sells Archives | AutoDepot

Official: Toyota sells six of 10 of hybrids in California

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Ford, Toyota

Toyota highlights its hybrid vehicle market dominance in California.

In an apparent shot back at Ford’s increasing market share of electrified vehicles and claim that it accepts more Prius trade-ins for its own hybrids than any other car, Toyota has flexed a muscle and played the numbers game to put the Blue Oval in its place.

Leaning on its hybrid market dominance in California, the Japanese automaker stated that six out of 10 hybrids sold in the Golden State are Toyota models. And it keeps coming: Year-to-date through May 2013, Toyota sold five times more hybrids than Ford. One of every two hybrids in California is a Prius model. In addition, Toyota notes that it has sold 1.5 million Prius vehicles in the US, 90-percent of which are still on the road today.

Want more? We’ll let Bill Fay, Toyota’s group vice president and general manager of sales lay the smack down:

“The hybrid industry has become competitive, but our wide range of hybrid vehicles continue to deliver high value and strong attributes to both new and loyal customers. With sales of 5.3 million hybrids globally and over two million in the US, we are the undisputed leader in hybrid vehicle technology and remain committed to building on our momentum and growing the acceptance of hybrid technology throughout the US.”

And to think Toyota and Ford just ended their collaboration to make hybrid trucks together.

On one hand, those are indeed very impressive statistics, but there’s a flip side, as well. If 6 out of 10 Toyota hybrid sales come from California, that’s more ammunition that hybrids still aren’t a factor for most American new car buyers. As of 2012, only about 3.3 percent of new cars sold in the US were hybrids, of which California sales would clearly represent an inordinately large percentage. So while Toyota may be looking to take upstart Ford to the gas-electric woodshed, it’s clear larger struggles remain on the road to hybrid acceptance.

Continue reading Toyota sells six of 10 of hybrids in California

Toyota sells six of 10 of hybrids in California originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Jul 2013 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Official: Toyota sells six of 10 of hybrids in California”

Official: Fangio F1 car sells for record $29M at Goodwood auction

Filed under: Motorsports, Auctions, Mercedes-Benz, UK, Racing

Rare gems of automotive history are always popping up at the Bonhams auction at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, but the racecar you see above just made a little more history. This Mercedes W196R was driven by Juan Manuel Fangio to wins in the 1954 German and Swiss Grand Prix races, and when the hammer fell at auction yesterday, the $29.65 million price it fetched made it the most expensive car ever sold at auction. It’s also earned the honor of being the most expensive F1 car ever sold and the most valuable Mercedes-Benz in the world.

Still battered by racing and time, this car in an important piece of history to both Formula One and Mercedes-Benz alike. According to Bonhams, Fangio’s wins gave Mercedes its first back-to-back post-war Grand Prix victories, and it introduced F1 cars to fuel-injection, tubular spaceframe chassis and inline eight-cylinder engines. Robert Brooks, Bonhams Chairman, called this car the “most important historic Grand Prix racing car ever offered for sale.”

Based on our own records, the Mercedes W196R came close to almost doubling the prior record holder for the most expensive car sold at auction, a 1957 Ferrari 250 TR Prototype that sold for $16.39 million at Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach auction in 2011. The Mercedes even came kinda-sorta close to the record price for a car sold privately, the current big seller being a 1962 Ferraro GTO built for Sterling Moss that went for a reported $35 million in a private sale last year.

Scroll down for more information about the Mercedes W196R F1 car, and be sure to check out the trio of images (including one of the car in action).

Continue reading Fangio F1 car sells for record $29M at Goodwood auction

Fangio F1 car sells for record $29M at Goodwood auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 13 Jul 2013 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Official: Fangio F1 car sells for record $29M at Goodwood auction”

Buick sells 3 millionth car in China… since 1999

Filed under: China, Buick, GM

buick gl8 mpv

Buick GL8 – Click above for high-res image gallery

China and Buick have enjoyed a fruitful relationship since the brand’s introduction there in 1999, and General Motors is now celebrating the sale of the three-millionth Buick in the country. This greatly exceeds Buick sales in the U.S. over that same period, and GM managed to move all that metal with only 400 stores across China.

Shanghai GM credits the Buick brand strategy laid out in 2008 as a reason for the impressive totals, with sales rising by more than 100,000 units per year. That approach has resulted in the introduction of several new or revised Buick models over the past few years, including the GL8 luxury MPV and the Excelle GT and XT. Hit the jump to read over GM’s press release.

