Scott Keogh Named President of Audi of America

Scott Keogh was named President of Audi of America immediately to replace Johan de Nysschen who left to run Nissan's global Infiniti brand after a 20 year career at Audi, 7 1/2 years in the top job.

Keogh has been Chief Marketing Officer at Audi of America for the past six years leading all product planning for the U.S. market in addition to marketing and advertising campaigns including the Truth in 24 documentaries about Audi at the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race; Super Bowl advertising; a significant push into social media; and product placement, such as seen in the Iron Man movie series. Keogh helped the introduction of Audi TDI clean diesel technology to the U.S. market by positioning it as a social cause rather than an engine option. He developed the strategy to re-introduce RS performance models, including the new RS 5 coupe and also advocated for the return of the Audi allroad, as part of a strategy that has resulted in 14 new Audi model launches for American consumers since 2006.

Prior to joining Audi, Keogh worked at Mercedes-Benz USA for more than a decade as general manager of marketing communications and general manager of Smart USA  and before that Keogh was responsible for corporate communications for MBUSA. Keogh has a Bachelor of Arts from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in upstate New York.

J.D. Power and Associates 2012 IQS Highlights

"Vehicle manufacturers posted the strongest improvement in initial quality since 2009 and are producing higher-quality vehicles than ever before", according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Initial Quality Study. 

• Overall initial quality for the industry improves by 5 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) to average 102 PP100 in 2012--an improvement of 5 percent from 2011. 
• Of the 34 brands ranked in the 2012 IQS, 26 have improved from 2011, five have declined, one scores the same as in 2011 and two were not included in the 2011 study. 
• Of the 185 models ranked in both the 2012 and 2011 IQS, 65 percent have improved. Lexus Is the highest-ranked nameplate for a second consecutive year.

Top Vehicle Category Winners:

Toyota: Toyota Yaris & Corolla, Lexus LS, ES 350 & RX
General Motors: Chevrolet Malibu, Cadillac Escalade, GMC Sierra LD & Buick Enclave.
Nissan:  Infiniti M-Series, Infiniti EX-Series, Nissan Frontier & Quest
Ford: Mustang, Taurus & Expedition
Other category winners: Mazda MX-5 Miata, Volvo C70, Porsche 911, Honda CR-V & Kia Soul.

Nameplate      PP100     
              2012  / 2011 / 2010
Lexus       73  /  73  /  88
Jaguar      75  / 114  /  130
Porsche    75  /  100  /  83
Cadillac     80 /  103  /  111
Honda      83  /  86  /  95
Acura       84  /  89  /  86
Infiniti       84  / 102  /  107
Toyota      88  / 101  /  117
Mercedes  96  /  94  /  87
BMW        97  /  109  /  113
Mazda      97  / 100   /  114
GMC         99  /  104  /  126
Nissan       99  /  117  /  111
Ram          99  /  114  /  110
Chevrolet  100  /  109  /  111
Ind. Avg.   102  /  107 /  109
Audi         105  /  113  /  111
Buick        106  /  114  /  114
Hyundai    107  /  108  /  102
Kia          107  / 113  /  126
Lincoln     107  /  111  /  106
Volvo       108  / 109  /  109
Subaru     110  /  108  /  121
Jeep         115 /  122  / 129
Suzuki      116 /  136  /  122
Chrysler    116  / 110  /  122
Scion        117  /  123  /  114
Ford          118  / 116  /  93
Land Rover  119  /  123  /  170
Dodge        124  /  137  /  130    
Mitsubishi   124  /  133  /  146
Volkswagen  124  / 131  /  135
MINI           139  /  131  /  133
Fiat            151
smart         151

Courtesy of J.D. Power and Associates

J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Initial Quality Study

Derek Jenkins, Design Director Mazda Design Americas

Derek Jenkins was appointed to the position of Design Director, Mazda Design Americas in April 2009 and one of his first projects was the new highly successful CX-5 that recently went on sale and is in very short supply. As the former Chief of Design for Volkswagen Group North America, Jenkins is credited with numerous concept and production vehicles including the Audi A2, A8 and Volkswagen Scirocco concept.  Prior to joining VW in 2000, he held various design roles at both VW and Audi, both in North America and abroad. As Design Director, Jenkins oversees a staff of about 25, which pushes creative boundaries by developing advanced ideas for Mazda's next generation of cars. In this video he shows us the MX-5 Spyder. Derek, 42, like many successful global car designers, is a graduate of Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and comments on what influences his design ideas.

