What would keep you from buying a hybrid model? Besides price, one of the most significant concerns for potential buyers are each model’s battery packs. Those systems are what helps hybrids such as the Toyota Prius and Ford Fusion Hybrid to attain high fuel mileage, but when these systems fail, customers can be left paying for a new pack that approaches the four-figure mark.

Hyundai Assurance

Well, Hyundai has decided to give shoppers of its Sonata Hybrid a strong measure of assurance, by offering a Hybrid Battery Replacement Guarantee that applies to all 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrids including those that have already been sold. Hyundai announced the guarantee at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit last month and has since released details of its new plan. That plan will replace the battery and cover the recycling costs of the old battery pack at no charge for the original owner. Leased and commercial vehicles are not covered nor is the guarantee transferrable. Still, it offers to customers something its competitors do not have.

2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

“Even with all the hybrid vehicle options on the market today, there is still limited demand for these vehicles because of barriers to customer adoption such as uncertainty about the technology and performance,” said Michael O’Brien, vice president, Corporate and Product Planning. “By offering the Lifetime Battery Replacement Guarantee, Hyundai is addressing customer concerns and demonstrating our confidence in the durability of our product.”

Blue Drive Technology

Hyundai’s hybrid system features its proprietary Hybrid Blue Drive technology, which features a lithium polymer battery pack, the first automaker in the world to include this system in a production vehicle. Cars like the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid are outfitted with older nickel-metal hydride systems, while lithium-ion is the choice for other manufacturers. Hyundai claims that its system is more technologically advanced and reliable.

The Hyundai Lifetime Hybrid Battery Replacement Guarantee effectively extends the benefits of its Hyundai Assurance program to cover the Sonata Hybrid in ways no other manufacturer can claim. Likely, this program will give its hybrid an edge and perhaps get people to reconsider buying a hybrid.

Fuel Efficiency

Introduced in 2011, the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is powered by a 206 horsepower 2.4-liter gasoline engine that is paired with 6-speed automatic transmission. This five passenger model is EPA-rated at 35 mpg city, 40 mpg highway and is priced from $25,850.

See Also — 2012 Hyundai Accent Advances Fluidic Design

More Hyundai Specs and News:

New Hyundai Elantra Coupe Breaks Cover

2012 Hyundai Accent Specs

2011 Hyundai Accent Specs & Overview

Photos: Hyundai Motor America

The auto industry’s leading trade association representing car manufacturers has launched an awareness campaign in cooperation with the Washington Auto Show. That campaign aims to demonstrate to Americans the importance automobile manufacturing still has on the U.S. economy. Through its all-new JobsFromAutos.com website, proponents explain that 8 million U.S. households depend on the auto industry for work, jobs that help fuel local and national economies.

“When you think of the auto industry, the first thought may be of an assembly line worker in the Midwest. And certainly, we do count on many, many assembly workers to be successful. But there’s more to the story. The auto industry is a massive employer stretching literally across America, providing 8 million households with great jobs,” said Mitch Bainwol, president and CEO, Auto Alliance. “Through this new website, www.JobsFromAutos.com, we will go behind the scenes to show how autos are made nationwide. Our message is simple: manufacturing matters in this country.”

Drilling Down

The new website features three tabs to help illustrate the industry’s story — map, profile and autos & economy.

Click on “map” and a map of the United States appears with all 50 states outlined. Hover over any state and you’ll get the total number of industry jobs, the percent of the state’s workforce involved in automotive manufacturing as well as the percent of all industry jobs nationally. For example, Pennsylvania counts 258,000 people employed by the auto industry, representing 3.5 percent of the Keystone State’s workforce. Pennsylvania has a 3.2 percent of the industry pie. Click on any state and regional information appears including local companies. On a side note, the company information could prove valuable for job seekers.

A visit to “profiles” gives readers a personal look at the people who work in the industry. At the moment, nine comprehensive profiles are featured and include Joshua Oakley, a Door Production Team Leader for Toyota in Blue Springs, Miss. and Maureen Midgley Executive Director, Global Paint & Polymer Center for General Motors in Orion Township, Michigan. Each person explains the job that they do at their respective plant and how it impacts the company. For example, Oakley said “We have five members on our team and when one person does a door, you don’t want to send it to the next wrong. Our next person’s our customer, so when we send it down the line, it needs to be one hundred percent right.”