Gallery: Buick GL8 Van

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Buick sells 3 millionth car in China… since 1999

Buick sells 3 millionth car in China… since 1999 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 30 Apr 2011 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Buick sells 3 millionth car in China… since 1999”

Milestone Accomplished: Toyota sells one million Prius hybrids in U.S.

Filed under: Hybrid, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Toyota

2011 Toyota Prius

2011 Toyota Prius – Click above for high-res image gallery

California Toyota dealers may or may not be running out of Priuses, but the hybrid is most certainly still popular. How else to explain the news that one million of the iconic fuel-mizers have been sold in the U.S., as Toyota just announced.

Back in mid-2008, the company said it had sold one million Priuses around the world, which was a big enough deal. To reach that landmark, it took around five years; the first Prius was introduced over a decade ago, but it was the second-generation Prius, introduced in 2003, that really sparked sales. It took Toyota only two more years to sell another million Priuses, and Toyota has sold over three million total hybrids as of October 2010. That sounds impressive, but Charlie Sheen got 3.4 million followers on Twitter in, like, a minute, so let’s keep things in perspective.

Gallery: 2011 Toyota Prius

2011 Toyota Prius

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Milestone Accomplished: Toyota sells one million Prius hybrids in U.S.

Milestone Accomplished: Toyota sells one million Prius hybrids in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Milestone Accomplished: Toyota sells one million Prius hybrids in U.S.”

Followup: Ahmadinejad’s Peugeot reportedly sells for $2.5M

Filed under: Classics, Sedan, Auctions, Peugeot, Celebrities, Middle East

Peugeot 504

1977 Peugeot 504 – Click above for high-res image gallery

The auction on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s 1977 Peugeot 504 officially closed earlier this week with winning bid of $2.5 million. The funds are set to be used to build housing for low-income families. According to MSNBC, Iran’s Wellfare Organization, which organized the auction, hasn’t released the name of the Pug’s new owner, though there is some indication that the vehicle will be displayed in a museum in the near future. Locally, the vehicle would likely carry a price tag of around $2,000 without its unique ownership history. Ahmadinejad was frequently seen using the vehicle while he was Mayor of Tehran, but the Iranian President has favored other transportation since he took office in 2005.

According to MSNBC, Ahmadinejad campaigned on the promise to house every Iranian, and the charity auction is an attempt to make good on that pledge. Interestingly enough, outside of Iran, the most visitors to the auction’s website came from right here in the good ol’ USA.

Gallery: 1968-1983 Peugeot 504

[Source: MSNBC]

Followup: Ahmadinejad’s Peugeot reportedly sells for $2.5M originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Followup: Ahmadinejad’s Peugeot reportedly sells for $2.5M”

Neiman Marcus Camaro convertible sells out in 3 minutes

Filed under: Convertible, Chevrolet, GM

Neiman Marcus Edition Chevrolet Camaro Convertible – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Neiman Marcus Christmas Book is chock full of high-end products that most of us either couldn’t or shouldn’t afford. But when it comes to a hot-looking, limited edition Camaro Convertible, even a $75,000 price tag isn’t enough to scare some of us off. Neiman Marcus and General Motors sold all 100 copies of the exclusive drop-top in a mere three minutes. That’s about $2.5 million worth of metal every minute; a sizable amount of dough even for a company the size and shape of GM.

The 100 of a kind Camaro features special Deep Bordeaux paint with like-colored convertible top, plus leather trim that isn’t available in any other Bow Tie pony car. Power comes from the same 426 horsepower, 6.2-liter V8 that motivates the Camaro SS.

So if you were hoping to get your hands on a Neiman Marcus Camaro Convertible, you’d better know one of the 100 people who actually bought one. We’re sure you’re not too heartbroken, though. After all, the rest of us can score a topless Camaro starting at about $30,000. Hit the jump for the GM press release.

Gallery: Neiman Marcus Edition Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

[Source: GM]

Continue reading Neiman Marcus Camaro convertible sells out in 3 minutes

Neiman Marcus Camaro convertible sells out in 3 minutes originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Neiman Marcus Camaro convertible sells out in 3 minutes”

Video: Banned Smart ad sells using fear of back seats?

Filed under: Convertible, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Smart, Humor

Fear of a Back Seat - Smart Ad

Smart ForTwo preys on your back-seat fears – Click above for video after the jump

Are you afraid of getting into your car late at night, only to look in the rearview mirror and see a face staring back at you that isn’t yours? Don’t lie – we all have those random, irrational fears which are all but unfounded. Capitalizing on just such a fear, Daimler’s Smart produced a commercial which preyed on those fears and closed with a clever tagline espousing the fact that Smart ForTwos don’t have a back seat.

