PENSKE NOT BUYING SATURN, GENERAL MOTORS KILLS SATURN

General Motors is killing off the Saturn brand. Prospective buyer Penske had all but acquired the relatively young brand but has backed out because of an "inability to source new products beyond what it had asked GM to build on contract". 


GM is calling this news "disappointing". As a result of agreements in place with Saturn dealers, the "wind-down" process will begin immediately. Penske Automotive Group isn't - to the best of our knowledge - blaming GM or Saturn dealers. One thing's for sure: if you see a new Saturn Vue, Saturn Astra, Saturn Aura, Saturn Outlook, or Saturn Sky on a dealer lot near you, drive a hard bargain and get yourself a good car.

For the full General Motors/Fritz Henderson press release, click through the jump. 



General Motors Media Statement Attributed President & CEO Fritz Henderson
"Today we learned that Penske Automotive Group (PAG) has decided to terminate discussions with General Motors to acquire Saturn. This is very disappointing news and comes after months of hard work by hundreds of dedicated employees and Saturn retailers who tried to make the new Saturn a reality. PAG’s announcement explained that their decision was not based on interactions with GM or Saturn retailers; rather it was because of the inability to source new products beyond what it had asked GM to build on contract.


As a result of PAG’s decision, we will be winding down the Saturn brand and dealership network, in accordance with the wind-down agreements that Saturn dealers recently signed with GM. Pursuant to the terms of those agreements, the wind down process will be determined and communicated shortly.


Saturn customers and owners will continue to be able to purchase and have their vehicles serviced at Saturn retailers during this process. Once the wind down is complete, Saturn owners will still be able to have their vehicles serviced at other GM dealerships. We will be communicating with our customers very soon to explain the next steps in this process.


Today’s disappointing news comes at a time when we’d hoped for a successful launch of the Saturn brand into a new chapter. We will be working closely with our dealers to ensure Saturn customers are cared for as we transition them to other GM dealers in the months ahead. I’d also like to thank every GM employee and Saturn retailer who worked so hard to try to make this new beginning happen for Saturn."

FUTURE JAPANESE CLASSIC CARS AS JUDGED BY TIM SUDDARDS

The publisher of Classic Motorsports, Tim Suddards, has come to the conclusion that the ten cars listed after the jump are future classics. Except, there's one problem: these ten cars are Japanese; not the country of origin known for pumping out classics. One would assume the easiest arguments could be made against the mid-80s Corolla GT-S, the emphasis on the Honda S600, or why the model years were so specific on the Mazda RX-7. these cars are collectables and definitely make good purchases now. (Via Autoblog)

1997-2001 Acura Integra Type R
1990-2005 Acura NSX
1970-1973 Datsun 240Z
1967-1973 Datsun 510
1985-1991 Honda CRX Si
1964-1966 Honda S600
1990-1997 Mazda Miata
1971-1978 Mazda RX-3
1979-1985 Mazda RX-7
1983-1987 Toyota Corolla GT-S

'09 TOKYO AUTO SHOW'S HONDA CR-Z READY FOR PRODUCTION?

2007 brought the preliminary version of the Honda CR-Z; a concept which debuted at the Tokyo auto show. Visitors to 2009's Tokyo auto show will see a reworked version of the CR-Z, surely 99% similar to the production version we'll see in the summer of 2010.

Setting the release date of the Honda CR-Z for next summer and releasing this "concept" in Tokyo is the clear indicator that Honda has no plans to change the car. It's obviously highly unlikely that a production debut in the spring would change anything other than the wheels, mirrors, and bumpers (regulations of different countries mandate this anyway).

Plans to equip the CR-Z (Concept Renaissance Zero) with a 1.5L gas-electric powerplant are moving forward. Thankfully, as a car destined for sportiness, the CR-Z will not be fitted with a CVT but rather a 6-speed manual transmission. The design of the CR-Z is very, very CRX-like - a good thing in the eyes of The Good Car Guy. Small, sporty cars should appeal to a specific cross-section of consumers. The CR-Z's unique powertrain and unique design might be a precursor of things to come from Honda, a company criticized of late for.... well, letting go.