Mazda's TAKERI Concept made its North American debut at the 2012 New York International Auto Show in April and is Mazda's first concept vehicle to feature the SKYACTIV-D clean diesel engine and as well as other Mazda-developed, fuel-saving technologies such as i-stop, a stop-start system, and i-ELOOP, a regenerative braking system. TAKERI is likely the next generation 2014 Mazda6 sedan with confirmation expected in late September at the Paris Auto Show.

Kia Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer

Peter Schreyer, 58, is a highly decorated German car designer who spent most of his career at Audi, starting in 1980, going to Volkswagen and then was Audi's Chief Designer from 1994 to 2002, during which time he was credited with designing the Audi TT, among many radical designs.  He was named  Automobile Magazine 2012 Man of the Year for his design accomplishments transforming Kia vehicles over the past six years as its Chief Design Officer. He spends a lot of his time commuting between Kia's European design studio in Frankfurt, Germany, Kia's North American headquarters with a design studio in Irvine, California and company headquarters in Seoul, Korea. In this interview, Schreyer says the newly-introduced-to-Korea rear wheel Kia K9 luxury sedan will likely be coming to the U.S. market. The K9 is powered by a 285 horsepower 3.8 liter V6 engine.

2013 BMW X1 Designer Richard Kim

2013 BMW X1 Arrives In U.S. This Fall Starting At $31,545
The new 2013 BMW X1 will arrive in the U.S. this Fall starting at an MSRP of $31,545 (including $895 Destination and Handling) with global sales having already exceeded 275,000.  X1s destined for the U.S. will be built in BMW’s Leipzig, Germany plant and X1s for the Chinese market will now be built in a newly opened plant at Tiexi in Shenyang Province.

The BMW X1 sDrive28i ($31,545) and xDrive28i ($33,245) feature BMW’s newest 240 horsepower 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder engine which delivers maximum torque of 260 lb-ft developed at just 1,250 rpm and remains constant up to 4,800 rpm and is mated to BMW’s latest 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. This combination powers the X1 sDrive28i and xDrive28i from 0-60 mph in 6.2 and 6.3 seconds respectively. Preliminary EPA mileage estimates are 24 mpg city/33 mpg highway/27 mpg combined for the X1 sDrive28i while the AWD X1 xDrive28i has preliminary EPA estimates of 22 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined. The 2013 BMW X1 xDrive35i ($39,345) with xDrive all-wheel drive is exclusive to the North American market with a 300 horsepower 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder engine mated to a 6-speed Steptronic automatic transmission with a 0 to 60 mph time of just 5.3 seconds and EPA mileage estimates of 18 mpg city/27 mpg highway/21 mpg combined. (All prices include $895 Destination and Handling.)

All models feature Brake Energy Regeneration while the X1 sDrive28i and xDrive28i models also have Auto Start/Stop and ECO PRO mode to further reduce fuel consumption. BMW xLine, BMW Sport Line and M Sport Package are offered as an alternative to the base trim level. On the tech front, there's Apple iPhone and other smartphones integration as well as music players, including the use of Internet-based services. The Apps option enables iPhone users, among other things, to receive Internet radio stations and to display Facebook and Twitter posts on the onboard monitor. With BMW Apps, iPhone users can access and listen to music streaming services like Pandora and MOG. Other available packages include the Cold Weather Package, Lighting Package and Premium Package. The Driver Assistance Package, Premium Package and Technology Package may be order together as the Ultimate Package. The rear seatback can be split 40:20:40, with the three sections folding down individually or jointly according to need and can be adjusted in ten stages so two 46-inch golf bags can be stowed widthways or, after folding down the central section of the seatback, lengthwise. The through-loading aperture between the outer rear seats can also be used for two snowboards or four pairs of skis. Can't wait!

2013 Hyundai Elantra GT Starts At $19,170 This Month

 
The new 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT five-door compact hatchback with manual transmission will have a starting price of $19,170 (including $775 freight charges) and bragging 39 highway miles per gallon when it begins arriving in dealerships later this month. Elantra GT is powered by a 1.8-liter Nu four-cylinder engine with 148 horsepower and 131 lb-ft of torque, the same as the Elantra sedan. The engine is mated to either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic with SHIFTRONIC®. Elantra GT is available as an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) or Partial Zero Emission Vehicles (PZEV). The Elantra GT with automatic transmission has a starting MSRP of $20,170 (including $775 freight). A couple of the standard features are a driver knee airbag, hidden rear camera, Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System with voice recognition and Blue Link Telematics System. There are two available option packages: the Style Package for $2,750 and the Technology Package for $2,350 which requires the Style package.