The ad was a huge hit in Germany, where it was originally slated to run during the trailers in movie theaters. It garnered such approval that it eventually made its way into television spots throughout Europe and has now ended up on Youtube as a “banned” ad. As we understand it, though, the ad wasn’t banned, it just never aired in the States. The ‘banned” moniker should help it earn some views, but the commercial is good enough on its own to warrant viewing.

See for yourself after you turn on the lights, check behind you and make the jump.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Smart ForTwo

[Source: The Detroit News]

Continue reading Video: Banned Smart ad sells using fear of back seats?

Video: Banned Smart ad sells using fear of back seats? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Banned Smart ad sells using fear of back seats?”

David Brown’s rusty old Aston sells for £200k at auction

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Auctions, Aston Martin, UK

1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkIII Drophead

David Brown’s 1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkIII Drophead – Click above for high-res images

How much would you pay for a rusty old car? A couple grand, if it had real potential? More? How about $319,000? That’s how much one rusty old Aston Martin recently sold for at auction, and needless to say, it far exceeded pre-auction estimates.

Of course, this 1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkIII drophead is no ordinary old car. It belonged to the legendary David Brown himself, the former Aston boss whose initials still grace the company’s GTs to this day. The car’s been sitting under a tarp, hidden from the world for 30 years. Naturally it’s not exactly in tip-top condition at this point, and it’ll require a significant amount of work to be brought up to spec.

“A rolling restoration project” is how auctioneers Barons British Heritage called it. We’ll call it a labor of love, and a mighty expensive one at that. Details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: 1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkIII drophead, ex-David Brown

[Source: Barons]

Continue reading David Brown’s rusty old Aston sells for £200k at auction

David Brown’s rusty old Aston sells for £200k at auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 Sep 2010 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “David Brown’s rusty old Aston sells for £200k at auction”

Video: Man sells GT500 raffle ticket, watches buyer win car moments later

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Humor

Epic blunder at QuakeCon

Raffle ticket regret at QuakeCon 2010 – Click above to watch video after the jump

QuakeCon is an annual pilgrimage for gamers held near Dallas, Texas. Dubbed the Woodstock of gaming, QuakeCon’s motto is “4 Days of Peace, Love and Rockets.” At least one of this year’s attendees won’t be feeling so peaceful, though. QuakeCon sponsor Ventrilo held a raffle for the chance to win a 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 (two were up for grabs at the con). 100 tickets were awarded to attendees who won various tournaments and contests during the four-day fest.

One of said ticket holders was approached by another attendee a few minutes before the car drawing. For $200, he handed over his raffle ticket. It probably seemed like a great deal at the time. After all, it’s easy money, and it’s not as if he stood a chance of actually winning, right? Minutes later, the seller watched as the ticket he pawned off turned into a brand new Shelby GT500. But hey, at least he got a couple hundred bucks out of the deal – along with a story to tell and a heap of regrets. Bonus: everything is on video, including the fateful transaction. Follow the jump to see how it all unfolded. Thanks for the tip, Sean!

[Source: Vimeo]

Continue reading Video: Man sells GT500 raffle ticket, watches buyer win car moments later

Video: Man sells GT500 raffle ticket, watches buyer win car moments later originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Aug 2010 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Man sells GT500 raffle ticket, watches buyer win car moments later”

One-off SR-71 Mustang sells for $375,000 at EAA AirVenture

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Ford

2011 Ford Mustang SR-71 Blackbird – Click above for high-res image gallery

Generous giving can be a sign of how the economy is doing, and if the auction of the custom SR-71 Blackbird Mustang at the EAA AirVenture show yesterday is anything to go by, then things are looking up. Built in collaboration with Ford, Roush and Shelby, the one-off pony car was sold for $375,000 to benefit the EAA’s Young Eagles program – that’s significantly more than $250,000 the AV-X10 ‘Dearborn Doll’ Mustang raised last year at the event.

Of course, the winning bidder was likely motivated by a little more than charity during the bidding. The one-of-one 2011 Mustang features an exterior designed after the legendary Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance plane, and it includes black and gray matte exterior paint, custom front and rear fascias, performance wheels and a unique screen-print glass roof. Performance has also been boosted thanks to a Whipple supercharger system and a slew of Ford Racing Performance Parts. Follow the jump for more details on the car or check it out in our gallery below.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Mustang SR-71 Blackbird

[Source: Roush via MustangsDaily.com]

Continue reading One-off SR-71 Mustang sells for $375,000 at EAA AirVenture

One-off SR-71 Mustang sells for $375,000 at EAA AirVenture originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “One-off SR-71 Mustang sells for $375,000 at EAA AirVenture”