Drew Dowdell

That doesn't look like the SEMA car... wrong color for it.

So it used a Cord Semi-Automatic transmission?

They seem to be trying to turn Fiat into an Italian Mini Cooper in the US. It just might work.

Suzuki could do their SUVs and trucks Mitsubishi focus on AWD/Sport.... likely with an intent to take on Subarus like the WRX... Mitsu has the heritage for this. Mazda could be a sporty bread and butter division with the Miata and RX as their halos. Use Mazda Skyactive and SkyActive-D engines all around.

A CTS-V wagon and use the change left over for some super charger upgrades.

Well, Mazda seems to think they are in trouble....

Suzuki and Mitsubishi and Mazda should just merge..... then they might have a fighting chance.

Wrong door, Hudson....

The M car is Infiniti's STS.

The Outlander isn't bad.

I thought it was 300 times a second... the distance traveled would vary by speed.

Share CheersandGears.com with your friends and neighbors, if we can get our unique page views up, we can get into the high end fleets too.

Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) today reported June 2012 sales, including 1,461 sales of the Outlander Sport CUV. This marks a 13 percent increase compared to June of 2011. Year-to-date sales of Outlander Sport are up 2.6 percent. "We're pleased that U.S. consumers are confirming our strategy of focusing on fuel-efficient models like this stylish crossover," said MMNA President & CEO Yoichi Yokozawa. "We'll begin U.S. production of this popular model this month in Normal, Illinois." Mitsubishi had good news on the high-performance front, as well. Sales of the Lancer Evolution continue to grow, with an increase of more than 31 percent in June. Lancer Evolution sales are up more than 35 percent year to date. Sales of the Galant sedan were up 116 percent for the month and are up 3.1 percent year to date. "Our overall sales volume will continue to be impacted by our models that have not been in production since summer 2011," Yokozawa added. Total Mitsubishi June sales were 34 percent below the level of sales in June 2011, but sales of models currently in production were up 10.2 percent. View full article

Retail sales up 18% for the month Atlanta - July 3, 2012 - 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 June 2012 sales of 3,002 vehicles. This compares to 2,546 vehicles sold last June, for an increase of 18 percent. For the year, Porsche has sold 16,450 cars in the U.S., a six percent increase over last year's sales of 15,542. "June was an exciting month for sports car fans as the all-new Boxster models arrived in Porsche dealerships right at the end of the month and joined the showroom next to the all-new 911 coupe and cabriolet models," said PCNA's President and CEO, Detlev von Platen. Porsche sold 464 Boxster models in June (458 of which were the all-new 2013 Boxster) - a 117 percent increase over June 2011. In addition, Porsche sold 861 new 911 models, a 44 percent increase over June 2011. Porsche's Approved Certified Pre-Owned vehicle sales were 835 for June 2012. Year-to-date, Porsche has sold 4,856 CPO models, a 12 percent increase versus 2011(4,232). View full article