Test Drive: 2012 Audi A4 Prestige S Line MT6 Sedan

The Audi A4 sedan starts at $32,500 for the front wheel drive version but with 9 engine/transmission options the price can quickly run up. I drove the A4 2.0 TFSI® quattro MT6 (six-speed manual transmission) Sedan which starts at $33,300. Add the $9,500 top-of-the-line Prestige trim package, the $1,250 S line plus package, the $750 Sport Package and the $875 Destination charge and now the A4 has a sticker price of $45,675.

The Prestige package features Audi adaptive xenon headlights which pivot up to 15 degrees to allow you to see ahead in the dark by lighting up corners, LED daytime running lights, Audi side assist which helps monitor blind spots and fast-approaching vehicles at a range of 150 ft. at speeds over 19 MPH. MMI® Navigation plus features a 7" full-color LCD screen and MMI control logic equipped with the latest generation of MMI, powered by a 40-GB hard drive and an NVIDIA® processor.

When I first saw the A4 parked in the lot - "wow"! I jumped into the comfortable, snug sport driver's seat in Oakland, California and quickly found the key node simple to use for unlocking the doors and opening the trunk. There are two start options, a push button or pushing the node deeper into its slot on the dash. All the controls were ergonomically well-placed so I just had to align the mirrors, press the clutch, press start and was underway. First stop, Ikea where I effortlessly folded down the back seats to make room for the cargo. A performance sedan that can transport long, large and odd-sized objects - great second impression of the A4.

It took a while to figure out the sequence and methodology of the driver wheel-mounted controls for the radio which required a combination of using the mode button and rolling scroll control to cycle through the functions to pick a source and then station, but once understood, it was very intuitive and easy to operate without distraction. The sound from the 14 speaker, 505 digitally amplified watt Bang & Olufsen® Sound System was truly incredible. Apparently, microphone-based noise compensation ensures optimum sound under varying road conditions and speeds - I'll take Audi's word on that.

The climate controls were efficient, using the same knob for both fan speed and temperature. The rear back-up camera and monitor, an option on many vehicles today, was very helpful. The 211 horsepower turbo-charged 2.0 liter inline 4 cylinder engine provided plenty of power making the six speed manual transmission a fun-to-drive experience.

After dropping off the Ikea items in Berkeley in exchange for a passenger, it was time to hit the freeway north over the Richmond Bridge. My passenger quickly noticed that the silver decorative panel in front of him reflected light in his face so had to cover it with a book to cut the glare. Prone to car sickness, my passenger seemed to handle the smooth shifting manual transmission and road-hugging attributes of quattro on the challenging windy roads through the redwoods along the Russian River and the return trip on the scenic back-road route to Berkeley. The Audi A4 passenger comfort even induced a snooze.

Time to assemble the Ikea dresser in an apartment two floors above the parking garage. With the key node in my pocket, I assembled the dresser, then took the trash to the parking garage to find the Audi trunk open. Apparently, the "open trunk button" on the node must have depressed during my Ikea efforts. Luckily, nothing was stolen but could have been. This could happen to any vehicle with keyless entry devices where proximity permits vehicle access. So be sure to leave your keyless entry key nodes in a place where this can't happen.

The Audi A4 Prestige S Line MT6 Sedan oozed with high performance prestige, provided cargo versatility, demonstrated sporty handling with peppy power and cozy comforts combining to definitely show off, inside and out, as an all-round classy vehicle. The Audi A4 deserves all the accolades.

2013 Nissan Altima Heads To Showrooms With 38 Hwy. MPG

All-new 2013 Nissan Altima, Nissan's top selling nameplate, is on its way to dealers. The 182 horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder Altima, with a standard 18-gallon fuel tank, is capable of going up to 684 miles on a single tank of fuel getting 27 mpg city, 38 mpg highway and 31 mpg combined. Nissan says more than 30,000 customers have expressed an interest in the Altima through the pre-order website, which also offers those placing an order a complimentary three-year scheduled maintenance program valued at $700.