The third tab, autos & economy, offers charts on the industry’s impact on other businesses, the materials used, paychecks, R&D investments and the country’s impact on the world. From this information we learn that automotive manufacturers support 3.1 million jobs, another 3.3 million are from auto suppliers and 1.5 million Americans are employed by dealers and supporting industries.

American Jobs

The alliance says that 1 in every 17 U.S. jobs depends on autos, contributing paychecks totaling more than $500 billion a year.That amount is more than the nation spends on Medicare and is just behind the $553 billion yearly defense budget.

“The auto industry’s economic footprint is vast,” said Bainwol. “In order to have a healthy U.S. economy, America needs a robust auto manufacturing sector. Autos drive America forward by providing a powerful manufacturing presence in communities across the country, generating paychecks for millions of families and substantial tax revenues.”

Alliance Members

Original equipment manufacturers large and small belong to the Auto Alliance. Its current members number 12 and consist of the BMW Group, Chrysler Group LLC, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz USA, Mitsubishi Motors, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen Group of America and Volvo Cars North America.

See Also — Ford, UAW Reach Labor Accord

A new bill has been introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives, legislation that proposes to reduce the patent period car companies have on their collision repair parts from 14 years to 2.5 years. That bill was introduced on Thursday by Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) to the House Judiciary Committee. A similar bill is currently being prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.

PARTS Act

What the “Promoting Automotive Repair, Trade, and Sales (PARTS) Act” would do is amend title 35 of current U.S. design patent law, by reducing from 14 years to 2.5 years the timeframe whereby automotive manufacturers may enforce their design patents on collision repair parts against alternative suppliers. According to the Quality Parts Coalition, an organization that represents the interest of the automotive collision parts industry, that enforcement timeframe would begin the moment that the car model containing the design patented is offered for sale. Once the 2.5-year period has expired, then substitute parts can be offered for sale. The QPC states that this would save consumers money on replacement parts and insurance costs, and would mirror similar repair clause laws on the books in Australia and in several European nations.

“The Quality Parts Coalition praises U.S. Representatives Issa and Lofgren for their leadership in protecting the rights of American drivers,” said Eileen Sottile, executive director of the QPC. “We urge Congress to pass this bill so that consumers can continue to have access to affordable, quality alternative replacement parts.”

AIA Support

The bill has also received the support of the American Insurance Association a property-casualty insurance trade organization that represents nearly 300 insurers. Noted Melissa Shelk, AIA vice president for federal affairs, “Consumers deserve access to high-quality alternative replacement parts. Increased competition means decreased prices and greater choice for consumers.” The AIA notes that quality replacement parts for such collision parts including bumpers, fenders and hoods can cost consumers approximately 26 to 50 percent less. Insurance savings can be realized when consumers choose these alternative parts, but only if such parts are available. Shelk says that consumers pay an extra $1.5 billion annually because of the current patent restrictions on replacement collision parts.

Proponents of the bill note that car manufacturers currently control 72 percent of the repair parts market and have been steadily increasing the use of design patents. Competition is reduced and consumers end up paying more for parts. Because of these elevated costs, insurers will sometimes consider vehicles “total wrecks” instead of paying for repairs. The result is that consumers are forced to replace a repairable vehicle with a different car, an expense the QPC argues can be avoided if the PARTS Act becomes law.

Facebook Page

To garner interest in the PARTS Act, its supporters have a launched a Facebook page. That page invites visitors to sign a petition to let Congress know that consumers want this bill passed.

See Also — Right to Repair Push is Gaining Steam

Minor updates or substantially revamped?

Daimler’s smallest model is the Smart Fortwo, a two-seat A-segment or minicar model that is powered by a 1.0-liter three cylinder engine. Smart has been around since 1998 and just four years ago the first Smart models went on sale in the United States.

