Top 10 Best-Selling Cars: January 2012

After capping 2011 with four decent months, the auto industry hit 2012 running. Analysts expect auto sales to outpace 2011 figures anywhere from 6% to 10%, which could make 2012 the best sales year since 2007.

January enticed consumers with total incentives — including financing offers, automaker and dealer cash, and trade-in bonuses — amounting to 16% off the average car’s MSRP, CNW Marketing Research reports. That beats January 2011, when shoppers saw only 13.5% off the average MSRP.

Shoppers took advantage. January sales jumped 11%, beating Tuesday’s expectations. This marks the best annualized month since 2009, Automotive News reports. Chrysler, Nissan and Hyundai-Kia saw double-digit sales gains, with GM the only top-seven automaker to post a loss.

Year-End Deal Reality Check: Chevrolet

As the year comes to an end, Chevrolet is offering some unique deals on select models, including no-money-down leases or financing that defers the first monthly payment for a few months.

Special deals are available to shoppers of the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox, Traverse and Impala (LS trim only). All three have attractive 0% financing with the option of having no monthly payments until the spring, according to Chevy.

Well-qualified shoppers can get 0% to 3.9% financing for 60 months, depending on the model. The new 2012 Chevrolet Sonic and popular Cruze have 2.9% financing deals for 60 months. The soon-to-be-defunct Impala has $3,000 cash on the hood; so does the 2012 Chevy Avalanche. You can take off $2,000 on a new 2012 Traverse, while the hot-selling 2012 Chevy Tahoe and Suburban have only $1,500 on the hood.

The deals are even more attractive for those looking to lease a new Chevy. Under the Sign & Drive program, you can lease a new 2012 Cruze ($199 a month), Malibu ($229 a month), Traverse ($299 a month) or Silverado ($381 a month for All Star Edition trims) for no money down with 39-month and 39,000-mile terms.

All current Chevy deals end Jan. 3. For more information, go here.

2012 Toyota Camry Earns Five-Star NHTSA Rating

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released its first batch of 2012 model year ratings this month. Under the stricter guidelines, only three 2012 models — the Chevrolet Camaro, Cadillac CTS and Toyota Camry — have earned five-star composite scores from the safety agency. In fact, as we previously reported, the Camaro is the only vehicle to earn a perfect rating across the board since the new guidelines took effect for the 2011 model year.

NHTSA’s composite scores are composed of five-star ratings for frontal, rollover and a combined side pole and barrier tests. The side pole test, which is new, simulates a 20-mph side-impact crash into a 10-inch-diameter pole or tree at a 75-degree angle just behind the A-pillar on the driver’s side.

The redesigned 2012 Camry earned a five-star overall rating, getting four stars in the frontal test, five stars in the side-crash test and four stars in the rollover test.

Toyota Camry Most Stolen Car

The Toyota Camry was the most stolen new passenger car in 2009, according to the most recent information provided by the National Crime Information Center, a government agency that is part of the FBI.

Out of all the Camrys produced in 2009, about 781 were stolen. Keep in mind that the Camry was (and is) the best-selling passenger car. So the fact that it leads the list isn't remarkable; in fact, the rate at which it was stolen was nearly half the national average. 

Recall Alert: 2012 Chevrolet Impala

General Motors is recalling 10,344 2012 Chevy Impalas over a potential power-steering failure, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

On some models, the power-steering hose wasn’t assembled correctly, which can cause the hose to melt due to its close proximity to the catalytic converter when the engine is on. If this happens, there could be a loss of power steering. Power-steering fluid is flammable and could also cause an engine fire.

GM dealers will inspect the hose and make necessary repairs, free of charge. The recall will begin today. Owners can call Chevrolet at 800-630-2438 or NHTSA’s hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

2012 Chevy Impala Gets 30 MPG Highway

Earlier this year, we went over some of the details regarding the Chevy Impala’s new engine and transmission for 2012. The EPA has rated that setup at 18/30 mpg city/highway and 22 mpg combined.

That’s 1 mpg better on the highway and 1 mpg worse in the city compared with the outgoing 2011 Impala’s standard 211-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6. Technically, the new engine is 1 mpg lower in the combined cycle compared with the 2011’s base V-6, but that ignores the power gains on the 2012 Impala.

The new standard 3.6-liter V-6 makes a whopping 300 hp, up from the 287-hp figure we reported in April. That power is channeled through a six-speed automatic transmission.

The 2012 Impala starts at $25,645 for the LS trim, up $1,150 from the 2011 model. The LT trim starts at $27,170, and the LTZ starts at $30,185. The 2012 Impala is already on sale.

