Kelley Blue Book Hot Car Report Analysis – January 6, 2012:

As we enter the new year, there is renewed interest in a few automotive market power players. The BMW 3 Series is a standard among entry level luxury, and with its fresh redesign, consumers are noticing what the iconic model has to offer. BMW also announced that the coupe and convertible variants of the 3 Series will split off into the 4 Series in 2012…

For the full report and commentary, please visit: http://mediaroom.kbb.com/hot-car-report/
(Please note: Past Hot Car Reports are available by clicking the ‘Archives’ link)

- Akshay Anand, Market Intelligence Analyst, Analytic Insights Division, Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com

**December Sales News**

BMW beats Mercedes to claim first U.S. luxury sales crown

http://www.autonews.com/article/20120105/RETAIL/120109953/1286

Automakers have best U.S. sales year since 2008

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-auto-sales-20120104,0,1511995.story

Foreign and domestic OEMs predicted to wage ‘battle’ in 2012

http://www.autoremarketing.com/trends/foreign-and-domestic-oems-predicted-wage-battle-2012

Detroit automakers see double-digit sales growth for 2011

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120105/OPINION03/201050400/1148/auto01/Feisty-Big-3-set-sights-grabbing-more-car-market

Toyota sales beat analyst estimates as Kia leads Asia brands’ U.S. gains

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-05/toyota-sales-beat-analyst-estimates-as-kia-leads-asia-brands-u-s-gains.html

Nissan, Hyundai set records; Toyota sags, Honda plummets

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/01/nissan-honda-toyota-hyundai-kia-asian-automaker-sales/1

Japanese automakers say goodbye to disaster-filled 2011

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-japanese-automakers-disasters-2011-20120104,0,6352245.story

Acura announces December and year-end sales results

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/acura-announces-december-and-year-end-sales-results-136682283.html

Audi sets all-time U.S. sales record in 2011; brand expects momentum to continue into 2012

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/audi-sets-all-time-us-sales-record-in-2011-brand-expects-momentum-to-continue-into-2012-136677093.html

BMW Group achieves second best sales year ever in the U.S.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bmw-group-achieves-second-best-sales-year-ever-in-the-us-136741643.html

Chrysler Group LLC reports December 2011 U.S. sales increased 37 percent; full-year sales up 26 percent

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chrysler-group-llc-reports-december-2011-us-sales-increased-37-percent-full-year-sales-up-26-percent-136653443.html

2011 Ford brand sales up 17 percent for the year in U.S., fuel-efficient cars, utilities, trucks drive sales gains

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2011-ford-brand-sales-up-17-percent-for-the-year-in-us-fuel-efficient-cars-utilities-trucks-drive-sales-gains-136657758.html

GM’s U.S. sales increase 5 percent in December

https://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Jan/gmsales

American Honda reports December sales

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-honda-reports-december-sales-136680868.html

Hyundai Motor America reports record December and full-year sales

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/toyota-reports-december-2011-and-year-end-sales-136678898.html

Infiniti reports December 2011 sales

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/infiniti-reports-december-2011-sales-136669868.html

Jaguar Land Rover reports U.S. sales for December and 2011

http://www.interactivejaguar.com/jaguar/DisplayRelease.php?itemID=345

Kia Motors’ record December sales increase by 42.5 percent; fast-growing Kia achieves best full-year sales and market share in 2011

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kia-motors-record-december-sales-increase-by-425-percent-fast-growing-kia-achieves-all-time-best-full-year-sales-and-market-share-in-2011-136674198.html

Mazda reports 4.1 percent sales gain in December, closes 2011 up 9.1 percent

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mazda-reports-41-percent-sales-gain-in-december-closes-2011-up-91-percent-136679738.html

Mercedes-Benz records the highest year on record with sales of 254,460

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mercedes-benz-records-the-highest-year-on-record-with-sales-of-264460-136730778.html

Mitsubishi Motor sales were up 41.9 percent in 2011

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mitsubishi-motors-sales-were-up-419-percent-in-2011-136679193.html

Nissan North America sales increase 7.7% for record December

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nissan-north-america-sales-increase-77-for-record-december-136668408.html

Porsche reports significant sales increase for 2011

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/porsche-reports-significant-sales-increase-for-2011-136597613.html

Subaru of America, Inc. reports 2011 all-time sales record

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/subaru-of-america-inc-reports-2011-all-time-sales-record-136682083.html

American Suzuki 2011 sales up 11 percent over previous year

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mercedes-benz-records-the-highest-year-on-record-with-sales-of-264460-136730778.html

Toyota reports December 2011 and year-end sales

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/toyota-reports-december-2011-and-year-end-sales-136678898.html

Volkswagen reports 26.3 percent increase in 2011 U.S. sales

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/volkswagen-reports-263-percent-increase-in-2011-us-sales-136658013.html

**Top News**

Fiat raises Chrysler stake to 58.5% with new Dodge in step towards merger

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-05/fiat-boosts-stake-in-chrysler-to-58-5-after-reaching-its-efficiency-goal.html

Fiat increases Chrysler stake in move toward merger

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120105/COPY01/301059849/1251

GM announces structural fixes for Chevrolet Volt

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120105/AUTO01/201050426/1148/auto01/GM-announces-structural-fixes-Chevrolet-Volt

**OEM/Vehicle News**

Hyundai Motor America reveals plans, rendering for new U.S. headquarters

http://www.autoremarketing.com/retail/hyundai-motor-america-reveals-plans-rendering-new-us-headquarters

Execs doubtful about EVs -- but invest anyway

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120104/OEM02/120109958/1178

Civic Hybrid owner sues Honda over mpg

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120104/OEM11/120109971/1186

New rival emerges for title of world’s cheapest car

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/01/new-rival-emerges-for-title-of-worlds-cheapest-car/1

**Dealer/Industry News**

AutoTrader says overdrive solution sparks traffic gain for inaugural advertiser

http://www.autoremarketing.com/trends/autotrader-says-overdrive-solution-sparks-traffic-gain-inaugural-advertiser

**Ad/Media/Marketing News**

Porsche uses app to deliver immersive experience with 911 models

http://www.luxurydaily.com/porsche-uses-app-to-deliver-immersive-experience-with-911-models/

GM Super Bowl gambit may not have any gas

http://adage.com/article/special-report-super-bowl/gm-super-bowl-gambit-gas/231891/

Mercedes-Benz taps Cargo for Web

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/165169/mercedes-benz-taps-cargo-for-web.html?edition=41865

Audi gets clever with new roadside billboards

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/05/audi-gets-clever-with-new-roadside-billboards/

State of media: TV deemed most valuable

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/165127/state-of-media-tv-deemed-most-valuable.html?edition=41866

Why search marketers are grabbing the long tail

http://www.marketingprofs.com/charts/2012/6758/why-search-marketers-are-grabbing-the-long-tail

***Want even more news from Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com?  Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/kelleybluebook