Tough Sell

Smart has not been a good seller for Daimler and there are a number of reasons why this is so despite its $12,490 starting price.

First of all, not many people are satisfied with its dimensions, as this diminutive model is the smallest car on the market. Think “two-seater” and you may be happy with a roadster, but not with much else.

Second of all, the Fortwo’s fuel economy advantage has been largely erased by several larger and more powerful models offered by its competitors. Indeed the 34 mpg city, 38 mpg highway rating of the 2012 U.S. model is about what you would get with a subcompact (B-segment) Hyundai Accent, a vehicle that is rated at 30 mpg city, 40 mpg highway. Even a number of compact (C-segment) models offer highway fuel economy of 40 mpg, and those models run on regular gasoline. Smart recommends that you use premium grade gasoline when fueling your Fortwo to enjoy optimum performance.

Third of all, if you need to bring something along with you, you’ll be hard pressed for storage. The Fortwo is best used as a city car, one that helps you navigate your way around town and park in the tightest spaces.

Refreshed Model

Despite these detractions and low sales — Daimler reported just 496 Smart Fortwo sale last month — a refreshed model is on its way.

You need to look real close for the Fortwo changes.

Daimler calls the 2012 Smart Fortwo (we’ll likely see it as a 2013 model here) a “substantially revamped” model. Changes are mostly to its exterior that now includes larger radiator grille with an integrated logo, a new front apron design, horizontally arranged LED daytime running lamps, more athletic side skirts and updated rear aprons. Three new alloy wheels are also being made available featuring 9-spoke, 3-spoke and twin 3-spoke designs.

Inside, a new crystal grey interior package that features a leather/fabric combination for the seats, imitation leather and fabric for the door trims and black imitation leather for the the instrument panel is also offered.

Global Demand

Daimler says that 1.3 million Smart Fortwos have been sold since this car was introduced in 1998. Last year, global sales rose by 4.6 percent as 101,996 units were sold. While not well received in America, the Fortwo has found a home elsewhere, the smallest of all cars on the market with a design that hasn’t changed much since it was introduced 14 years ago.

Additional Recent News:

January 2012 Auto Sales Continue Upward Trend

Slow Tease: 2013 Dodge (SRT) Viper

Deep Discounts on 2011 Models Still Available

Just 333 will be produced; 50 are destined for the U.S.

Do you have $210,000 to spare? If so, then you may be in the running to buy Audi’s hand-built and very limited edition 2012 R8 GT Spyder. Audi announced pricing today as well as its production plans for its V-10 powered drop top beauty. Just 333 copies will be built and only 50 will be destined for the U.S. Audi says that each vehicle will come equipped with its own vehicle number displayed right on the gear shift.

Road Stomping Power

Its aluminum direct-injection V-10 engine will produce 560 horsepower and enable the R8 GT Spyder to travel from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and then reach a top speed of 197 mph. Nearly 188 pounds have been lopped off of its weight as Audi makes use of ultra-light magnesium in its engine frame and carbon fiber-reinforced polymer on rear side panels and in the soft-top compartment. Its fixed rear spoiler also is made from carbon fiber composite.

Standard features on this limited edition model include quattro all-wheel-drive; power adjusted heated side mirrors; driver and front passenger front, seat-mounted side, and knee airbags; front and rear disc brakes; LED headlamps and daytime running lights; 10-way power heated sport seats with 4-way power lumbar support; an Audi navigation system; a 6-disc CD changer with Sirius Satellite Radio, 7 speakers and a 5-channel amplifier with a total output of 140 watts.

R8 GT Spyder Specifics

Just so you know that you won’t be getting just any Spyder, Audi has equipped this edition with several specific standard features including 19-inch wheels that are set within summer tires; a 6-speed sequential gearbox with shift-by-wire technology and sports mode; and a windshield frame in Alcantara. Optionally you can substitute the Alcantara for fine nappa leather.