To better understand the Honda CR-Z's gestation, look back to the Honda Remix concept from the '06 L.A. auto show. Geneva's 2007 auto show was host to the Honda Small Hybrid Sports concept. Then, of course, came the '07 Tokyo show. This is Honda at its roots and we ought to expect great things from the CR-Z.

GALLERY - FORD SUPER DUTY - IMPRESSIVE INSIDES

Spent much time in a any newish Ford truck over the last few years? If so, you won't be shocked to witness the luxurious interior ambience of the new 2011 Ford Super Duty pickups. Bedazzled by the heavily chrome-laden exterior you may be; a few minutes inside the new Super Duty is the kind of experience which makes wealthy west Texan oil men trade in their German limos for something a little less.... delicate. And a little more... competent.

There's a new 6.7L V8 diesel which, at 29,000 psi, activates "five injection events per cylinder per cycle using eight-hole piezo injectors to spray fuel into the piston bowl". Named 6R140, the new six-speed automatic shifts horsepower in both the 6.7L diesel and 6.2L V8.

Yes indeed, Ford's press release for the 2011 Super Duty F-Series spends a lot of words on powertrain. Inside the Gallery of 65 images below, you can check out those engines if you like. Taking notice of this here interior ain't gonna be no waste of your time, neither. Cowboy, it only looks like the inside of an Audi - this truly is the new heavy duty truck from Ford.

WATCH THE 2010 TOYOTA 4RUNNER GO OFF-ROADING

Suitably impressed with Toyota 4Runner visuals since last Friday, The Good Car Guy drew more attention to the merits of Toyota's hardcore midsizer earlier today when listing the occupants of the truck-based SUV market of 2009. In the short clip below, you can watch the 4Runner do what it's meant to do but will rarely do: off-road. Four-by-fouring, folks. Getting dirty.

COMPLETE LIST OF ALL TRUCK-BASED, BODY-ON-FRAME SUVs ON SALE TODAY

Toyota's desire to push forward with a new genuine sport-utility vehicle at a time when most manufacturers are either leaving the category or never joined the fun isn't startling - Toyota has a handful of other truck-based SUVs - but it is surprising. Only 17 brands competing in the United States sell body-on-frame SUVs. In reality, only seven manufacturers have been motive forces in terms of seeing to the design of current body-on-frame SUVs.

Take a look at the full 4Runner Gallery of images here

Check the shortlist below for all truck-based SUVs on sale in America today. The Good Car Guy has joined platform sharers together for a clearer view of our genuine SUV dearth. Though GoodCarBadCar.net isn't a proponent of ridding the world of crossovers and all car-based SUVs (many made it in The Good 12 Supersize, after all), it's good to make sure everybody understands what real sport-utes bring to the table.

Think of the new Toyota 4Runner and its fuel economy ratings of 17/22mpg for the V6 4x4 or 18/23mpg, one wonders at the amazing crossover fuel economy of the similarly sized Toyota Highlander. In all-wheel drive form, the V6 Highlander achieves 17/23mpg. Yes, it drives "nicer" and is "more car-like". But it won't tow or haul like a 4Runner and ain't saving you money on the highway, either.

Regardless, with a new version of the slow-selling 4Runner, Toyota assures real-deal SUV aficionados by supplying a tough SUV in which off-roading is a possibility. Even if it never ventures over a curb.

Be mindful of one other thing: the manufacturers of many of the body-on-frame truck-based sport-utility vehicles listed below are already making plans for the replacements to be unibody CUVs. And don't get all up-in-arms because some of these vehicles are quite car-like. The list viewable after the jump is still a list of the most truckish SUVs around.

