The economy may be beginning to bounce back, but the past year has changed the perspective of even the wealthiest of consumers. As they make their way back to car dealerships, these consumers are not going for their typical BMWs and Mercedes vehicles. Instead, they’re trading in their high-end models for Buicks and Hyundais.

These brands may be less expensive than their German counterparts, but what many buyers are discovering is that these cars aren’t necessarily “cheaper” when it comes to the comfort and amenities that they provide.

As the economy gets back on solid footing, more affluent car buyers are feeling not-so-affluent as homes values are still down and portfolios have condensed. As a result, companies such as Buick and Hyundai are reaping the benefits. Luxury car buyers demand the amenities, but are weary of the luxury car price tags. Sedans such as the 2010 Buick LaCrosse provide the much needed comforts for a price that’s as much as $20,000 less than comparable German sedans. Aside from the Buick LaCrosse, the Hyundai Genesis is also an appealing luxury sedan that offers available V8 power and a range of electronic and safety features that help make it an incredibly good value.

In addition to moving away from the higher priced brands, consumers are saving money by simply downsizing. For example, even Acura customers are trading in their midsize TLs in favor of the compact TSX model.

While car buyers may be beginning to return to showrooms, the vehicles striking their interest are far different than in pervious years. Even in the premium segment, buyers certainly don’t want to give up the amenities, but they’re choosing to be more frugal nonetheless. Luckily for those buyers that don’t want to sacrifice anything, including their bottom line, there are ample options available.

Despite more attractively priced luxury options, one dealer suggests that if you’re looking for a new Infiniti EX Framingham, you’re not suddenly going to choose a Hyundai because of the lower price tag. But nevertheless, these new vehicles are sending a powerful message to premium brands. And, with so many comparisons between the Genesis and the Infiniti G coupe and sedan, Westborough Infiniti dealerships are expecting branding to play a larger role in future products.

For Hyundai, the Genesis sedan was only the beginning as Hyundai Winston Salem has already encountered high demand for the luxurious Tucson crossover and Sonata sedan. With market share climbing, it seems Hyundai is unstopped as they give consumers much more for their money.

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It’s no surprise that nearly every automaker has been hit by declining sales this year compared with 2008. However, despite the bad economy and bad press for the automotive industry, Reuters’ recent tally of the top-selling vehicles of this year through October shows some relatively shocking results.

Despite the “smaller is better” trend, and the desire for high-mileage vehicles, the top selling vehicle overall appears to be the Ford F-Series pickup truck. Sure it faced a sales decrease of about 23 percent, but this full-size truck still retains plenty of popularity even amid the craze for fuel economy, crossovers, and hybrids. Although both the Chevrolet Silverado pickup and the Dodge Ram pickup lost ground in the rankings, both trucks still remain in the top ten.

Aside from trucks, Ford seemed to well with two models in the top ten. Ford was the only Detroit automaker to avoid bankruptcy restructuring, but still faced serious financial constrains. But despite challenges, Ford’s recently updated lineup has helped maintain demand. The 2010 Ford Fusion in particular has been a success as it provides affordability and fuel-efficiency. Jumping 10 spots from last year, Ford Fusion Memphis dealers can certainly attest to the Fusion’s gains and ongoing popularity among midsize sedan buyers.

Other vehicles on the list may not be so surprising. Vehicles such as the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and Nissan Altima, are sales leaders and continue to maintain their position within the list.

See below for the full top 10 highest selling vehicles of 2009 through October

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Read more car business news right here.

After a slew of bad press concerning floor mats interfering with accelerator pedals, Toyota has just announced that they will replace the gas pedal on millions of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. This move will move blame from the floor mats to the pedals.

Toyota will be replacing the existing gas pedals in numerous models to ensure that the shape of the pedal itself will reduce the risk of floor mat entrapment. The recall will affect a minimum of four million vehicles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has said that the recall will fix the sudden acceleration safety issues. Both Toyota and Lexus models have been implicated in this safety issue. Meanwhile, Interstate Toyota says drivers are also urged to remove their vehicle’s floor mats until they are able to receive the updated accelerator pedals.