Other specifics to this model include a sport suspension system; carbon fibber matte exterior mirrors; LED tail lights; aluminum door sill inserts; Alcantara and leather sport seats; and more. Optional equipment includes titanium finish 19-inch 5-arm-double-spoke-design aluminum alloy wheels with summer performance tires; a Bang & Olufsen sound system outfitted with 12 speakers and producing 495-watt sound; and additional wheel, navigation and brake options.

Customer Delivery Set

Customers will begin to take delivery of their orders this month. There is no word yet on the “who’s who” list of 2012 Audi R8 GT Spyder buyers who have already plunked down deposits to secure this limited-edition roadster.

Photos: Audi of America

Record CR-V sales gave Honda a boost.

Sales data continued to trickle in throughout the day and, unlike early January when BMW and Mercedes-Benz delayed reporting by a day to tabulate year end sales, both German automakers filed their reports in a timely manner.

One of the first companies to issue a report was Ford which said that its sales rose by 7 percent for the month. Ford brand products such as its F-150 trucks, its compact Focus line and its Explorer crossover, now available with an EcoBoost engine, led the way. Lincoln sales fell by nearly 8 percent, reflecting the recent discontinuance of its rear-wheel-drive Town Car sedan.

Subaru, Kia & Chrysler Surge

Subaru reported its best January ever, selling 22,807 models on strength of customer demand for its all-new Impreza. Said Thomas J. Doll, executive vice president and COO, Subaru of America, “This is a real break-through year for Subaru. Now that Impreza is reaching showrooms we can expect to see sales for this new model grow exponentially. Supported by solid sales from our other core models and with new models debuting this year we are very optimistic about our prospects for 2012.” New models coming this year include its BRZ sports car and its XV Crosstek, a small crossover. Yes, another forgettable name — remember the B9 Tribeca?

Kia also recorded its best January ever, selling 35,517 units as customers snapped up its all-new Optima midsize sedan and its Soul “urban activity” vehicle. Kia sales rose by 27.8 percent despite limited build capacity. The company recently completed a $100 million expansion to its West Point, Ga., manufacturing facility.

Chrysler sales rose by 44 percent, representing its eighth consecutive month of sales increases of at least 20 percent. The Chrysler brand led the increase, rising by 81 percent on demand for its 200 midsize sedan. Jeep sales rose by 37 percent, Dodge was up by 29 percent and the Ram brand increased by 42 percent. Top sellers for the month were the Ram 1500 pickup trucks, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Dodge Grand Caravan.

NIssan Rises; GM Slips

Nissan Motor sales increased by 10.4 percent despite Infiniti sales falling for the month. Nissan brand was up by 12.5 percent while Infiniti fell by 8.2 percent. Infiniti sales are still recovering from last year’s earthquake in Japan where most Infiniti models are built.

Leading the way for Nissan was its Altima midsize sedan, selling 22,357 units followed by its Rogue crossover at 9,904 sales and its Versa compact which recorded 9,418 sales. Nissan reported selling 676 copies of its LEAF electric vehicle.

GM, up against a very strong January 2011, saw its sales fall by 6 percent last month. All four brands reported losses for the month with Chevrolet falling by 1.2 percent, GMC was down by 9.7 percent, Buick off by 23.1 percent and Cadillac fell by 29.1 percent. Cadillac is expected to rebound through the year as new products including its XTS full-size sedan and compact ATS are rolled out.

Record Month for Hyundai

Hyundai recorded record sales for the month, selling 42,694 units for an increase of 15 percent. Sonata once again led the way, with Hyundai recording 14,489 units sold followed by 10,900 Elantra sales.

“January was a good month for us as Januarys go.  We set an all-time sales record for the month, saw continued stabilization in the general economy, and witnessed the Hyundai Elantra crowned as North American Car of the Year,” said Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America’s executive vice president, national sales.   “All in all, a very solid base to build off in 2012.”

Toyota, Honda Rebound

Toyota sales rose by 7.5 percent to 124,540 unit as the Japanese automaker showed that its recovery from last year’s earthquake is taking hold. Leading the way was its Camry midsize sedan, with 28,295 units sold. Camry alone made the difference for Toyota as did the Yaris and Avalon. Lexus sales are still down over last year as Toyota’s luxury brand struggles to bring build capacity up to where it was before last March.