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Cadillac Escalade EXT/Chevrolet Suburban/GMC Yukon XL
Cadillac Escalade/Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon
Chevrolet TrailBlazer/GMC Envoy/Saab 9-7X
Dodge Nitro/Jeep Liberty
Ford Expedition/Lincoln Navigator
Ford Explorer/Mercury Mountaineer
Hummer H2
Hummer H3
Infiniti QX56/Nissan Armada
Jeep Commander
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Wrangler
Kia Borrego
Lexus GX470
Lexus LX570/Toyota Land Cruiser
Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon
Nissan XTerra
Nissan Pathfinder
Suzuki Grand Vitara
Toyota FJ Cruiser
Toyota 4Runner
Toyota Sequoia

FORD'S COMPARING THE TAURUS WITH LEXUS LS, ACURA RL, AUDI A6, AND INFINITI M

It's hard to imagine anybody at Ford Motor Company assuming that the Ford Taurus's better paint quality will bring in buyers who would have otherwise spent twice the price on a Lexus LS460. Likewise, Audi won't likely lose sleep over the Taurus SHO's ability to zoom to 60mph and through the quarter-mile when its A6 4.2 V8 is a worthy car. Speed isn't everything. Meanwhile at Honda HQ, product specialists are long past concluding that the Acura RL doesn't sell because it's loud. And at Infiniti, the M45 hasn't been a raging success; but don't blame its lack of parking lot safety.

Nevertheless, videos made by Ford (as seen below) demonstrate the inherent value of the Taurus, certainly more than the clips impress you with paint quality; acceleration; silence; or blind spot management. Who knows: in this retarded economy certain buyers might decide that a $30K Ford Taurus is luxurious and sporty enough to drop the other $10-$35,000 in their depleted 401Ks.

Despite Alan Mulally's love of Lexus, Tanner Foust is the host of the Ford Taurus clips after the jump.

LEXUS vs ACURA vs INFINITI - WHICH JAPANESE LUXURY AUTOMAKER SELLS BEST?

Honda beat Toyota and Nissan to the North American luxury market by three years. Acura's 1986 entry gave Honda a headstart; but since that time Acura has always been fighting for the prestige that Lexus grabbed hold of in 1989. Infiniti, meanwhile, was a hit.... then not so much, and even with good product is still struggling to be Lexus-like while offering more direct competition to BMW than Lexus's more Mercedes-like equivalents.

Indeed, Lexus' dominance is all-consuming. Not only do Acura and Infiniti struggle against the might of Toyota's luxury producer - so do German manufacturers Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Ah, but only in North America. Abroad, where Lexus is a newer brand and still perceived as Toyota Plus, BMW and Benz lay a whippin'. Inside Audi headquarters, their plans for world dominance sometime next decade have been activated.

U.S. 2012 Sales: April YTD - Lexus vs. Acura vs. Infiniti

Back in America, Lexus offers more distinct models than Acura or Infiniti can muster. SUVs are a huge part of the Lexus portfolio. Of course, hybrids play a major advertising role and a not insignificant sales role, too. Until recently, Acura has stayed course with Lexus; styling vehicles with little excitement and concentrating on a superior reliability and dealer experience. Infiniti has very clearly gone sporty. Lexus is tryin' to do it all. The new F sub-brand makes for a nice halo presence inside Lexus stores. Profits from small hotrod sedans aren't bad either.

Read more on luxury car Sales Stats in America

But what cars are selling, the question is. That's what you're here to find out. Sales Stats below describe the situation in August. Unlike the German luxury trio, these Japanese automakers don't line up their cars to compete directly with the opposition. Audi's A4 plays the Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3-Series; A6 against the E-Class and 5-Series; A8 versus S-Class and 7-Series. Thus, The Good Car Guy has grouped the Japanese cars together in approximate segments. Of course this means Lexus has a couple standout automobiles not challenged by Acura or Infiniti.