The first 2013 Altima rolled off the assembly line in Canton, Mississippi on Wednesday, a few weeks after the first Smyrna, Tennessee-built 2013 Altima. Nissan has an aggressive goal to triple the number of exported Altimas in the next two to three years. Prices for the 2013 Nissan Altima start at $22,500 USD for the Altima 2.5 S. With the all-new Altima set to go on sale, through the first five months of 2012, current Altima sales are 112,599, up 29.7 percent over 2011. Altima has accounted for 28.6 percent of all Nissan and Infiniti sales this year. This is a BIG new product launch for Nissan, as Altima is the first of five all-new vehicle introductions in the next 15 months.

Off-Roading Shows Off Vehicle Features

Photo courtesy: Brad Nelson

If you have an all-wheel or four-wheel-drive SUV or truck, you may have never used some of the features designed for off-road, steep hill and rugged terrain driving. I spent my birthday this week behind the wheel of SUVs and trucks crawling along the uneven, rock-filled, dusty dirt roads of the hills of Malibu and celebrated the use of on-board vehicle systems, like Hill Descent Control (HDC), that took away the stress and risks of dangerously steep downhill manoeuvrings. Engaging four-wheel drive low gear for the steep climbs, tight turns and unexpected slipping and sliding was par for the course in these carefully selected, capable vehicles.

The Toyota 4Runner Trail edition (below) and Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland (above) were two vehicles with the extremely useful Hill Descent Control that I drove on the more challenging red course at Calamigos Ranch. The temptation is to step on the brake pedal, but you must resist, because that will override the HDC system. The vehicle does it all while HDC is operating - it controls acceleration and braking as needed with the ABS brake system controlling the speed.

The Honda Pilot Touring edition performed very well on the less-rough but still tough blue course by absorbing much of the bumpy terrain while in 1st or 2nd gear. The Chevrolet Avalanche which looks like it's made for off-road, has a long wheelbase meaning it required some backing-up to make it around the tight hairpins but otherwise was flawless.

Photo courtesy: Myles Regan

The key to successfully negotiating uneven slippery dirt roads is to drive slowly and align your wheels into the potholes and water-eroded crevices because the vehicle will slip into them anyway. Also if severe heights, sheer drops and deep canyons are your issues, stay focused on the road ahead, even when the road seems to disappear as you reach the top of a steep incline. Be confident that the event organizers weren't planning to send you off a cliff, if not just to preserve the manufacturer-provided vehicle. One precaution stressed in the drivers' meeting dealt with rocks - drive over them so you're hitting the toughest part of the tire as trying to skirt them could mean a puncture in the vulnerable sidewall.

In summary, this off-road exercise showed what manufacturers have done technologically to take the risks out of driving on challenging terrain and reemphasized that being cautious at low speeds makes it much more safer to handle unpredictable, demanding conditions. Being familiar with and knowing how to operate all the features in your vehicle prepares you and makes you ready to have them at your fingertips when needed thus making you a better and safer driver.

It was a whale of a good time (pun intended) as my experienced off-road journalist passenger, Greg Whale who joined me on a few of the excursions, kept us on course. Also, my thanks to Chrysler's Scott Brown who made extra sure that I navigated his Jeep with precision utilizing all the gadgets.

Note: There were 19 vehicles available to review, including a 4WD Kia Sportage, on two off-road courses of varying difficulty and due to time constraints, not all could be driven.

Johan de Nysschen Leaves Audi for Infiniti

Johan de Nysschen will join Nissan's Infiniti luxury brand as senior vice president of Nissan Motor Company in charge of the Infiniti division based in Hong Kong starting July 1st reporting to Andy Palmer, Nissan Motor Company Executive Vice President, product planning, business strategy, marketing communications and responsible for the Infiniti division.

De Nysschen just left his role as President of Audi of America which he held for the past seven years. During his 19 years at Audi he also served in executive positions in South Africa and Japan. Prior to joining Audi, de Nysschen worked for BMW in South Africa. He holds a bachelor's degree from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, and an MBA from the University of Pretoria, South Africa.

He moves from a U.S. position at Audi where sales records are being set monthly to a global responsibility at Infiniti, a luxury brand that is just launching a worldwide footprint. Geographically, he moves from the Washington, D.C. area to Hong Kong, the former British colony and English-speaking gateway to China and an area where one might expect a factory to be built at some point. Best of luck to Johan in his new challenge.

