The Car Exam News #40: Toyota sells three million hybrids, and you can build your own Boss 302 now

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Toyota's hybrid's keep selling: Autoblog reports that Toyota has now sold over three million hybrids now--and that the majority of the those hybrids sold have been after August 2009--that's nothing to sneeze at. Toyota has become a true "Tour de Force" when it comes to selling hybrids; adding hybrids to its Lexus line undoubtedly helped Toyota, and it has even more new hybrid models coming to the U.S. market soon.

Source: Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/09/toyota-passes-three-million-hybrid-mark/) 3/9/11



Time to start building your own 2012 Boss 302 if you want to: Autoblog is also reporting that the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Configurator is now up and running on Ford's website. Buyers can opt for the "basic" Boss 302, with a starting net price of $40,995, or opt for the more exclusive Laguna Seca model (pictured here) and be prepared to empty at least another $6,995 out of their wallets. Either way, buyers will have yet another hot Mustang to choose from Ford's 2012 stable of pony cars.

Sources: Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/09/build-your-own-boss-ford-mustang-boss-302-configurator-is-live/) and Ford (http://bp3.ford.com/2012-Ford-Mustang?lang=en&branding=1&referringSite=1&referrer=Ford.com#/Packages/Config%5B%7CFord%7CMustang%7C2012%7C1%7C1.%7C500A.P8C.....NFLEE.44X.BS.COU.LESS.%5D) 3/9/11

The Car Exam News #39: February Auto Sales at their best in years

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Is the U.S. auto market on a comeback? Automotive News is reporting that February U.S. new auto sales are the best they have been since August of 2008 (government clunker deals not included). Why?



There are apparently a variety of factors at play: credit has become easier for consumers to attain once again, fleet sales are making up less of the market share, consumer confidence grew last month--and household income is growing, auto makers are utilizing online social media and email to sell their cars to consumers, and some auto makers are offering special purchasing incentives to reel buyers into showrooms. However, will steeply-higher gas prices derail the rebound in U.S. auto sales? That remains to be seen--but as the year progresses, the effects (or lack thereof) of high gas prices on U.S. consumers will become clear.

Source: Automotive News (http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110307/RETAIL01/303079936/1401)

P. Scott