the coasts,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service. “F-Series pickups also continue to build on their momentum as the housing and construction industries rebound.” Fusion continues its strong sales run with best-ever April sales results of 26,722 vehicles, a 24 percent increase over record year-ago April levels. The strongest retail sales increases for Fusion continue to come from the western and southeastern U.S. – with the sales in the West doubling in April and the Southeast up 70 percent. Escape also had its strongest April sales since its launch 13 years ago, reporting a 52 percent increase with 25,826 vehicles sold. Sales of America’s best-selling pickup, the Ford F-Series increased 24 percent, with 59,030 pickups sold. This represents F-Series best April sales results since 2006. It also is the 21st straight monthly sales increase for F-Series – with sales up 19 percent year to date. In April, Lincoln sales increased 21 percent. The new Lincoln MKZ established an all-time monthly sales record, with 4,012 vehicles sold for the month – breaking the 4,000 vehicle mark for the first time ever.

Chrysler Group LLC Reports April 2013 U.S. Sales Increased 11 Percent; Best April Sales in Six Years Best April sales since 2007 37th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains Seven Chrysler Group vehicles set sales records for month of April Dodge Dart compact car records highest monthly sales since 2012 vehicle launch Dodge Durango sales up 65 percent; best April sales since 2005 Jeep® Grand Cherokee sales up 27 percent; best April sales since 2005 Ram Truck brand sales up 49 percent; largest percentage sales gain of any Chrysler Group brand in April May 1, 2013 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Chrysler Group LLC today reported U.S. sales of 156,698 units, an 11 percent increase compared with sales in April 2012 (141,165 units), and the group’s best April sales since 2007. The Jeep®, Dodge, Ram Truck and FIAT brands each posted year-over-year sales gains in April compared with the same month a year ago. The Ram Truck brand’s 49 percent increase was the largest sales gain of any Chrysler Group brand in April. Chrysler Group extended its streak of year-over-year sales gains to 37-consecutive months in April. “Chrysler Group’s best April sales in six years helped to maintain our sales momentum and drove us to our 37th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains,” said Reid Bigland, Head of U.S. Sales. “Our sales last month were solid across the board with seven Chrysler Group vehicles recording their best April sales ever.” The Dodge Durango’s 65 percent sales increase was the largest sales gain of any Dodge brand vehicle in April and second only to the Ram Cargo Van’s 110 percent sales gain among Chrysler Group vehicles. Jeep brand sales rebounded in April as all Jeep brand models except Jeep Liberty, which is no longer in production, posted sales gains last month. Sales of the flagship Jeep Grand Cherokee were up 27 percent in April compared with the same month a year ago, its best April sales in eight years. Seven Chrysler Group vehicles set sales records in the month of April. The Jeep Compass compact SUV and the Jeep Wrangler each logged their best April sales ever, as did the Dodge Challenger, Dodge Journey, Fiat 500, and Ram Cargo Van. The all-new Dodge Dart compact car had its best sales month since the vehicle was launched in June last year. Chrysler Group finished the month with a 66-days supply of inventory (415,019 units). U.S. industry sales figures for April are projected at an estimated 15.4 million units Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR). April 2013 U.S. Sales Highlights by Brand Ram Truck Brand Ram Truck brand sales were up 49 percent, the largest percentage sales gain of any Chrysler Group brand in April. It was the brand’s best April sales since 2007. Sales of the Ram pickup truck were up 49 percent in April, the pickup truck’s 36th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains. The 49 percent sales gain was the pickup truck’s best April sales in six years. Sales of the Light Duty Ram pickup were up 54 percent, driven by the Quad Cab pickups, while Heavy Duty Ram sales were up 30 percent. The Ram Cargo Van set a sales record for the month of April with its 110 percent sales gain. The Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn earned a spot on Ward’s 10 Best Interiors for 2013 list in April. WardsAuto editors selected the top passenger compartments after spending February and March evaluating 46 vehicles that are all-new or feature significantly-upgraded interiors. WardsAuto said the Ram 1500 is a spectacular, emotive interior that sets a high standard other automakers will be hard-pressed to emulate. Dodge Brand Dodge brand sales were up 18 percent, the brand’s best April sales since 2008 and its 23nd-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains. Sales of the Dodge Durango full-size SUV were up 65 percent, its best April sales in eight years. Production of the new 2014 Dodge Durango, with its standard state-of-the-art, class-exclusive eight-speed automatic transmission, is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of this year. The Durango’s sales gain was the largest percentage increase of any Dodge brand model in the month. The Dodge Journey full-size crossover and the Dodge Challenger each set a sales record for the month of April. Sales of the Challenger increased 17 percent, while Journey sales were up 14 percent. The all-new Dodge Dart continued on its upward sales trend with its month-over-month increase in April, the compact car’s best monthly sales since Dodge dealers began selling the model in June last year. Two Dodge brand models earned awards this week at the Texas