May 2012 U.S. Auto Sales

General Motors reported May sales of 245,256 vehicles in the United States, up 11 percent year over year and the highest monthly total since August 2009.  GM retail sales were up 14 percent year-over-year and the retail mix was 70 percent.  Overall, year-to-date GM has sold 1,066,963 vehicles.

Ford Motor Company May sales of 216,267 was a 12.6 percent rise over last year and year-to-date sales are 935,864, a 6.5 percent increase over 2011.

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. reported sales of 202,973, an increase of  87.3 percent over the year-ago month on a raw volume basis. The Toyota Division posted May total sales of 181,510, up 88.9 percent over the year-ago month. The Lexus Division reported total sales of 21,463 was up 74.4 compared to last year. Year-to-date Toyota sales are 868,301, a gain of 23.7 percent over 2011.

Chrysler Group reported U.S. sales of 150,041, a 30 percent increase compared with sales in May 2011. Year-to-date sales of 689,257, is a 33 percent gain over last year.

American Honda reported May 2012 U.S. sales of 133,997, an increase of 47.6 percent compared to May 2011. The Honda Division posted May 2012 sales of 119,411, an increase of 46 percent compared to May 2011. Acura's U.S. May sales of 14,586 was an increase of 62.1 percent compared to May 2011.

Nissan North America reported May U.S. sales of 91,794, up 20.5 percent.  Nissan Division sales increased 16.4 percent for the month at 81,202 units. Sales of Infiniti vehicles were up 65.8 percent over the prior year to 10,592. Year-to-date sales are 485,484, up 12.1 percent from the first 5 months of 2011.

Hyundai Motor America had an all-time May sales record of 67,019, up more than 13 percent over last year's all-time May record, and the second best sales month in company history. Year-to-date Hyundai has sold 292,856 vehicles, an 11.1 percent increase over 2011.

Kia Motors America best-ever May sales of 51,771 was a 7.4-percent increase over the same period last year.  Year-to-date sales of 237,381, is up 18.7 percent.

Volkswagen of America sold 38,657 vehicles in May, a 36 percent jump and year-to-date sales are 170,555, up 36 percent from 2011. Separately, Audi of America sold a record 11,503 for a 10 percent gain over 2011 for a year-to-date total of 52,494 vehicles, a 15 percent increase over the first five months of 2011.

Subaru of America reported record sales for May 2012 of 29,724, a 48 percent gain over May 2011 and year-to-date sales of 136,602 is a 22 percent gain over prior year.

The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported May sales of 28,321, an increase of 7.1 percent from the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, BMW Group has sold 130,843, up 12.2  percent gain for the first five months of 2012.

Mercedes-Benz USA reported May sales of 22,515 for its Mercedes-Benz models, a 19.2 percent improvement over May 2011, delivering a year-to-date total of 106,364 new vehicles to customers, up 17.8 percent.  Combined sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles, smart and Sprinter for the month totaled 25,259, up 24.4 percent bringing a year-to-date total of 117,231, up 22.8 percent, making this the company's highest May on record.

Mazda North American Operations reported May U.S. sales of 20,357 vehicles, an increase of 13.9 percent versus last year. On a calendar year-to-date basis, Mazda's sales are up 20.2 percent with 123,886 vehicles sold.

Volvo Cars North America sold 6,246 vehicles in May, a 15 percent decline from last year and year-to-date Volvo sales are 27,511, a 6 percent drop.

Mitsubishi Motors North America reported May 2012 sales of 5,575, its second best month of sales since September 2011, but still 26 percent below the level of sales in May 2011.

Jaguar Land Rover sales were 4,513 in May, up 8 percent over May 2011 with Jaguar sales at 1,075, down 15 percent and Land Rover sales at 3,438, a 19 percent gain. Year-to-date JLR sales are 22,865, up 19 percent with Jaguar contributing 5,476, a 9 percent increase and Land Rover 17,389, up 23 percent.

Porsche Cars North America announced May 2012 sales of 2,852 vehicles, an increase of one percent. For the year, Porsche has sold 13,448 cars in the U.S., which is a 3 percent increase over last year.

American Suzuki sold 2,360 vehicles in May, up 3 percent over 2011 and year-to-date has sales of 10,695, a drop of 4 percent from last year.