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2012 Chevrolet Impala Gets New Engine

2011 Saab 9-5, 2011-12 Volkswagen CC Earn IIHS Top Safety Pick

The 2011 Saab 9-5 and the 2011 and 2012 Volkswagen CC received the Top Safety Pick designation in the midsize luxury/near-luxury category from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

These cars had previously earned the title, which is awarded to vehicles that receive the agency’s top rating — Good — in front, side and rear crash tests, and have electronic stability control. But that was before IIHS implemented its tough roof-strength test, making it harder for new cars to be named Top Safety Picks. To pass the test, a vehicle’s roof must be able to withstand the force of four times the vehicle’s weight. The VW CC’s roof can withstand 4.4 times its own weight; the 9-5 can withstand 5.85 times its own weight.

The Top Safety Pick designation on the CC applies only to the front-wheel-drive model because the heavier all-wheel-drive model was rated Acceptable in the roof-strength test.

Neither vehicle has been fully tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, whose tests include more side impact test data.

Altogether, IIHS recently completed roof-strength tests for eight midsize/large family and luxury cars. The 2011 Lexus ES 350 earned a Good rating in roof strength, but it was rated Acceptable for rear crash protection. The 2011 BMW 3 Series, Chevrolet Impala, Infiniti G series, Lexus IS and Saab 9-3 all earned Acceptable ratings in the roof-strength test.

2012 Chevrolet Impala Gets New Engine

For the 2012 model year, the Chevrolet Impala gains a new, more modern V-6 engine, transmission and appearance updates.

The 2012 Impala ditches the tried-and-true pushrod V-6 powertrains — the 3.5-liter and 3.9-liter V-6 engines — with a modern 287-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6. The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, replacing the outmoded four-speed autos formerly found in all Impalas. The V-6 will be E85-capable, like the engines it replaces.

The 3.6-liter V-6 is more powerful than either engine it replaces and is likely more fuel efficient. The current base Impala returns 19/29 mpg city/highway — already good for a full-size sedan. The V-6 is already found on some trims of the Malibu and is standard on the Traverse.

On top of those changes, the 2012 Impala will get a new grille, fog lamps, rear-end appearance and dual exhaust outlets standard on all trims. Inside, there will be new interior color schemes and new wood trim pieces. A new shifter design will come to the LT and LTZ trims.

We won’t know how extensive these exterior and interior updates will be until late May or early June, when photos will be made available, according to GM sources.

Aside from powertrain and aesthetic revisions, each trim gets more standard equipment. The LT trim now gets the flip-and-fold rear seat, rear spoiler, Bluetooth and floormats. The LS trim gets a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls.

A front 40/20/40-split cloth bench seat is still an available option, making the Impala one of the last six-passenger full-size family sedans available.

The updates will probably be enough to keep Chevrolet’s flagship model chugging along for a few more years, especially with fleet customers such as government municipalities and rental car companies.

Expect the new Impala to go into production in mid- to late June or early July. Pricing and fuel economy information will be released closer to the sedan’s sales date.

Few Big Incentives from Chevy in April

This month, Chevrolet continues to offer a few healthy cash-back offers, but some 0% financing on some of the brand’s large SUVs has been taken away.

Chevy’s slow sellers, such as the Avalanche and HHR, continue to offer 0% financing throughout April. The Tahoe and Suburban switch from 0% financing to a still-attractive 2.9% for 60 months, though both models maintain a $2,000 cash-back deal from last month. No Chevy models increase their cash-back offerings.

Chevy’s popular sellers, like the Cruze and Equinox, don’t offer much in terms of incentives, but both models have somewhat attractive lease deals.

Most incentives expire May 2. Continue reading below for more detailed offerings:

Chevrolet Incentives Perk Up for December

As we get closer to the end of 2010, automakers are starting to pile on the cash on their remaining 2010 model year inventory and some of the 2011 models, too.

The same holds true at America’s second-largest automotive brand, Chevrolet. Vehicles such as the outgoing 2010 Aveo get $2,500 cash back, which, proportional to its $11,965 starting price, is a nice chunk of change. The more popular 2010 Malibu gets $3,500, and the 2011 Malibu gets $2,000. Chevrolet’s large SUVs, crossovers and trucks get between $2,000 and $5,000 cash back.

The new Cruze, Equinox and Camaro, which continue to sell like hotcakes, don’t have any cash-back deals. The Equinox and Cruze do have some attractive lease deals, though: You can take a Cruze home for as little as $159 a month for 39 months.

Almost all 2010 and 2011 models get attractive financing options between 0% and 3.9% for up to 72 months.

GM is no longer producing any 2010 model year vehicles, and overall, 2010 models make up only about 16% to 18% of GM’s current inventory; the rest are 2011 models. That means some of these great deals are probably hard to come by. All of the current incentives expire Jan. 3.