JAGUAR LAND ROVER REPORTS U.S. SALES FOR JUNE 2012 • Jaguar Land Rover North America sales increase 2 percent for June; up 16 percent year-to-date. • Land Rover sales increase 14 percent for June on continued strength of Range Rover Evoque; Brand up 21 percent year-to-date • Jaguar XF up 3 percent for June, 2012; Jaguar sales up 1 percent year-to-date JULY 3, 2012 (MAHWAH, NJ) – Jaguar Land Rover North America today reported June 2012 sales: Land Rover sales for the month were 3,602 up 14 percent from 3,152 in 2011; Jaguar sales for the month were 1,030 down 26 percent from 1,389 in 2011; Jaguar Land Rover North America sales for the month were 4,632 up 2 percent from 4,541 units in 2011. For the first half of 2012, Jaguar Land Rover North America is up 16 percent. "Jaguar Land Rover’s June U.S. sales this year were up two percent as we begin transition into a very important MY13 for both brands," said Andy Goss, President, Jaguar Land Rover North America. “We are pleased to complete the first half of the year with sales growth from both Jaguar and Land Rover brands in the United States.” U.S. BRAND HIGHLIGHTS Land Rover For the month of June, 2012, Land Rover sales were up 14 percent continuing the momentum established over the last two years. The volume leader for June, 2012 was the Range Rover Sport with 1,235 units sold, on par with 1,233 in 2011. For the year, Range Rover Sport is up 3 percent. The all-new Range Rover Evoque, winner of the 2012 North American Truck of the Year, hit 663 units sold in June, 2012. For the first half of 2012 Land Rover in the United States reached 20,991 units up 21 percent. Land Rover's 2012 Model Year line-up features four models: The 230-hp 3.2 liter I6 powered LR2; the LR4 powered by the 375-hp 5.0 liter V8; the Range Rover Sport and Range Rover, both available with the Naturally-aspirated 375-hp V8 and 510-hp supercharged 5.0 liter V8 powertrains. The Model Year 12 Range Rover Evoque luxury compact SUV went on sale in October. The 2012 Range Rover Evoque has a starting price of $43,995* for the five-door, and $44,995* for the coupe and achieves 28 MPG** EPA highway and 18 MPG** EPA city. Jaguar Jaguar's U.S. sales for June, 2012 were down 26 percent to 1,030 units, from 1,389 in 2011. For the first half of the year of 2012, Jaguar U.S. sales are 6,506 units up 1 percent from 6,410 in 2011. The volume leader for the month of June was the Jaguar XF with 489 sales, up 3 percent from 476 in 2012. Year-to-date, Jaguar sales are led by the Jaguar XF sports sedan, up 24 percent for the year versus 2011. For the 2013 model year, Jaguar will offer new engine options and eight-speed automatic transmissions in the XF and XJ sedan lineups. New engine options include a powerful and fuel efficient 240 horsepower turbocharged 2-liter four cylinder engine for the Jaguar XF, and a 340 horsepower supercharged 3-liter V6 engine to both the Jaguar XJ and XF. Jaguar has launched a new global brand direction and marketing campaign, themed "ALIVE,” which introduces the famed British brand to luxury consumers in a new modern context. The brand direction is driven by the belief that Jaguar makes the world's most instinctively rewarding performance cars. The campaign, created with Spark 44, the international communications agency that's part-owned by Jaguar Land Rover, will feature print, TV, digital advertising and a new look that contemporizes the aesthetics of the brand at every customer touch point. The Jaguar brand will have new corporate identification and a new font, created exclusively for the brand. The dramatic alteration, including significant changes to the brand symbols of the “leaper” and “growler,” is the most extensive change Jaguar has made to its visual identification in 40 years. Jaguar's 2012 Model Year line-up features three models: The Jaguar XJ luxury sedan, powered by either the naturally-aspirated 385-hp V8, the 470-hp supercharged 5.0 liter V8 or the 510-hp supercharged 5.0 liter V8; the Jaguar XF sports sedan powered by either the naturally-aspirated 385-hp V8, the 470-hp supercharged 5.0 liter V8 or, in the XFR, the 510-hp supercharged 5.0 liter V8 powertrains; and the XK coupe and convertible sports cars powered by either the naturally-aspirated 385-hp V8, or for the XKR, the 510-hp supercharged 5.0 liter V8 powertrains. For 2012, Jaguar has added its highest performance model ever, the 2012 Jaguar XKR-S coupe and convertible with a 550-hp supercharged 5.0 liter V8 powertrain. The Jaguar F-TYPE will join the lineup in 2013. View full article

VOLVO ANNOUNCES JUNE SALES ROCKLEIGH, N.J. (July 3, 2012) - Volvo Cars of North America, LLC, (VCNA) reported U.S. sales of 7,107 units, a 0.1 percent increase from June 2011. Year-to-date sales are down 4.6 percent over the first half of 2011. The top seller for the month was the award-winning S60 sports sedan with 2,649 units sold, followed by the XC60 with 1,626 units sold, a 20.5 percent increase from June 2011. New Volvo buyers benefit from Volvo's Safe + Secure Coverage Plan. A complimentary program, Safe + Secure wraps a comprehensive list of benefits into one package. Specifically, it provides: 5 years/50,000 miles of New Car Warranty 5 years/50,000 miles of Complimentary Factory Scheduled Maintenance 5 years/50,000 miles of Wear and Tear Coverage 5 years/Unlimited miles of Volvo On Call Roadside Assistance. View full article

MBUSA POSTS RECORD SALES ACROSS ALL THREE BRANDS IN JUNE “Best Ever” Months for Mercedes-Benz at 22,231, smart at 1,017, Sprinter at 2,140 MONTVALE, N.J. – Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported combined sales of 25,388 with “Best Ever” months for its Mercedes-Benz, smart and Sprinter model lines. The 12.5% increase for the month brings the year-to-date total to 142,619, up 20.8 % and making this MBUSA’s highest first-half on record. Mercedes-Benz models posted June sales of 22,231, a 7.6 % improvement over June 2011, delivering a year-to-date total of 128,595 new vehicles to customers, up 15.9%. “This marks a historic milestone for Mercedes-Benz in the U.S. market. Not only did we post all-time record sales across all three business units in June, we achieved our highest half-year sales in our 47-year history,” said Steve Cannon President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA today. Sales for the month of June were led by the C-, E- and M-Class model lines. The sporty C-Class – the gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand on the car side for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers – took the lead with sales of 6,506. The 9th generation E-Class followed with sales of 5,589 and MBUSA’s top-selling SUV, the M-Class, rounded out the top three with sales of 2,891. At the high end, the all-new iconic sixth generation 2013 SL roadster - debuting in showrooms last month - posted sales of 346 yielding an increase of 217.4% and the SLS AMG supercar retailed 86 for the month, up 377.8% over the same period last year. On a year-to-date basis, top performers again were the C-Class with 37,686, the E-Class with 30,366 and the M-Class with 20,626.Monthly sales of the high-performance AMG models were 515, up 75.2% versus June 2011 (385) and up 62.4% year to date.Sales of the company’s BlueTEC diesel models were also up 50.3% for the year at 8,945 compared to the 5,953 diesels sold over the same time last year. On the one-year anniversary of the smart brand coming under the MBUSA umbrella, sales of the model line achieved the highest reported volume since August of 2009. June sales of 1,017 vehicles represent a 208% jump for the month (compared to the 330 vehicles sold in June 2011), bringing the year-to-date volume to 4,748, up 86%. On the van side, sales of Sprinter vans also saw best-ever sales in June with 2,140 – up 12% over last year and up 30.7% on a year-to-date basis. Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 6,593 vehicles in June; an increase of 2.9% when compared to June 2011 (sales of 6,410 vehicles). On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 39,419 vehicles, a decrease of 1.1% over the comparable period (with sales of 39,855 vehicles). View full article