Toyota’s floor mat fiasco began in October when they issued warnings concerning 3.8 million vehicles. According to Fort Worth Used Cars the updated pedals will apply to the 2007 to 2010 Camry, 2005 to 2010 Avalon, 2004 to 2009 Prius, 2005 to 2010 Tacoma, 2007 to 2010 Tundra, 2007 to 2010 Lexus ES 350, 2006 to 2010 Lexus IS 250, and the 2006 to 2010 Lexus IS 350.

To make matters slightly worse for Toyota, the automaker is also recalling 100,000 Toyota Tundra vehicles due to potentially excessive corrosion that could develop along the truck’s frame. For those seeking used trucks and SUVs in the Tacoma Washington area, you may want to consider all of your options.

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Crossovers remain in demand, but some automakers are looking to take “car-like” to a whole new level. No longer are crossovers only providing a car-like ride , but more crossovers are also car-like in terms of styling.

Honda’s all-new 2010 Crosstour, based on the Accord sedan, is the epitome of this new trend. Perhaps a bit more like a five door Accord wagon than true crossover vehicle, the Honda Crosstour is looking to compete against other hard-to-define CUVs like the Toyota Venza or Ford Flex.

The base Crosstour begins at $29,670 with fully-loaded four-wheel drive versions going well into the mid-$30,000 range. The higher-end models include attractive features such as Honda’s easy to use voice-activated navigation and a rear view camera.

Interested buyers have only one engine to choose from, the Accord’s 3.5-liter V6 that produces 271 horsepower. Mated to a smooth shifting five-speed automatic, customers at Honda Parts Warwick are particularly intrigued by the Crosstour’s Variable Cylinder Management system which deactivates cylinders to improve fuel economy. Two-wheel drive models offer a commendable 18 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

Despite the Crosstour’s increased size and weight, Manchester CT Honda Service notes it handles very closely to the Accord sedan, which is very good. Handling is crisp and compliant, just like the Accord sedan, but steering is moderately slower due to a different steering ratio setup. The crosstour is proof that the term “crossover” is used rather loosely these days, especially considering this vehicle only offers a modest six inches of ground clearance. That said, the Crosstour’s available four wheel drive system should provide outstanding traction for inclement weather say Honda dealers Denver, but this is by no means a rugged off-roader.

For those interested in a vehicle between the Honda CR-V and the Honda Pilot in terms of size, ruggedness, and price, the Honda Crosstour may be a good fit. If you’re also considering a vehicle similar to the Toyota Venza, Subaru Outback, or Ford Flex, you should certainly look at the Crosstour as well.

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Honda news and more auto reviews can be read here.

With the Cash for Clunkers program officially deceased, results indicate that the biggest winners in the program’s aftermath were Japanese and Korean automakers. As the Detroit Big Three suffered from bankruptcy and negative consumer perceptions, it seems that a potential $4,500 rebate wasn’t enough to make help GM or Chrysler gain any market share.

Automakers that found the Cash for Clunkers program particularly beneficial were Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Hyundai as they were able to draw customers away from gas guzzling SUVs and trucks and towards their fuel efficient offerings.

Import manufactures dominated U.S. sales through the duration of the Cash for Clunkers program, which helped drive customers in to showrooms across the country including Nissan O’Fallon. Additionally, cars naturally outsold trucks by a margin of 2 to 1. Out of the Big Three, Ford was the only manufacturer to hold market share during this period, thanks to demand for the Ford Escape compact crossover and the Ford Focus compact.

General Motors and Chrysler both lost ground to import automakers. Initially, the program spurred demand for new domestic models among 2009 Dodge Challenger Dallas dealers. During these initial weeks of the program, compact vehicles and sedans saw strong sales among Cleveland Chevy Cobalt dealers, but poor inventory availability at numerous dealerships hampered sales momentum.

