Report: New car leasing rises to 20 percent of U.S. sales in 2011

New light-vehicle leasing increased in 2011 from a year earlier, to 20 percent of U.S. retail sales, according to the Manheim 2012 Used Car Market Report.

The report notes that “for the most part”, the new car industry had the right approach towards leasing. This constitutes of leasing new cars to buyers with good credit who like to regularly change their vehicles, as well as projecting realistic end-of-lease resale values.

Overall leases rose 17 percent over 2010 to 2.1 million units last year and a startling 85 percent more than 2009’s 1.14 units, when buyers were deterred by the recession.

The report also notes that because fewer vehicles were leased during the recession, off-lease volumes will continue to decline this year. That decline is expected to contribute to tight supplies of fairly new, low-mileage used vehicles, which in turn should bolster used-vehicle prices.

Preliminary data show that the number of vehicles sold at National Auto Auction Association member auctions in 2011 declined 8 percent to less than 7.8 million units, the fourth straight year of declines, the report says.

Sales of vehicles that are off-lease, retired from rental fleets or owned by other commercial sellers sold at NAAA auctions fell “more than 20 percent” in 2011, while sales of dealer-owned vehicles increased 10 percent.

Dealer-owned vehicles made up 55 percent of all vehicles sold at NAAA auctions in 2011, up from 45 percent in 2010 and 40 percent in 2009.

Story References: Autonews

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Kia Track'ster concept: latest pics

Kia has previewed its new Kia Soul - based Kia Track’ster concept ahead of its launch at the 2012 Chicago Motor Show next week. The concept previews how a sporting three-door version of the Soul crossover could look, and it could end up being made as a third Soul variant alongside the five-door and a convertible.

According to California studio Chief Designer Tom Kearns, the study is an extension of the Soul’s "rebellious, individual and urban character".

Kia says that the Track'ster is envisaged with a 247-horsepower (250PS) petrol engine, which we assume would be based on the 1.6-liter or 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder units shared with its parent company Hyundai.

Although Kia insists there are no plans for Track’ster production at this stage, such a model would make sense for the Soul line-up, particularly in the US. Kia sold more than 100,000 Souls in the US last year, and the convertible version – previewed by the Soul’ster concept, another Californa-designed model – remains under evaluation for production.

PHOTO GALLERY

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Video: BMW M5 vs Nissan GT-R 2012

The BMW M5 and Nissan GT-R are not conventional rivals, but both have around 550bhp, cost nearly £75k and promise brutal performance. So which one wins our series of tests?

Who would have guessed the car with the fastest acceleration would win the drag race? And it was a complete surprise to me that one of the worlds best handling and grippiest cars could beat a 4 door saloon through a sequence of corners.

Amusing video but it's not comparing apples with apples is it? Why not compare the quality feel of the interior or the ride comfort to give the bimmer a chance?

Two very different cars - m5 should really only go up against other super saloons, not a car like the GTR which is a very different proposition...

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Via Autocar.co.uk

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Mini drums up yet another special edition, the Highgate

We are more used to seeing this in the six-figure realm of the automotive world: a carmaker putting out one special edition after another. But both Mini and UK buyers love their specializations, so Mini has provided another one called the Highgate. It follows the Baker Street and Baywater editions as the new hotness for 2012.

This one will be for the Cooper convertible (Baker Street and Bayswater were for the hardtops). The standard treatment is an Iced Chocolate exterior coat with Truffle stripes on the hood and a Silvertouched Truffle roof, but metallic options in Midnight Black and White Silver are also available.

Insid,e Dark Truffle Lounge Leather seats with blue piping meet a host of standard features such as Mini's cold-weather and Chrome Line Interior packages. It rides on 17-inch Double Cross wheels and gets a range of four engine options from that in the 122-horsepower Cooper to the 143-horsepower motor from the Cooper SD.

Prices start at £21,300 ($33,693 U.S., not that we'd ever get it here) on-the-road for the manual-transmission Cooper Highgate Convertible, to £26,050 ($41,206 U.S.) OTR for the Cooper SD Highgate Convertible with an auto. More information is in the press release after the jump and plenty of eye candy in the gallery of high-res photos.

PHOTO GALLERY

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Kia debuts Adriana Lima-infused Super Bowl ad

Kia has been spending big on Super Bowl advertising for a few years now, but its commercials have been hit or miss. Its ad for the big game in 2010 entitled "Joyride" was a hit for bringing toys from our childhood to life behind the wheel of a Sorento, but last year's "One Epic Ride" was a definite miss. Kia's ad for this year's Super Bowl, called "A Dream Car. For Real Life," will likely be a hit.

The premise is simple: A fairy who visits bedsides with magic dust that guarantees good dreams accidentally trips over a slipper and spills his whole bucket of sprinkles on an unsuspecting, demographically targeted and non-threateningly handsome 30-something man. The resulting indulgent dream stars Victoria's Secret model Adriana Lima, 80's hair band Mötley Crüe (looking a little worse for wear, we might add) and UFC fighter Chuck Liddell. There's also a school bus-sized sub sandwich being cut in half by lumberjacks and a roaring crowd of thousands of bikini-wearing beauties.