BMW Group U.S. Reports June 2012 Sales BMW brand up 11.3 percent year-to-date MINI brand up 7.5 percent, new year-to-date record Woodcliff Lake, NJ – July 3, 2012… The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported June sales of 27,720 vehicles, an increase of 3.2 percent from the 26,865 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, BMW Group is up 10.5 percent on sales of 158,563 in the first six months of 2012 compared to 143,521 in the same period in 2011. “The June numbers continue the solid, consistent growth we predicted but, most important, the first six months of the year are setting the stage for even better results ahead,” said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO, BMW of North America, LLC. “Demand is strong though we’ve been constrained by new model ramp up but supply will soon catch up in the second half of the year.” BMW Brand Sales Sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 0.4 percent in June for a total of 21,725 compared to 21,637 vehicles sold in June, 2011. Year-to-date, the BMW brand is up 11.3 percent on sales of 126,504 compared to 113,705 sold in the first six months of 2011. In June, best performing vehicles included the 5 Series, up 23.1 percent to 5,374 units; and the 6 Series, up 105.8 percent to 642 units; and the Sports Activity Vehicle segment (X3, X5 and X6), up 21.5 percent to 7,489 units. BMW Pre-Owned Vehicles In June, sales of BMW used vehicles (including certified pre-owned and pre-owned) increased 5.4 percent to 13,489 vehicles from the 12,801 vehicles sold in June 2011. January through June, BMW used vehicle sales are up 3.5 percent on volume of 82,281 compared to 79,511 in the same period of 2011. MINI Brand Sales MINI USA reported sales of 5,995 automobiles in June, an increase of 14.7 percent from the 5,228 sold in June 2011. Year-to-date, MINI sales in the U.S. are up 7.5 percent on volume of 32,059 compared to 29,816 in the first six months of 2011. “Here we are at the midpoint of 2012 with MINI achieving record sales in June and in the first half of the year,” said Jim McDowell, Vice President, MINI USA. “Tomorrow we launch the nationwide MINI Takes the States – 16 states, 13 cities – the greatest rally in our fabled history. It’s a wonderful time to be MINI.” View full article

VOLKSWAGEN REPORTS 34.2% SALES INCREASE IN JUNE - Brand ends first half of 2012 with 208,725 and 35.4 percent increase - • First half 2012 up 35.4 percent with 208,725 units sold and 38,170 for the month, marking the best June and best first half since 1973 • Passat sales reach over 10,000 units for the fourth consecutive month, with 10,252 sold • Best June sales for Tiguan with 2,885 units sold • Beetle sales of 2,914 marked the best June since 2002 • High-mileage, clean diesel TDI models account for 19.2 percent of sales in June, up 21.5 percent versus the prior year Herndon, VA - Volkswagen of America, Inc. (VWoA) today reported 38,170 units sold in June, a 34.2 percent increase over prior year sales, 35.4 percent increase year-to-date and the best June and best first half since 1973. “Selling over 200,000 vehicles in the first half of the year is a significant accomplishment for Volkswagen and a strong sign that our broad range of high-quality vehicles are continuing to gain acceptance by pundits and consumers,” said Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. “As we prepare for the second half of the year, we are confident that the foundations we’ve put in place will continue to bear fruit.” The 2012 Motor Trend Car of the Year, the Volkswagen Passat sold 10,252 units, marking four months of sales over 10,000 units. The Passat TDI was recently named the winner of Edmunds.com’s 40 MPG challenge beating out 6 other sedans tested; the Passat averaged 43 mpg in city driving and 51.7 mpg on the highway portion of the test route. In addition to receiving numerous product awards for vehicle quality, value and performance, the Volkswagen brand received a number of accolades this year, including Strategic Vision’s #1 Brand for Total Value Index; the CLIO Award for Global Advertiser of the Year and Rutgers University’s Gold Edison Green Award. Jetta sedan, including the enthusiast GLI model, remains the volume leader for Volkswagen with sales totaling 11,598, while Jetta SportWagen totaled 2,006. The Beetle continues to gain momentum with 2,914 units sold, while Golf sales totaled 4,092 units. This also marks the best June ever for Tiguan, selling 2,885 units. The Volkswagen Touareg sold 794 units. View full article