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SMALLER CARS

Infiniti G: 4,903
Lexus IS: 4,855
Acura TSX: 2,925
Lexus HS: 543

MIDSIZE SEDANS
Lexus ES: 5,629

Acura TL: 3,003

Lexus GS: 669

Infiniti M: 618
Acura RL: 149

SMALLER SUVs
Lexus RX: 9,317

Acura RDX: 728

Infiniti EX: 665

LARGER SUVs
Acura MDX: 2,820

Infiniti FX: 938
Lexus GX: 716

LARGEST SUVs
Infiniti QX56: 608
Lexus LX570: 249

Lexus LS: 880
Lexus SC: 34

AUGUST TOTALS & YEAR-TO-DATE
Lexus: 22,892 / 131,469

Infiniti: 9,625 / 69,369
Acura: 7,732 / 53,276

THE BEST SELLING SMALL LUXURY SUV IS THE MERCEDES-BENZ GLK

Given that The Good Car Guy's article on the Top 5 Small Luxury SUVs is one of the most popular posts ever written on GoodCarBadCar.net, it seems proper that we let the people have their say, too. Whilst GoodCarBadCar.net proclaimed The Good 12 Supersize-winning Audi Q5 to be the best small luxury SUV, what did the American populace think in August of 2009? In fact, what choices have thousands of consumers made in 2009 when it comes to small luxury SUVs?

Good looks helped bring the Mercedes-Benz GLK350 into second place in the Top 5 post. In practice, Americans bought more Benz GLKs in August than any other small luxury SUV last month. (These Sales Stats exclude the Land Rover LR2 since Tata Motors refuses to share sales data on Jaguar and Land Rover.) The Audi Q5 was a distinctly popular luxury SUV in August, however, with more than twice as many Q5s sold than any other small luxury SUV barring the GLK350. A full rundown of the Sales Stats can be seen below. Not every small luxury SUV listed below has been on sale since January, so don't pay excessive attention to the Year-To-Date figures.

Mercedes-Benz GLK: 1,665 (August), 14,457 (YTD)

Audi Q5: 1,496 (August), 8,220 (YTD)

Volvo XC60: 767 (August), 5,056 (YTD)

Acura RDX: 728 (August), 6,223 (YTD)

BMW X3: 670 August), 4,098 (YTD)

Infiniti EX35: 665 (August), 7,488 (YTD)

Land Rover LR2: N/A

THE NEW JAGUAR XJ - INTERESTING NUMBERS

Back in July, GoodCarBadCar.net went in-depth with the new Jaguar XJ's pricing. Then in August, the XJ's pricing was analysed for differences in Germany, the U.S., and the UK. We know there's a whole lot of horsepower, a completely (and utterly, totally, wildly) new look, and - as always - a field full of competitors which routinely sell in significantly higher Numbers than does the Jaguar XJ.

For something different, The Good Car Guy has plucked out certain Numbers pertaining to the 2010 Jaguar XJ that will make you nudge the person sitting beside you and say, "Hey, did you know the new XJ has....?" before realizing that you don't know the person sitting next to you and they don't want you bumping their elbow.

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6.0 - seconds required for the new Jaguar XJ diesel (a 3.0L twin-turbo) to reach 60 miles per hour, although it ain't about to reach North America at all

50 - percentage of the Jaguar XJ's aluminum body made up of recycled materials

400 - total Computational Fluid Dynamics performed on the Jaguar XJ before the end of the initial design phase, helping to achieve a drag coefficient of 0.29

16 - percentage increase in thermodynamic efficiency inside the Jaguar XJ's new supercharger

300 - milliseconds required for the second turbocharger to come on line above 2800 rpm in the 3.0L V6 diesel

14.9 - size, in inches, of the brake discs on supercharged V8 XJs, making the brakes 1/10th of-an-inch smaller than the wheels on a '92 Jaguar XJ6

14 - millimetres of extra length ahead of the front wheels on the new Jaguar XJ, which, along with an extra 7mm behind the rear wheels, accounts for the new XJs added length while the wheelbase remains the same

