[Vision2020] The Nine Hottest Cars This Year

[Kenneth Marcy]

The Nine Hottest Cars This Year

Car sales are on a tear. Through the first five months of 2013, U.S. car 
sales are up by 8.2%, compared to the same period last year. Some of the 
more popular models have posted even more substantial growth, well into 
the double digits.

The Nissan Pathfinder, the Mazda CX-5 and the Toyota Avalon have all 
doubled their 2012 five-month sales figures. Based on sales data 
provided by , 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the nine models that sold most 
units and are up by 25% compared to the same period of last year.

*Click here to see the hottest cars of 2013 
<http://247wallst.com/2013/06/28/the-nine-hottest-cars-this-year/2/>*

Most of the popular models with major increases in sales have undergone 
some significant changes recently. In most cases, it has been a design 
overhaul of the entire model.

Alec Gutierrez, senior market analyst at Kelley Blue Book, explained why 
redesigns of vehicles have had such an impact on the sales. "These are 
all the latest and greatest redesigns, so they really feature the best 
in terms of tech, in terms of features and amenities, in terms of style 
and design, and really in terms of fuel economy."

The increasing importance of fuel economy gave some redesigned models a 
leg up on older models. It also led many auto manufacturers to introduce 
new hybrid models, which has boosted sales for some of the other models 
on this list. Lexus introduced the Lexus ES-300h to its ES line in 2012. 
Toyota released a hybrid model under its Avalon brand.

The importance of fuel efficiency also has led many auto buyers to 
transition to one of the fastest-growing segments in the auto business 
--- crossover utility vehicles, or CUVs. Gutierrez explained that these 
cars, including hot models like the Escape, the Forester and CX-5, are 
meeting the desire for the space and utility of an SUV with better fuel 
efficiency. CUV sales through May are up 13.9%. "Growth in the small CUV 
segment is certainly contributing to the growth of a lot of these 
models, and the redesign that pushes them into the elite status."

Based on sales data provided by Kelley Blue Book, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 
the nine models that sold more than 25,000 units in the United States 
between January and May of 2013, and are up by 25% compared to the same 
period of last year. We also reviewed the past five full years of sales. 
All combined fuel economy estimates listed are based on the smallest 
engine size and the least expensive configuration, with numbers provided 
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

These are the nine hottest cars this year.

http://247wallst.com/2013/06/28/the-nine-hottest-cars-this-year/


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