Like Toyota, Honda was down for the count for much of 2011. For January 2012, Honda has shown us that it is on the mend, recording an 8.8 percent increase for the month. The Civic led all sales with 21,883 units sold, for an increase of nearly 50 percent. Other strong sellers included the CR-V and Accord. Acura sales climbed by 5.3 percent on the back of strong demand for the TL.

“Honda’s return to full strength on the manufacturing front is already beginning to pay dividends on the sales floor,” said John Mendel, American Honda executive vice president of sales. “On top of kicking off 2012 with record January sales for the new CR-V, it’s gratifying to see how many Civics we can sell when we actually have Civics to sell. It’s great to see customers embrace this great vehicle now that our dealers have enough cars on their lots.”

BMW v. Mercedes

Last year, BMW and Mercedes-Benz both overtook Lexus as the top-selling luxury makes in America. This year, Lexus hopes to rebound, but the year starts off with Mercedes outselling BMW. Mercedes, including its Sprinter line, sold 21,230 units to BMW’s 16,405. Likely, Sprinter sales are numbered only in the hundreds, thus giving Mercedes a clear lead to start off the new year. C-Class and M-Class helped Mercedes enjoy a 25.8 percent increase for the month. BMW sales increased by 5.8 percent.

The Rest

Other manufacturers reported mixed news for the month. Mazda sales were up by 68.2 percent while Mitsubishi fell by 17.6 percent. Volvo sales rose by 4.3 percent and Suzuki sales dropped by 41.3 percent. Jaguar Land Rover and Porsche reported gains for the month, rising 30.7 percent and 6.3 percent respectively.

For the month, total U.S. light vehicle sales came in at 913,287 units for an 11.4 percent increase according to Autodata Corp. GM begins the year in first place followed by Ford, Toyota, Chrysler, Honda and Nissan.

Sources: Autodata Corp. and the individual press releases supplied by the automotive manufacturers.

The Ford Mustang has been in production since April 1964, with 8,450,741 units sold in the United States alone. We’re likely to see the next generation edition released in time for its 50th anniversary, a 2015 model that promises to attract an entirely new generation of enthusiasts while holding on to customers that have made the Mustang a winner.

For car thieves, the Ford Mustang is a winner too. That is, it represents a model that is regularly heisted, leaving its emotionally attached owners devastated.

Hot Wheels Classics

The National Insurance Crime Bureau tracks stolen cars and is itself a valuble partner with insurers and law enforcement agencies to identify, detect and prosecute insurance criminals. Its Hot Wheels report regularly sheds light on the vehicles most likely to be stolen and, now, the NICB has taken to issue its first-ever Hot Wheels Classics, which focuses on a particlar class of vehicle or a specific make and model. For its very first report, the NICB has chosen to feature the iconic Ford Mustang.

The NICB culled data for all Mustang cars sold from 1964 through 2011, identifying 611,093 theft records for this vehicle. However, the reporting data before 1981 is not as reliable as the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration only began to require automakers to include vehicle identification numbers from 1981 on. That standardization has produced a consistent and reliable protocol for reporting vehicle theft, therefore the NICB has focused on the past 30 years mostly. Since 1981, 411,155 Ford Mustangs have been reported stolen with 20,708 ripped off in 1981 and 4,347 stolen in 2011, representing the highest and lowest theft rates for this car.

Most Stolen Mustangs

If you were to look at the most stolen Mustangs from 2001 to 2011, the 2000 model has been the most stolen, with reports of 7,085 thefts. That follows with 6,790 stolen 1995 models and 5,294 copies of the 1998 model ripped off. Even the 1989 Ford Mustang has appealed to thieves over the past decade, with reports of 2,629 copies stolen.

One of the customers who had his prized Ford Mustang stolen was a young marine who was based at Cherry Point, North Carolina. In 1982 he reported that his 1965 Shelby GT-500 was ripped off, a car that remained missing for the next 25 years.