20 - stereo speakers used by the new Jaguar XJ when equipped with the top-of-the-line Bowers & Wikins system

1200 - total watts of transient output generated by the new Bowers & Wilkins stereo in the XJ

54,000 - unique parameters potentially handled by the largest electronic processor inside the new Jaguar XJ, the processor which handles the Dolby Pro-Logic surround sound for the Bowers & Wilkins stereo

7,000 - virtual crash tests performed "on" the Jaguar XJ during product development

1,000,000 - virtual miles driven "in" the Jaguar XJ during product development

85 - percentage of each Jaguar XJ to be recycled at the end of its life

LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO/MURCIELAGO/REVENTON EMISSIONS "IMMEASURABLE"

After arriving in Nova Scotia, The Good Car Brother bemoaned his Chevrolet Suburban's poor fuel economy and envied the efficiency of GoodCarBadCar's recent long-term addition, an '09 smart fortwo. Traveling extensively on highways all across this continent, his Suburban was achieving somewhere under 20 miles per gallon. The smart? Routine driving sees near 38 miles per gallon.

Converted to people miles per gallon, however, his Suburban would have been rated around 108 pmpg. GoodCarBadCar's smart with full human capacity wouldn't be rated beyond 76 pmpg. While it's true that no current Lamborghini could attain a pmpg rating over 40, there is another argument - another perspective, really - that ought to be considered when attacking the manufacturer for the consumption and emission of its automobiles.

Over its 46-year history, Lamborghini has produced approximately 22,000 cars. Americans made the Hyundai Elantra the tenth best-selling car in the USA last month by buying 21,673 sedan and wagon Elantras. Context given.

Of the 22,000 Lamborghinis manufactured in the last 46 years, only 11,000 are driven regularly. Unfortunately, this means 11,000 sit in living rooms, museums, and.... avert your eyes, junkyards. More context required? Toyota sold 10,656 Highlanders in August. One can assume they're all being driven. On the school run.

So few Lamborghinis are being driven, yes, but hardly driven in truth. On average, those 11,000 Lamborghinis are driven about 3,000 miles annually. GoodCarBadCar's long-term smart is driven sparingly yet will cover that distance in six months.

Measure the equivalent this'a'way. Take 2,750 cars and drive them each 12,000 miles per year. In other words, that's about 7% of the Honda Accords sold in the U.S. in August driven a regular amount.

Finally, says evo's Harry Metcalfe on Stephan Winkelmann's subject, the "CO2 levels of all the Lamborghinis ever produced is almost immeasurable". And yet, even amongst the automotive enthusiast society, we continue to expect companies like Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Bentley to produce E85-burning hybrids with hydrogen fuel cells and curb weights under 2,000 pounds.

Just for full disclosure's sake, here are some of the Numbers from the EPA on Lamborghini's 2010 models. By the way, the EPA (@ fueleconomy.gov) uses 15,000 miles per year to calculate the carbon footprint of automobiles.

Lamborghini Gallardo 6-speed manual: 12 mpg city/20 mpg highway, 12.2 tons of CO2/year

Lamborgini Murcielago 6-speed manual: 8 mpg city/13 mpg highway, 18.3 tons of CO2/year

Lamborghini Reventon Roadster: 9 mpg city/14 mpg highway, 16.6 tons of CO2/year

GM SAYS "NO GO" FOR DENALI XT PRODUCTION - HONDA SAYS "GOOD THINKING"

News from Autoblog (via Automotive News, somehow via General Motors) that GMC will not build a unibody pickup truck like the Denali XT concept from the 2008 Chicago auto show is not surprising. Other than a handful of products from Ford Motor Company, almost every car, all crossovers and most SUVs on the market make use of a unibody. Trucks, however, are typically built using body-on-frame "technology".