Auto Writers Association’s (TAWA) 2013 Auto Roundup at the Texas Motor Speedway. The Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 took home the award for Performance Coupe of Texas, while the Dodge Journey Crew earned the Activity Vehicle of Texas award. After a day of demanding driving at the racetrack in Fort Worth, journalists voted on their favorites and Chrysler Group secured seven of the possible 19 awards – the most of any participating manufacturer at the event. Jeep® Brand Improving Jeep production in April helped Jeep brand sales to rebound with an 2 percent year-over-year sales gain for the month, the brand’s best April sales since 2007. All Jeep models in production recorded sales gains in April compared with the same month a year ago. The Jeep Compass compact SUV and the Jeep Wrangler each set a sales record for the month of April. Sales of the Compass were up 23 percent, while sales of the Jeep Wrangler, winner of Four Wheeler magazine’s prestigious 2013 Four Wheeler of the Year Award, were up 10 percent in April. The Jeep Grand Cherokee’s 27 percent increase was its best sales month so far this year and its best April sales in eight years. The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT earned TAWA’s Performance Utility of Texas award at this week’s Auto Roundup in Texas. FIAT Brand The Fiat 500 set a sales record for the month of April with its 1 percent increase. It was the model’s 14th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains. The Fiat 500 Abarth, with its 22 percent sales gain, had the largest year-over-year percentage increase of any of the 500 models in April. The Fiat 500 Turbo took home the award for Sub-Compact Car of Texas during this week’s TAWA Auto Roundup at the Texas Motor Speedway. This summer, the all-new 2013 Fiat 500e electric vehicle will join the 500 model lineup in the state of California. The 500e will be offered to California residents at launch with a $199 a month/$999 due at signing lease for 36 months, same as the current lease offer on a Fiat 500 Pop powered by a gas engine. Chrysler Brand The Chrysler Town & Country minivan logged a 4 percent sales increase in April, its best April sales in three years. The Town & Country this year won the Polk Automotive Loyalty Award in the “Minivan” category for a record 12th-consecutive time. Chrysler brand sales were down 13 percent compared with the same month a year ago. Two Chrysler brand models earned awards this week at TAWA’s Auto Roundup. The Chrysler Town & Country Limited minivan took home the award for Minivan of Texas, while the Chrysler 300C John Varvatos Luxury Edition earned the Best New Interior award. The Chrysler brand has two special edition models coming to dealerships shortly. Production of the 2013.5 Chrysler 200 S Special Edition began in April. It will begin arriving in dealerships this month. The 2013 Chrysler 300C John Varvatos Limited Edition is expected to arrive in dealerships later this quarter.

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com May 1, 2013 After four months of delays due to extensive quality checks, Lincoln dealers are finally getting MKZs. Jim Farley, Ford's executive vice president of global marketing, sales, service and Lincoln told reporters yesterday dealers are now stocked with MKZs. "Although we're encouraged, we're far from victory," Farley said. Farley also indicated that the brand anticipates selling more than 4,000 MKZs in April. This is coming from indications big gains in important markets like California which saw increase in market share for Lincoln. Source: The Detroit News William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com April 30, 2013 General Motors is hoping to reverse a trend of losing market share by introducing new models over the next few years. Since 2002, GM has seen its market share decline at a steady rate, losing 10.5% in that time. This is due to competitors such as Chrysler and Japanese automakers roaring back in sales. GM believes a onslaught of new products can help them claw back some market share. The Detroit News reports that 70% of GM's product portfolio will be refreshed by the end of this year. That will climb to 89% by 2016. "The oldest car will be the (Chevrolet) Cruze and the (Buick) Verano, very shortly. So this is all guns blazing," said GM North America President Mark Reuss at the New York Auto show last month. The product push seems to be working. According to Autodata Corp, GM's market share was up 0.5 percentage points to 18% in the first quarter. "2013 is off to a very good start for General Motors on both a product and market-share basis. And we're increasingly well-positioned to compete as the economy strengthens and our launch cadence accelerates," said Kurt McNeil, GM's vice president of U.S. sales operations. Analysts believe GM has a good shot of improving their market share, especially in 2014 when products such as the Chevrolet Impala, Cadillac CTS, and pickups. "GM definitely has the opportunity to stabilize if not grow market share, given they have a number of new products," said Rebecca Lindland, principal of Rebel Three Media & Consulting in Greenwich, Conn. "They'll have more product on the ground, less disruption at the plants. That's the year when they can gain substantial share," said Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas. However analysts say GM better pay close attention to competitors. "The landscape has never been more competitive, especially in the mainstream as opposed to the luxury," said Lindland. Source: The Detroit News William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article

I'm highly doubting it.. I've talked to a couple other people who drove the SRX as well and they have the same complaint. RX 450h is on my list of vehicles to get in.

