Just this April, Panamera was pronounced a US Porsche bestseller with record sales of 678 units for the month. According to reports, this is the first time that the Panamera hit that mark since it was launched in October 2009. The car manufacturer recorded selling 3,410 units of Panamera saloon to the United States since the model’s introduction. For the month of April, a total of 1,747 current Porsche lines were also sold to the US.
The last figure isn’t exactly good news considering the fact that 1,747 units sold meant a 6% decrease in sales compared to the figures Porsche raked up for the same month last year. Experts think that the sales fall is largely because of the recession. This means that the decrease in Porsche sales isn’t an isolated case but a growing trend among most auto makers today.
Aside from the Panamera, Porsche also recorded selling a total of 219 Boxster units, 135 Cayman units, and 389 911 units. Compared to figures recorded last April 2009, this means a 28% sales increase for Boxsters, a 3% increase for Cayman units, and a 42% sales decrease for 911 units. The outgoing model Cayenne which is slated to be replaced by a new model this July also sold a total of 326 vehicles.
A report which was published in Autocar said that the new city car designed by Vauxhall/Opel will be approved very soon. The company is just waiting for six to eight weeks before the production can proceed. The city car should be on sale by 2012.
Autocar also interviewed Nick Reilly, the head of Europe’s General Motors. According to Reilly, the city car segment hasn’t been exploited by GM’s rivals yet. This is the reason why the company is so interested in exploring its potentials. Opel’s city car will tap into a younger generation of consumers who do not associate status with the size of their cars.
These seemingly general statements reveal two things which aren’t directly being said about the city car. For one, it’s going to be very fuel efficient. Secondly, it’s also going to be significantly small. Unfortunately, its smallness might not sit well with the market in the U.S.
From Reilly’s statement alone, the Vauxhall/Opel city car seems like a tiny electric car that’s a great second-vehicle option for city drivers. If you’re in the United States, though, this will least likely be bought as a primary vehicle.
The fans of Italian automotive are awaiting the return of Fiat and Alfa Romeo to the United States soil but even after the deal with Chrysler has been sealed, everyone needs to wait for a few more years. Alfa Romeo may have to wait until the latter part of 2012 but the Giuletta and MiTo.
The spotlights at the Geneva Motor Show next week will focus on the Giuletta and other markets in the globe will already be experiencing the MiTo. The U.S. is set to welcome the replacement for the Giulia 159 and a big sedan based on the platform of the Chrysler 300.
The new Giullietta will be a 5-door hatchback from the Alfa Romeo Style Center comes with great comfort features and aerodynamics. The Giuletta is built on the backbone of the Compact which is an all new Alfa Romeo platform that was developed around the concept of new dynamics enhancements. The setup includes the Q2 electronic drive differential and the selector for driving mode which includes options for All Weather, Normal, and Dynamic modes.
A number of variants of the Giulietta have been developed. A base model has a MultiAir 170 horsepower 1.4L turbocharged gasoline engine under its hood. They also offer a diesel-running turbocharged 2.0L JTDM powerplant. Two other versions use 1.75L gasoline engine that can output 235 hp.
The 2010 luxury hybrid sedan from Lexus, the HS 250h, has been selling like sushi looking at the pre-order sales in Japan. The Japanese car maker has revealed the sticker price of the dedicated hybrid for the U.S. market starting at $34,200. It is positioned as an entry level luxury green ride and they are aiming to sell about 25,000 units of the HS 250H for its first year off dealerships.
Positioned as a luxury vehicle, there is really no reason to compare the price of the Lexus HS 250h to the Prius II because you will see a whopping difference of $12,000. If you will look at the premium variant of the HS 250h, you will be looking a top up of $36,970.
The luxury hybrid is definitely not for owners who are looking for a cheaper buy. Prius V has a starting sticker price of $27,270 and can go fast up to $32,500 or more if you take in options like the package for a solar roof. Looking at the brands and badges on the car, a wise and stylish buyer might look into the direction of the Lexus.
When you talk about fuel mileage though, there is no competition. The Prius is far more efficient with a mileage of 51mpg on city driving and 48mpg cruising on the highway. The HS 250h runs at 35mpg in the city and 34mpg along the highway.