Theories persist that using a monocoque structure for a truck could work. Despite necessary sacrifices in payload and towing, the gains in ride & handling and fuel economy would pay off, right? Right?

As Autoblog points out, the only truck out there with unibody construction is the Honda Ridgeline. Honda's truck will get'cha one measly extra mpg in the city over the a typical Chevrolet Silverado 4x4.

Perhaps a stronger argument against mass production of unibody pickups is the sales, up to this point, of the only unibody pickup truck. The Good Car Guy, aka Timothy Cain, wrote extensively on this subject at LemonFree.com just last week. The Dodge Ram, which is far and away not the best-selling truck in America, sells more than twelve times as often as the Honda Ridgeline in 2009.

Is there no place for monocoque architecture in the truck world of tomorrow? Certainly not as a major player from a major truck manufacturer. As a niche product catering to a different kind of truck buyer, the Ridgeline can continue and a company like Ford, GMC, Dodge, or Toyota could make a simple but not very profitable run at 25,000 units per year.

DO ALL ASTON MARTINS HAVE TO LOOK ALIKE? RAPIDE GALLERY

Believe you me, the Aston Martin Rapide is one of the best-looking 4-doors in the history of 4-doors. Understand you this, were the funds available to The Good Car Guy, an Aston Martin Rapide would almost definitely be parked beneath GoodCarBadCar Towers. Don't doubt it for a minute, GoodCarBadCar.net is officially a firm supporter of the Aston Martin Rapide and its progression toward production.

That being said, why must it be styled to look exactly like all other current Aston Martins? There's this interesting Porsche dilemma that doesn't faze the designers in Gaydon, Warwickshire one bit. See, at Porsche, each new model is supposed to look like the 911 Carrera, only as an SUV (Cayenne) or sedan (Panamera). Unfortunately, Zuffenhausen's designers can't make it happen. Conversely unfortunate at Aston Martin is the designer's innate comprehension of what an Aston is "supposed to look like" and their spectacular ability to make the DB9 a supercar (DBS) or a smaller 911 competitor (V8 Vantage) or, as seen in the Gallery below, a four-door sedan..... er, hatchback.

And then, this company which designs and manufacturers some of the planet's most beautiful cars needs an ultra-exclusive front-engined British alternative to the Lamborghini Reventon. Thus, 77 examples of the One-77 are sold off to willing supercar connoisseurs. What do these cars look like? Ah, this time Aston Martin exaggerates the family look. How inventive.

Whilst I complain about this unnecessary design kinship, Aston Martin is becoming an increasingly successful company. At the same time, arguments start up every time Ferrari introduces a new car. Antagonists and apologists debate the merits of a new controversial Ferrari design. Then Ferrari goes on to sell more of the new car than they were able to sell of its predecessors. Perhaps it's useful for your cars to look like red-blooded Italian supercars without looking like triplets who were born in different calendar years.

Is there any sedan available today with greater pull-up-at-the-Ritz presence than Aston's Rapide? Certainly not the Mercedes S-Class or Jaguar XJ. Only certain (more expensive) Bentleys and Rolls-Royce Phantoms could compete. Notwithstanding its good looks, the future must hold something different for some of Aston Martin's cars lest we all ignore the brand for boredom.

From the top, the very similar front ends of the Aston Martin DB9, V8 Vantage, DBS, Rapide, and One-77.

"MAY THE BEST CAR WIN" SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD PLAN FROM GM

The ad you see embedded as an image in the right side of this post came to my attention earlier today. To be honest, at the time I noticed the GMC Terrain ad it was beneath this morning's post on the Honda CR-V. Of course, I didn't click it (that would be illegal, or at least immoral, by Google's standards) but I grabbed a screenshot and headed over to GM.ca.