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com April 30, 2013 The last time we reviewed a Cadillac SRX, it came with the choice of two different engines, an interior lifted from the Cadillac CTS, and coming close to being second in sales in the small luxury crossover arena. Fast forward two years and the SRX has undergone a bit of a change; there is now one engine, a revised exterior and interior, and coming very close to the Lexus RX in sales... (RX: 95,381 units. SRX: 57,485 units) A revisit it seemed was in order. That’s what happened a few weeks ago as a 2013 Cadillac SRX AWD Performance Collection was dropped off for a week’s evaluation. The overall design of the 2013 Cadillac SRX hasn’t changed much since its introduction back in 2010. The model wears the ‘Art & Science’ design language very well with a number of sharp angles and creases throughout the shape. The only real changes for 2013 include a new front grille and side vents with new LED lighting. Inside the 2013 SRX, Cadillac revised the interior greatly with a new dashboard layout and instrument cluster from the smaller ATS sedan. Materials are in tip-top shape with a mix of leather, wood trim, and black acrylic for the touch capactive touch buttons. Build quality was excellent on this low mileage tester. I had two disappointments with the SRX’s interior. One was the uncomfortable seats. Getting onto them for the first time, I felt like I was sitting on piece of concrete wrapped in leather. Not what I would call luxurious. The other problem was back seat room. While legroom is decent, headroom comes at cost thanks to a sloping roofline and the standard panoramic sunroof on the Performance Collection. Not disappointing is Cadillac’s CUE (Cadillac User Experience). Since we last tried CUE in a ATS back in December, Cadillac has issued an update to squash some of the bugs and improve the performance of the system. My test SRX came with the update and the system was noticeably smoother. Inputs on the screen and the capacitive touch buttons registered most of the time and moving around the system was snappy. Now Cadillac just needs to work on making the system somewhat less distracting. Powering the SRX is a 3.6L V6 engine with 308 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. That is mated to six-speed automatic transmission to either the front-wheels or all four wheels. Compared to the outgoing 3.0L and 2.8L turbocharged V6 engines, the 3.6L sits in the middle. Low-end power isn’t the 3.6L’s strong suit, but get above 2,000 RPM and the power comes smoothly in. The six-speed automatic provided smooth shifts and didn’t need to downshift as much when I stepped on the accelerator, something that couldn’t be said of the 3.0L. One place where I wished the 3.6L was better was fuel economy. The EPA rates the SRX 3.6L AWD at 16 City/24 Highway/18 Combined. During my week, I averaged 17.2 MPG in mostly suburban driving. Out on the highway, fuel economy rose to 24.2 MPG. Why the low MPG numbers? Part of the blame goes to AWD system in the SRX, but a good majority is to the 4,442 lb curb weight. Driving around in the SRX, my impressions were that Cadillac had focused more on the comfort than the sport. The FE2 suspension absorbs bumps and road imperfections with ease. A bit surprising since the SRX I was rolling in had twenty-inch wheels as standard equipment. Steering is very precise, despite the heavily boosted feeling I was getting. My biggest gripe dealt with the brake pedal. Whenever I put my foot on it to stop the SRX, it feels like I’m pushing through quicksand. This means you’re either not going slow down as fast as you like or come to a panic stop. Not pleasant at all. My test SRX AWD Performance Collection rings up at $49,085, which is a steal when you consider that includes CUE, a Bose surround sound system, keyless entry with push button start, twenty-inch wheels, blind spot monitoring, cross traffic alert, and a number other features as standard equipment. Its very easy to see why the 2013 Cadillac SRX is one of the best sellers in the segment. It offers the right blend of luxury, features, and value in a handsome package. While the SRX will not be coming anywhere close to toppling the Lexus RX in sales (so far in 2013, the RX current holds a 8,548 unit lead over the SRX), Cadillac should be very pleased that they have a very credible alternative. Disclaimer: General Motors provided the vehicle, insurance, and one tank of gasoline. Year - 2013 Make – Cadillac Model – SRX Trim – AWD Performance Collection Engine – 3.6L SIDI V6 Driveline – All-Wheel Drive, Six-Speed Automatic Horsepower @ RPM – 308 @ 6,800 RPM Torque @ RPM – 265 @ 2,400 RPM Fuel Economy: City/Highway/Combined - 16/23/18 Curb Weight – 4,442 lbs Location of Manufacture – Ramos Arizpe, CZ Mexico Base Price - $47,715.00 As Tested Price - $49,085.00* (Includes $875.00 destination charge) Options: Black Ice Metallic Paint - $495.00 William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article