December's Fastest- and Slowest-Selling Cars

Automakers won't report December sales results until later today, but we have data on the month's fastest and slowest sellers. The redesigned Toyota Avalon hit dealerships in the first week of December, and it stormed the fastest-selling list, with regular and hybrid versions averaging just eight days apiece on dealer lots. Shoppers moved toward the Ford F-Series Super Duty pickup truck, too. That’s likely a result of an improved construction market; November housing starts hit their second highest rate since mid-2008.

The redesigned Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, which hit dealerships in September, spent its third month among the fastest sellers; the new-for-2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek also marked its third month on the list. Of the 18 fastest-selling cars, 10 were repeat performers, with such regulars as the redesigned Subaru Impreza and new Scion FR-S. The Kia Soul's severe mileage downgrade doesn't seem to have sapped demand, and neither has the popular hatchback's age. It debuted way back in early 2009, but in December it placed among the fastest sellers for the third month in a row.

Daily News Briefs: May 18, 2012

Event data recorders, aka "black boxes," are already prevalent in new cars, but a new law would make them standard on all vehicles, according to Car and Driver. The U.S. Senate has passed a bill that would mandate event data recorders for all new cars by the 2015 model year. The law also states that the car's owner will control the black box info, though the owner could be forced to share it in cases of a court order, says the magazine. The House of Representatives is expected to pass its version of the EDR mandate law, though both versions would have to be reconciled before becoming law. The Department of Transportation has already developed a standard data set for black boxes, which goes into effect for the 2013 model year. It stipulates that event data records must record five seconds worth of pre-crash data, including forward crash speed, the speed the vehicle was traveling, whether brakes were applied and time of airbag deployment. Black boxes are useful for investigating accidents and helping to establish culpability — whether that be the manufacturer — such as Toyota in its sudden acceleration scandal — or the driver themselves.

In other news:

Movers & Losers: February 2012

Rising gas prices brought shoppers back toward fuel-efficient small cars and hybrids, with the hot-selling Toyota Prius — up a staggering 52% in February sales — taking just nine days to turn. The Prius is EPA-rated at up to 51 mpg, but four other cars with 40 mpg or better EPA ratings made this month's Movers list. Just two cars, the redesigned BMW 3 Series and Lexus GS, topped the Prius. The Volvo XC90 was the only anomaly. Despite light incentives, shoppers are snapping up the 10-year-old SUV.

Of January's top 10 movers, seven stayed in the mix. The Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne slipped below our minimum transaction threshold, while the Land Rover Range Rover fell to 27 days. That's still better than February's average, which was 39 days to turn — a slowdown from January's 34 days but far less than February 2011's 47 days.

Revealing Volvo Crossover Illustrations Uncovered

Volvo is still searching for its place in the automotive landscape. Will it compete with premium vehicles from Buick or Volkswagen, or with luxury vehicles from Audi and BMW? While the marketing department continues its eternal debate, we’re at least starting to get a pretty good understanding of what future Volvos will look like.

The illustrations here show off a potential look for the 2015 Volvo XC90. Notice that the crossover looks a lot like the Volvo Concept You, which we saw at the 2011 L.A. Auto Show.

2012 Volvo Lineup: Ch-Ch-Changes

For the 2012 model year, Volvo has discontinued the S40 and V50, which reported in an earlier post. The Swedish automaker is also no longer offering any V-8s across its lineup after the company axed its sole V-8 engine in the XC90 for 2012. V-8s were once offered in the S80 and XC90.

Overall, most models get more standard features and new trim offerings while maintaining similar prices to last year’s models.

Recall Alert: 2010-11 Volvo XC90

Volvo is recalling about 350 V-8-equipped XC90 crossovers from the 2010 and 2011 model years because the vehicles could experience a sudden loss of power steering, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the affected vehicles, the power-steering fluid may leak from the oil pipe connection at the steering gear valve housing. This could cause a loss of power steering and increase the risk of a crash. The vehicles in the recall were built were built between Jan. 29 and Aug. 16, 2010. You can check the build date on a sticker on the driver-side doorjamb.

The recall is expected to begin on or before May 31. Dealers will replace the oil pipes on the power-steering rack at no charge. Owners can call Volvo at 800-458-1552 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

Recall Alert: 474 Volvo Vehicles Over Airbags, Navigation Defects

Volvo is recalling the 2010 XC60 over airbag concerns and Volvo models equipped with an aftermarket Garmin navigation unit, which was previously recalled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Just 58 XC60s are being recalled for side curtain airbags that may have been misassembled. The error may cause the airbags not to deploy correctly or possibly not at all, which could increase the risk of injury in a crash. The recall is expected to begin this month. Affected customers will be notified by Volvo, and their vehicles will be inspected and fixed, if necessary, free of charge by a Volvo dealer. For more info, owners can call Volvo at 800-458-1552 or NHTSA’s hot line at 888-327-4236.

Ch-Ch-Changes: 2011 Volvo Lineup

For 2011, Volvo’s lineup gets a little more streamlined, losing and simplifying its wagon options and dropping some base trims, engines and drivetrains. As you can see below, these changes mostly increase the value of each Volvo model and trim. 

Interesting notes: While Volvo has discontinued the slow-selling V70 wagon for 2011, it has drastically changed the pricing and packaging of the more popular XC70, making the model several thousand dollars cheaper; the high-end S80 is now a less-expensive entry than the all-new S60, which is odd considering the S80 is supposedly the flagship. You can learn more about the all-new S60 here. For more information about the lineup, continue reading after the jump.

Recall Alert: 2010 Volvo XC90

Volvo has issued a recall for 2,494 XC90 vehicles from the 2010 model year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall is due to a potential leak that could occur in the fuel line between the line and a connector.

It’s possible drivers will smell a fuel leak, but the defect could lead to a fire at the right front wheel if an ignition source sparks it.

Dealers will check the date code printed on the fuel line and replace it if a recall has been issued for it. The fix will be performed for free. Owners may contact Volvo at 800-458-1552 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hot line at 888-327-4236.

Recall Alert: 136,100 Volvo Cars, SUVs

Volvo is recalling 136,100 vehicles from the 2001 to 2005 model years, including almost every vehicle in its lineup from those years. The issue stems from a fuel pump that can develop cracks when you mix fuel types and live in a hot climate or one that sees rapid changes in temperature.

Affected models include:

• 2001-2004 Volvo S60
• 2002-2005 Volvo S80
• 2001-2004 Volvo V70
• 2001-2004 Volvo XC70
• 2003-2005 Volvo XC90

The states included in the recall are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia.

Dealers will inspect the vehicle and if a defective pump is present, the specific part named in the recall will be replaced for free starting in January 2010. You can contact Volvo for more information at 800-458-1552.