Reid Bigland, Pres/CEO Dodge and Head of U.S. Sales

Reid Bigland, President and CEO of the Dodge Car Brand and Head of U.S. Sales describes the 2013 Dodge Dart that just went into production and will go on sale in mid-June supported by a major ad campaign that will kick off in mid-July. Bigland also gives a rundown of the other new vehicles coming from Chrysler, Dodge, Ram and Fiat this year. In a speech to journalists, Bigland emphasized the focus on California and how the market is outpacing the overall growth in Chrysler sales. A new Southern California-based Chrysler center has been tasked with helping sales and distribution and has already been responsible for adding 37 dealers. The Chrysler brands have seen fast-paced growth in sales that boosted it's first quarter 2012 profit to the highest in 13 years.

I test drove the six speed manual versions of Rallye and Limited new 2013 Dodge Dart and found strong low end torque, nimble handling with a solid feel, especially given the price in the high teens to low-$20,000s depending on features and options. The trunk is roomy, seats comfortable and the touchscreen display somewhat intuitive. One thing a test drive can't answer is the durability question - will it still feel like new in 5 years or 60,000 miles with just routine maintenance. The Dart, based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, starts at $15,995 - check it out in 4 weeks at a Dodge showroom near you.

Carroll Shelby Dies At 89

Saxton & Shelby - 2011

Legendary race driver and car designer Carroll Shelby died today at age 89. Twenty-two years after a heart transplant and sixteen years after a kidney transplant, the man most famous for his Shelby Cobra brand of high performance Ford Mustangs has left us. He was an auto industry legend who set speed records as a driver in the 1950's and was twice Sports Illustrated's driver of the year - in 1956 and 1957.

More Muscle to Muscle Cars
When car executive Lee Iacocca introduced the Ford Mustang in 1964, he asked Shelby to make a high performance version and in the early 1980's when Iacocca ran Chrysler, he asked Shelby to supe up the Dodge Charger. His Mustang-based Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT500 helped make his legend.

Carroll Shelby will be missed as a fixture at the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas and at a corner table in the Bel Air Country Club telling stories.

EVS26 - Electric Vehicle Symposium Wrap on KNX Radio

May 9, 2012 KNX News Radio 1070 Business Hour in Los Angeles - a wrap up of EVS26.

Andy Palmer, Nissan EVP, On Growing EV Line-up

Andy Palmer, Executive Vice President of Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. expects Leaf sales to grow when the Smyrna, Tennessee plant starts making the electric vehicle helping to overcome the dollar-yen currency challenge. That was one of the reasons Palmer gave in explaining why last year's Leaf sales of 9,000 missed the projection of 25,000. Another factor was Japan's March 2011 earthquake and tsunami which impacted manufacturing. Learning how to mass produce batteries was another issue. With a $4 billion investment in developing the Leaf, the expectations are high.

The NV200 compact cargo van, Infiniti LE and a "city car" will be added to the Nissan EV line-up. Palmer said the Infiniti LE (Luxury Electric) has the underpinnings of a Leaf but taking the hatchback to a sedan was a challenge. The LE is expected to go on sale  in 2014 as part of Nissan-Infinti's 51 launches in the next 5 years.

I spoke to Andy Palmer after he participated on the concluding panel - The Global Campaign for Consumer EV Adoption - at EVS26, the 4-day International Electric Vehicle Symposium that ended in Los Angeles Wednesday.

Bob Lutz Discusses The Case For Electric Vehicles

Former General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz believes electric vehicles have the essential "energy security and efficiency" but "batteries have to hold a larger and longer charge" and prices have to come down to be competitive. Lutz believes that "demand drives what is built and right now 95% want gasoline powered cars".

 "The price/value relationship for EVs has to get better", says Lutz, a board member of VIA Motors, which is showing that electrifying gas guzzling trucks already makes sense.

I spoke with Lutz just prior to his appearance on the concluding panel - The Global Campaign for Consumer EV Adoption - at EVS26, the 4-day International Electric Vehicle Symposium that just concluded in Los Angeles.

General Motors Manufacturing Manager Gerald Johnson

The April sales data translates into a Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate of Sales (SAAR) of 14.4 million vehicles which is better-than-expected according to Gerald Johnson, Manufacturing Manager at General Motors Corp. Johnson, who was speaking on a manufacturing panel at the Milken Institute Global Conference this week in Beverly Hills also discusses China, global quality and vehicle mix.

April 2012 U.S. Auto Sales

General Motors reported April sales of 213,387, an 8.2 percent drop while year-to-date sales of 821,707 represernt an 0.4 percent slip from 2011.

Ford Motor Company April U.S. sales totaled 180,350, a 5 percent decline while year-to-date sales are 719,597, a 4.8 percent increase over last year.