There are two reasons I find this kind of advertising to be perfect to be perfect for the "new" General Motors. We've all seen the tv commercials with Ed Whitaker talking about great new veehickles and the company's desire to stand behind their products. And I greatly respect GM's desire to express confidence by offering customers the option of returning their vehicle inside 60 days. (Am I allowed to do that more than once? Ha!) To my own internal advertising response meter, the brief tagline beneath the ad which appeared on GoodCarBadCar.net and surrounds numerous vehicles @ GM.ca sends an even stronger message.

No, it doesn't sell the veehickle. But it does make me think, "Hmm, I should go take that veehickle for a drive". For many of my friends, family members, and acquaintances - and readers - the last decade of GM veehickles haven't done a decent job of getting them to the dealer, let alone buying the car once there.

General Motors is now saying, "May The Best Car Win". Well, shouldn't we at least take them up on the offer of exploring the possibility that their veehickle may be the best. They do, after all, sound as though they're okay with customers buying a Honda or Toyota if the Honda or Toyota really is the best. GM just doesn't think you'll find the Honda or Toyota to be the best. And by expressing such confidence in their veehickles, I become tempted to take their products seriously.

Which is when the 60-day money back guarantee kicks in. "May The Best Truck Win" sells me on the idea. "If it hasn't won you over, we'll take it back" sells me on the reality.

Remember, GM isn't applying this incentive to Hummer (to be sold), Saturn (sold), Saab (sold), or Pontiac (dead and/or dying). Rather obviously, GM doesn't stand behind those products as firmly. Though not completely suggesting that the new Buick LaCrosse, GMC Terrain/Chevrolet Equinox, Cadillac CTS, or Chevrolet Camaro are "the best cars", it shouldn't surprise anyone to learn that GM's veehickle lineup is a whole lot better than it was just last year. Hyundai didn't become a huge automaker by backing away from its cars and saying, "They're cheap". Hyundai provided gigantic warranty coverage instead. GM won't sell enough cars if all their commercials ever tell you is "Get this Chevy for a whole lot less money than the foreign jobbie down the street".

GM has begun to walk the walk. Might as well talk the talk, as well.

HOW IS THE HONDA CR-V GOING TO KEEP SELLING LIKE HOTCAKES?

Pictures of the 2010 Honda CR-V were released recently. Apparently these pictures show a different vehicle than the 2009 CR-V, but you'd be hard pressed to tell. This is where you're supposed to read the standard auto scribe line bemoaning the lack of excitement and the dearth of change, something to grab hold of and perhaps even believe in.

But Honda believes in success. In the case of the CR-V, increased success will come by sticking to the straight and narrow. Yes, even I was disappointed that Honda bothered to release new images of the CR-V considering its lack of change. They say the front fascia has been altered with a new grille and bumper. Wheels on the upper-end models use ten spokes now, an increase of three spokes. Per wheel.

Read more about Honda on GoodCarBadCar.net

More significant changes can be found underneath the only-slightly-tinkered-with exterior. Horsepower jumps by fourteen at the same time as fuel economy rises by one mile per gallon in both the city and on the highway; both on 4WD and 2WD models. The 2.4L is still relatively torqueless. Only 161 lb-ft of twist is generated at best; which isn't until 4,400 rpm. Then again, the CR-V isn't a very large vehicle. A wheelbase of 103.1 inches and a basic curb weight of less than 3,400 pounds makes the power available plenty, perhaps.

Moving inside, the CR-V offers up enough space for the EPA to qualify it as a large sedan.... if it were... umm, a four-door car. Indeed, chief amongst reasons tens of thousands of Americans buy a CR-V each month is this space. Passengers enjoy 103.8 cubic feet of oxygen. 35.7 cubic feet of cargo space is available behind the second row.

Check out more Sales Stats on GoodCarBadCar.net

The CR-V doesn't try to be something it's not. Though unavoidably dull and not the least bit sporty, Honda's CR-V became the ideal family vehicle for 30,284 people in the USA in August. Combined sales of the Honda Odyssey, Honda Pilot, Honda Ridgeline, and Honda Element total 10,000 less. Despite a huge increase in Hyundai Santa Fe sales, that SUV's total was only one-third of the CR-V's August sales. Toyota witnessed a huge gain in RAV4 sales, too, but still fewer than 20,000 were sold in August.