In the midst of all this REM-induced revelry is the Kia Optima, because what other car would your subconscious pick to impress Ms. Lima?

Kia has also published a five-hour-long video of Adriana Lima waving a checkered flag in slow motion on YouTube, because hey, if you've got her on set for the day, why not? Follow the jump to watch them both.

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Discount Tire Warehouse

There are many Discount Tire Warehouse Locations across the country. At one time the best Discount Tire locations were geographically closest to the car manufacturing plants of the Big Three, Ford, Chrysler, Chevrolet in Michigan. Boy, how times have changed! Whether you are looking for a set of winter tires for the beat up pick-up you have or buy a nice new set of rubber for your new BMW, there are versatile, Discount Tire locations, which you can help with your individual needs tires.

I want you aware of the three types of Discount Tire locations for the general population in the United States. The first of the Discount Tire location is the local retailer. This is usually a small shop, which may or may not have an active and comprehensive website, and is usually only a relatively small geographic area achieved for its customers.

They usually have a place with local employees and a tire manufacturer, they once again for all their tires they sell to the public. This kind of situation, Discount Tire can always get a whole lot, but only in one or two tires of the brand that they sell to support their ability to develop a broader customer base boundaries.

Discount Tire will be located in all sizes and the second situation we are discussing, Discount Tire, the regional/franchise store model. Companies like Goodyear and Firestone are examples of this type of Discount Tire Warehouse Locations. Again, this type of store sells only one brand of tires, but by the volume of business they and their brand recognition, they can often give very competitive price on a quality tire for your vehicle. In addition, this type of Discount Tire’s locations also offer to do automotive repairs such as brakes, shock absorbers and struts and exhaust. This allows them often, a customer in the door that would not normally think of buying tires at this moment, however, because their vehicle is already in the workshop will always be other repairs, decides to fight on a fresh new tires for her car.

The third and final Discount Tire locations can be found throughout the country are seen mainly web-based. Often these places have only a huge hall with large inventories and few, if any brick and mortar shops for customers to go in. There are a few secrets remain how successful this type of Discount Tire locations. The first is that they are marketing geniuses. You have a great webmaster for their web sites, with a large sales force and excellent customer service via phone and e-mail. The second mystery of how this kind of Discount Tire locations offer have had great success in its lack of restriction in their products that support them. They sell as many brands as they want and they often sell them in circulation, inclusive. This Discount Tire locations often sell well to wheel and tire packages and other accessories in order to increase their profit margin.

The have a significant negative impact on web-based Discount Tire locations that lack a brick and mortar store is that if the buyer receives the tires on the sender, they still have a brick and mortar retailers to go the tires mounted affixed to the vehicle. This is often not by the buyer when they are purchasing makes thinking and thus makes the lower price of these tires in Web-based store sells in a position to look more attractive.
Source: Discount Tire Warehouse

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Portable GPS Unit vs In Dash GPS

"Technology has improved each and every sector in the world today. For those who have cars there are many navigation programs that help you to identify the right path while using GPS devices. You may decide to have an in dash GPS or even buy a portable unit. The bmw navigation system has gradually been improved which makes it extremely powerful in provision of directions. However, exactly what has benefit accrues some disadvantages too which may be damaging. It is therefore important to make sure that you're fully aware of all of the benefits and drawbacks associated with a navigation system that you choose.

The dynavin e46 is among the common navigation units that are installed in BMW cars. Many people argue that in dash GPS is better than the portable GPS unit. It is advisable to take a look at all of them critically to be able to establish which suits your needs well. Some of the main disadvantages which are associated in using the portable GPS unit include:
-They can be easily dropped or slip in the hand thus damaging them.
-Many of them is determined by their life of the battery which limits the usage. This can be quite dangerous since the battery can run out when you are stranded.
-You need to keep updating the maps in order to have the correct information.
-They fully rely on satellite systems. In the event that you're in a place where the satellite signals aren't so as, they can't be of any use.

Because the portable GPS unit has these cons, it also has some benefits that include;
-They are portable which makes them convenient to carry.
-Simple to update via the internet.
-They've features that provide alternative directions in the event that the original route isn't passable.
-The directions and coordinates which can be found are simple to follow.

You ought to look at their needs before deciding the very best Bmw navigation unit that they should use. The in dash system such as the dynavin e46 seems to work with many people who want to find directions when driving only. We can hardly operate without This stuff since the places we leave keep changing, new buildings come up and also some service providers relocate to other locations. You will have to look at your needs and when they aren't limited to the car, you should consider the portable system since you can use it anywhere even within buildings or in parking lots to find in which you parked your vehicle. If funds allow, you could have one installed in your vehicle and you will get another one that you can move around with easily."

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