In 2007, Maryland state police and an NICB special agent contacted its then owner to inspect the vehicle. Unknown to the owner, the car was stolen, its V.I.N. and title changed, and followed with the current owner’s $12,000 investment in a new Shelby engine. The former Marine, now an airline pilot, was reunited with his stolen ride and in a goodwill gesture wrote out a $12,000 check to the guy who unwittingly owned and cared for his classic ride. By law, the former marine wasn’t required to compensate the former owner, but he did.

Layers of Protection

To avoid becoming a statistic, the NICB recommends that all vehicle owners include four layers of protection with their cars. The first step is employing some common sense, by locking your car and taking your keys with you. The following three layers include installing an audible warning device, an immobilizing device and a tracking device. Fortunately, many of today’s vehicles come equipped with such devices as standard equipment or are available as part of a security package upgrade.

See Also

The Auto Writer: Mustang Madness: 45 Years and Counting

Hot Ford Auto Trends for 2012!

Photo: Ford Motor Company

The first tease of the 2013 SRT Viper hits Facebook

They’re at it again. Automotive marketers, that is.

Once again, we’re being teased with a shot of an upcoming new model, but in this case all that has been revealed to us is a vague outline of the next generation Dodge Viper. This supercar, last produced in 2010, is expected to return to the market later this year as a 2013 model.

Next Gen Viper

Facebook is once again the venue for the slow strip tease or in this case what likely will be the gradual illumination of the Viper. Just this past December, Dodge showed us bits and parts of the all-new Dart, giving us two showings of the car before its official reveal at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Not much is known about the next generation Viper. This is one upcoming model Chrysler has chosen to hold close to the vest although much speculation has been made about what we’re going to see. Motor Trend magazine notes that the snake will make its debut at the New York International Auto Show in April. Said Ben Gimmons, “…the new Viper will be powered by a 650-horsepower, 8.7-liter V-10 engine that sends its power through a manual transmission….” Gimmons went on to note that the new engine will reflect a 50 horsepower increase over the previous powerplant.

Viknesh Vijayenthiran, writing for Motor Authority, noted that the Viper will dispense with the Dodge name and simply be known as the SRT Viper. SRT stands for “street and racing technology” a term currently used on special Mopar-enhanced versions of the Dodge Charger, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Chrysler 300. Apparently, the Chrysler Group will elevate the SRT name much in the way that it did for Ram, separating Dodge trucks from Dodge cars.

Marketing Flexibility

No matter, the next generation Viper is all about giving Dodge, Chrysler, Fiat, et al, a halo product that can be sold in Dodge or other showrooms, or as a standalone product. The Dodge name isn’t well known beyond the U.S. and where it is known the car line does not represent road-hugging, raw power. By calling it the SRT Viper, the Chrysler Group gains some flexibility on how this car will be marketed. In Europe, for instance, it could be sold side by side with Ferrari or Maserati, two other Fiat S.p.A. brands.

You can find the Viper Facebook page by simply going to Facebook and plugging in “2013 SRT Viper Teaser” into your search bar. When you arrive on the site, you’ll find a video clip of a “small sneak teaser” of the Viper. Yes, the operative word here is “small” so don’t expect much. At least with its first reveal.

Photo: Chrysler Group, LLC

The Mitsubishi Endeavor has driven off into the sunset. Mitsubishi is pushing its remaining 2011 inventory off of dealer lots with $4,500 cash rebates.

If you’re in the market for a new car or pickup truck, there are some deep incentives still available on leftover 2011 models. Those discounts, in the form of cash rebates, can be had after you negotiate the lowest price for your new vehicle with your dealer. Supplied directly by the automaker, such discounts could add thousands more to your savings.

Let’s take a look at five vehicles with outsized discounts as of this writing:

1. Nissan Titan — Choose a 2011 Nissan Titan and you can get $4,250 back on all trims except the PRO-4X which gives you $5,250 back. That offer ends on Jan. 31, with no word what will be offered come February. If you’d rather buy a 2012 Nissan Titan, you can still get up to $3,000 back or choose 0 percent financing.