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. reported sales of 178,044, an increase of 11.6 percent over the year-ago month on a raw volume basis. The Toyota Division posted April total sales of 160,493, an increase of 13.1 percent over the year-ago month and the Lexus Division reported total sales of 17,551, flat compared to last year.

Chrysler Group reported U.S. sales of 141,165, a 20 percent increase compared with April 2011 and the group's best sales in the month of April since 2008. Year-to-date sales are 539,216, a 33 percent jump over 2011.

American Honda reported April 2012 U.S. sales of 122,012, an increase of 10 percent based on the daily selling rate. The Honda division posted April 2012 sales of 109,837, an increase of 9.2 percent compared to April 2011 and Acura's U.S. April sales of 12,175 were up 18 percent compared to April 2011.

Nissan North America reported April U.S. sales of 71,329, down 0.3 percent.  Nissan Division sales decreased 0.9 percent for the month at 64,200 while sales of Infiniti vehicles were up 5.4 percent over the prior year, to 7,129.

Hyundai Motor America announced an all-time April sales record of 62,264, up one percent over last year's all-time April record, and the second best sales month in company history after last month's all-time record. Year-to-date sales of 225,837 is a 10.5 percetn gain over the same period last year.

Kia Motors America best-ever April sales of 47,550 was a one percent gain over April 2011 and year-to-date Kia sales are 185,610, a 22.2 percent rise over 2011.
   
Volkswagen of America reported sales of 37,525 in April, a 31.5 percent increase over prior year sales, 38 percent increase year-to-date and the best April since 1971.  Year-to-date sales of 131,898 is a 38 percent gain over last year. Audi reported record-setting April sales of 11,521 a 15 percent increase, marking the 16th consecutive month of record sales in the U.S.  Year-to-date are 40,991, a 15.8 percent increase over 2011.

Subaru of America reported record sales for April 2012 of 26,310 vehicles, a six percent gain over April 2011 and year-to-date sales of 106,878, a 16 percent gain over prior year.

The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported April sales of 26,793, an increase of 6.1 percent from the same month a year ago.  Year-to-date, BMW Group is up 13.7 percent on sales of 102,522 in the first four months of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.

Mercedes-Benz USA reported April sales of 22,336 for its Mercedes-Benz models, a 23.8 percent improvement over April 2011, delivering a year-to-date total of 83,849 new vehicles to customers, up 17.5 percent.  Combined sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles, smart and Sprinter for the month totaled 25,066, up 30.8 percent bringing a year-to-date total of 91,972, up 22.4 percent, making this the company's highest April on record.

Mitsubishi Motors North America reported April 2012 sales of 5,280, down 34.7 percent compared to April 2011. 

Porsche Cars North America announced April 2012 sales of 3,437, an increase of four percent. For the year, Porsche sold 10,596 cars in the U.S., which is a four percent increase over last year.

American Suzuki reported April sales of 1,774, down 17 percent from April 2011 for a year-to-date total of 8,335, six percent lower than a year ago.

Mercedes-Benz 2013 SL550 Roadster At $106,405 Soon

The sixth generation of the Mercedes-Benz SL550 roadster is being launched in 2012, 60 years after the first SL model debuted, with an all-new aluminum unit body,  with torsional rigidity that's 20 percent stiffer than the previous-generation steel body. The SL550 coupe (pictured above) is powered by a new 429 horsepower 4.6-liter V8 engine with direct fuel injection, twin turbochargers and multi-spark ignition mated to a 7 speed automatic transmission. The engine has 20 percent smaller displacement but generates more horsepower and torque than the previous generation. A pair of paddles strategically positioned behind the upper steering-wheel spokes allows you to manually upshift and downshift the 7-speed automatic transmission with just a flick of your fingers. MSRP is $106,405 (including $905 transportation charge).

The new SL550 engine comes with an ECO stop-start system. Whenever the car stops with the brake pedal depressed, the engine is automatically turned off to save fuel. As soon as the driver touches the accelerator pedal, the engine computer selects the piston that is in the best position for first ignition, and the direct fuel injection and multi-spark systems work with a starter motor to seamlessly re-start the engine.

At the push of a button, the roof is opened or closed in less than 20 seconds. During this transformation, an intelligent tilting mechanism ensures that the roof and rear window "spoon" and retract into the top section of the trunk to preserve a good deal of useful trunk space.