The “family sedan” may not be very exciting, but without midsized sales auto makers would be in a pickle. Ponder this: the five best-selling midsized sedans in America accounted for 1.3 million of the 12.8 million vehicles sold in 2011. With numbers like that, it’s important to get your mass-market people mover right. This means competitive fuel economy, a low base price and swipe as much tech from your luxury brand as possible. Either that or just wear a Nissan badge on the front. Say what? The last generation Altima was the second best-selling car despite being long in the tooth and filled with Chrysler quality plastics. That made me ask an important question: Is the fifth-generation Altima any good, or is it selling well (now in third place thanks to the new Accord and Nissan’s model change over) just because it has a Nissan logo on the front?
Many people don’t realize that most of the “import” cars bought and sold in America no longer roll off a boat, but off an assembly line somewhere in the American heartland. Or at least in the North American heartland. It comes as an even bigger surprise that these cars are one of America’s most successful export products, going from American ports to many countries in the world – where people often are likewise ignorant of the car’s American origin. Read More >
While Japan may be a “closed market” in the eyes of some, imported cars from America are all the rage in South Korea. Honda is planning on sending no fewer than six American-made cars; the Civic, Accord, Odyssey, CR-V, Crosstour and Pilot will all be sent to South Korea as Honda attempts to become a net exporter of American made vehicles.
Not too long ago (but in a galaxy far, far away) I wrote about the deals you can get on unpopular new cars that have brand new replacements waiting in the wings.
Today we’ll examine what happens when those vehicles fall off the depreciation cliff. Again.
Auto journalists have a habit of being cornered at parties by interested outsiders – usually, the boyfriend of the cute girl you were just flirting with – and pounced upon with the standard question. After “what’s your favorite car?” and “what’s the fastest you’ve ever gone”, you are likely to get some kind of consumer advice question. “I have $X to spend on a car. What would you recommend?”
It’s very cheap. It’s very small. It’s from a manufacturer that hasn’t historically focused on either. So, is the 2013 Chevrolet Spark the best car for your worst enemy?
I hate to review mass market midsize sedans. Especially with the latest round—every key player save the Sonata has been redesigned in the past 18 months—all are good cars. But they’re also all boring. Given the large number of conflicting criteria that must be met for a shot at segment leadership and the rarity of solutions that dramatically push the envelope, all serious players have devolved into highly competent appliances. Then we have the 2013 Ford Fusion.
Nissan makes 90 percent of all Muranos in Japan, but 70 percent of them get exported to the United States. Making them Stateside should be a no brainer, right?
|Reader Josh Howard relates the story of why he recommended a Mitsubishi to a co-worker…he’s a brave soul
After reading Derek’s excellent piece on Mitsubishi and their irrelevance in the American marketplace, I began thinking about the brand, and their history in the United States. A few months ago, I went against my better instincts and actually recommended one to a coworker despite knowing what Mitsubishi turned into in the early 2000′s…not to mention a turbocharged DSM car some years prior.
After sharing with you the Top 150 best-selling cars in the world last week, it is time for our acclaimed monthly rendezvous: the World Roundup! This is already the 5th World Roundup, it’s amazing how time flies, isn’t it?
Enough of the world and you just want to know which cars sell best in your own backyard? Easy. You can visit 168 countries and territories in my blog, one by one, in the comfort of your own lounge. Travelling the world doesnt get any cheaper than that!
I never thought I’d see the day when the Japanese copy the Koreans on styling but here we are. This is the 2013 Honda Accord, and it’s going to have to be really good to go up against the bland (2013 Nissan Altima), the beautiful (2013 Ford Fusion) and the default choice (Toyota Camry). Not to mention the Koreans.
Our own Alex Dykes will be attending the launch event shortly. Until then, this is all we’ve got.
Toshi - Series 100 Land Cruiser or LS 430. Or both. FWIW I know a guy who had a W124 wagon, also relevant. Swore by it. Now his wife is in a W211, iirc. Couldn’t find...
mkirk - Can he bring any of the cash over from selling profitable spacecraft to the Government? There has got to be some markup in that business. Certainly...
Scoutdude - You forgot to factor in meeting US emissions standards and certification costs. With as low volume as the diesels will sell that would mean that they are...
niky - Having been to a number of dyno-tuning sessions on Subies (none yet on a Vette, but a few on smaller rear-drive cars), on a modern load-dyno (not an inertial),...
Recent Comments
Toshi - Series 100 Land Cruiser or LS 430. Or both. FWIW I know a guy who had a W124 wagon, also relevant. Swore by it. Now his wife is in a W211, iirc. Couldn’t find...
mkirk - Can he bring any of the cash over from selling profitable spacecraft to the Government? There has got to be some markup in that business. Certainly...
mkirk - And Honda isn’t exactly at its zenith at the moment.
CelticPete - Eh. 1.0L is tiny man. Sure boosted I have heard it puts out 148pounds of torque. But a bog-standard 2.0L DI engine surpasses...
Scoutdude - You forgot to factor in meeting US emissions standards and certification costs. With as low volume as the diesels will sell that would mean that they are...
mkirk - Perhaps the turbine technology can return to the automobile like the Chryslers back in the day!
Summicron - It’ll have to be sub 12K to dethrone the Rio, Versa, Yaris and the rest of the proven entry level cars. And it won’t be.
mkirk - Don’t forget the MK-Town Car or whatever.
niky - Having been to a number of dyno-tuning sessions on Subies (none yet on a Vette, but a few on smaller rear-drive cars), on a modern load-dyno (not an inertial),...
mkirk - See the fielding of the V2 Osprey