Lots of space, a little bit of pace, and a modicum of grace: even Jaguar's Sir William Lyons would've been able to see why the CR-V was succeeding in the American Marketplace.

Honda CR-V 2009 Sales:

August: 30,284

July: 19,151

June: 13,720

May: 14,550

April: 12,175

March: 12,959

February: 12,370

January: 13,143

Year-To-Date: 128,352

GM SALES FROM THEIR FOUR CORE BRANDS FROM AUGUST 2009

General Motors has emerged from bankruptcy. That's old news. GM sales are lower this year than last. Hmm... old news. General Motors has plans to operate more safely and sanely as a smaller auto conglomerate by reducing brands with just four makes on sale in the future. You've heard about that, but have you examined the consequences?

Pontiac sold 29,921 vehicles in August. But Pontiac is soon to die. Saturn has been sold, but that also means 8,479 sales down the tubes. But for one Hummer statistic thrown in for fun, the three Graphs below show the strengths and weaknesses of a renewed General Motors. Take a look at August's car sales, then SUV sales, and finally truck sales. Click any Graph to see a larger view of these Sales Stats.

ANALYZING FORD'S SUV, TRUCK, AND CROSSOVER SALES

Ford Motor Company is on a roll. CNN anchors will tell you it's because their "all-new" model range is so terrific. Financial analysts point to the bankruptcies of General Motors and Chrysler and the absence of government intervention at Ford as part of the reason customers have turned to Dearborn's products.

Despite the public outcry for more small cars from domestic manufacturers, Ford still offers a wide variety of trucks and SUVs. And it's a good thing. Fusion and Focus sales may be better than expected, but without the F-Series and Escape, Ford sales as a whole would be something of a blip on monthly GoodCarBadCar.net's Sales Stats reports.

The Graph above (click to make larger) shows each Ford SUV, crossover, or truck as a percentage of the whole Ford truck/SUV/crossover total. Combined, this equates to 103,420 vehicles. Ford sold 57,626 cars in the States last month. That total includes the Taurus, Crown Victoria, Focus, Fusion, and Mustang.

Strangely, Ford became the poster child for domestic automotive production over the last few months. While not attempting to degrade what the company has achieved, this is still an interesting status for a company which sells half as many car models as "trucks", and does so half as often.

COMPARING SALES OF ENTRY-LUXURY MODELS IN THE USA (AUGUST 2009)

Entry-luxury is not only something of a misnomer; it's also impossible to define when it comes to automobiles. Sure, the BMW 3-Series starts out as entry-luxury, but the $40,300 pricetag of the 335i sedan is just a way of entering the $40K bracket.

For the purposes of the Graph you'll inspect in a moment, The Good Car Guy collected August's Sales Stats on smallerish vehicles from ten different providers of luxury goods. That means Lincoln's MKZ, the Cadillac CTS, Saab 9-3, Volvo S40 & V50, Lexus IS, Infiniti G37, Audi A4, Acura TSX, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and BMW's 3-Series. Why are vehicles like the Volvo C30, Acura TL, Audi A3, and BMW 1-Series left out? For one thing, I hate clutter. More importantly, this is supposed to be a showcase of competitors. That being said, sales totals from each model incorporate all body configurations.

Anybody looking to spend their hard-earned money on a small-to-midsize luxury car considers one of these automobiles. The vast majority end up avoiding most of them, test driving a few, and selecting something German. Quite seriously, this is an international battle for your hearts and minds. It more than likely began before you realized: when your father's rich cousin came to the family reunion in an '88 BMW 325i or when you saw those wide-fendered Audi A4 DTM racers on the Speed channel. One way or another, you prefer one above the other. This Graph just happens to show which cars America favoured best in August.

Click the Graph for a larger view