2. Lincoln Town Car — No longer in production, Lincoln’s traditional full-size sedan carries a $5,000 rebate off of its base $43,170 price. You must take retail delivery from dealer stock by April 2 to qualify for this deal according to Lincoln.

3. Mitsubishi Endeavor — Mitsubishi no longer produces its full-size Endeavor SUV and discounting of $4,500 remains in place through Jan. 31. Instead of a cash rebate, Mitsubishi is also offering 0 percent financing for 60 months. To view Mitsubishi’s special offers, you’ll need to plug in your 5-digit zip code to find local offers.

4. Chevrolet Impala — Select editions of Chevrolet’s full-size sedan come with $4,000 consumer cash, money that you can apply to your down payment. 1FL and 1LS models are included. You must take delivery by Feb. 29. Look for Chevrolet offers in your area. If you’d prefer to buy a 2012 Chevrolet Impala, you can qualify for low-rate financing or receive up to $3,000 back.

5. Buick Lucerne — GM discontinued its big Lucerne sedan last summer, but there may still be a few unsold 2011 models available at your nearby Buick-GMC dealership. You’ll get $4,000 consumer cash if you snap up one of these cars by Feb. 29. Do you prefer Cadillac? If so, cash rebates on the entire Escalade line can be had too. Get $4,000 back or take 0 percent financing instead.

Although many discounts are slated to end on Jan. 31, new discounts will likely be offered on unsold 2011 inventory that is in stock as of Feb. 1. Check the manufacturer’s website for current information as well as rebates for military service members and recent college graduates. Keep in mind that for some vehicles, 2013 models are already coming out. The previously mentioned discontinued models are still covered by the manufacturer’s rebate as long as that car is officially sold to you as new.

Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America

Lexus' new design language incorporates a spindle grille.

Luxury Sales

Lexus sales fell in 2011 so much so that BMW and Mercedes-Benz finished 1-2 in the U.S. luxury market. Lexus has been the leading luxury make for most of the past decade, but an earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan last March put a severe crimp on production. Toyota Motors says that its Lexus division has recovered and aims to boost global sales by about 25 percent to more than 500,000 units. That number moves production levels back up to a threshold not seen since before the 2008 global financial meltdown.

While Lexus aims to sell more, it still doesn’t have the credibility it needs in Europe to succeed. According to Reuters, Lexus is suffering from an image problem in Europe as buyers are still much more likely to consider BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi when shopping for a luxury car. Lexus has succeeded in the U.S. as it has learned the ways of Cadillac and Lincoln to succeed, but still doesn’t have the refined image of its European competitors.

New Models

Expect Lexus’ image problem to change and 2012 will go down as the year Lexus got its game on. Last month, Lexus offered up pictures of its all-new GS sedan. That vehicle, which until now hasn’t inspired much other then some yawns and ho-hums is a real looker. The new for 2013 model is now on sale in Japan and will go on sale stateside this spring. Its spindle grille, attractive headlamp design, creased hood and more sporting profile should help advance sales. The GS represents Lexus’ new design language and many more updated Lexus models are on the way. Critics such as Christian Seabaugh of Motor Trend magazine have written favorably about Lexus’ new design direction.

Other new Lexus models arriving beginning in February include the 2013 LX 570, its $80,000 full-size SUV. Its changes are more evolutionary than revolutionary, but it will get its own version of the spindle grille. Other models will receive nip/tucks this year with more to follow in 2013.

Global Markets

Although Lexus was a brand designed originally for the United States, it is gradually finding its way around the world. In Australia, Lexus trails the German automakers despite having nine models available. The CT200h, a hybrid, has just been launched down under and may be joined by a high performance edition outfitted with a larger gas engine and larger electric motor offers Automobile magazine. But, that still pales in comparison to Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which offer no less than 20 models each.

In Japan, Lexus is a newer arrival and has managed to hold onto its No.1 position selling 8,000 more models than BMW. In 2011, Lexus sold 42,635 units in its home country, 9,000 more than Mercedes-Benz and about double what Audi sales. Still, even with Japanese consumers the big European sedans are the status and luxury kings with consumers.