Total auto sales under the Cash for Clunkers program came just shy of 700,000 units. Total rebates came in at $2.87 billion. The rest of the program’s $3 billion will be used for administrated costs. Toyota was the big winner during the Cash for Clunkers program with a reported 19.4 percent market share, with Honda coming in at 13 percent. Chrysler experienced a substantial hit due to dwindling inventories stemming from halted manufacturing operations as well as a lineup saturated by trucks and SUVs. Thanks to robust warranties and unique incentives, Manchester Hyundai saw a healthy spike in first-time Hyundai buyers as well. Despite the program’s ability to spark interest in new cars, Used Cars MA still witnessed healthy demand for affordable late model pre-owned vehicles and expects that demand to only increase in the aftermath of Cash for Clunkers.

Certainly the Cash for Clunkers program created new customers for Japanese and Korean brands. It will be interesting to see whether they will be able to retain these new customers as the Big Three attempt to regain lost ground.

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With new 2010 cars arriving in showrooms, perhaps dealers will be able to hold onto momentum.

Both the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang are all-new for the 2010 model year, and it was only a matter of time to see which one claimed the top muscle car spot. With both models offering new styling, new features, and new attitude, it was the Chevrolet Camaro that successfully outsold the Mustang in the month of June – the first time since 1993.

In June, Chevrolet managed to sell 9,320 Camaros, while Ford took a back seat with 7,362. The end tally may be the fact that the Mustang has been on sale for several months already suggests Car Service Minneapolis, and simply couldn’t compete with the steep demand for the new Camaro’s release.

A few factors have worked in the Chevrolet Camaro’s favor in addition to its recent release. First, Chevrolet Service Peoria suggests that the coupe saw more than 14,000 orders before the vehicle even went on sale. Secondly, according to Salt Lake City used car dealers, the movie Transformers 2 could certainly have helped the new Camaro get noticed by potential buyers.

With everything working in favor of the new Chevy Camaro, it remains to be seen if it can hold the Mustang off for the long haul. It wasn’t since 1985 that the Camaro was able hold the Mustang at bay for a full year, so perhaps Chevrolet has a chance to truly turn things around with this long-anticipated new vehicle. But as the demand for the Camaro subsides following its launch, it will be exciting to see just how this renewed Muscle Car War will turn out.

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Muscle car wars heat up between Ford and Chevy. Read more right here.

The North American Car and Truck of the Year is a coveted award that is awarded during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Although the award won’t be announced until January, the candidates for the 2010 award have just been released this week.

This year there have been a number of surprising and perhaps controversial choices of potential award winners observes Chevrolet Peoria. Some, such as the Suzuki Kizashi, have yet to even reach showrooms. But despite some odd choices, the list overall is equally divided among European, American, and Japanese brands.

The total list includes 37 vehicles. Not to anyone’s surprise, Chrysler did not have any vehicle that made it on to the list. Saginaw Chevrolet dealers say that deciding who will win the coveted award for North American Car and Truck of the Year will mainly be automotive journalists that are based in North America. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait next year to see who will win.

To make it onto the list, Honda New York points out that a vehicle has to either be all-new or substantially updated when compared to the previous model year. This year the awards win to the Hyundai Genesis and the Ford F-150. With so many exciting new vehicles emerging for the 2010 model year, Washington DC Auto Parts expects that the outcome will be highly anticipated as automakers vie for the attention of skittish car buyers.

To see the full list of 2010 candidates, see the full list below.

2010 North American Car of the Year candidates:

Audi S4
BMW Z4
BMW 335d
BMW 5-series GranTurismo
Buick LaCrosse
Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon
Chevrolet Camaro
Ford Fusion/Fusion Hybrid
Ford Mustang/GT500
Ford Taurus/Taurus SHO
Honda Insight
Hyundai Genesis Coupe
Kia Forte
Kia Soul
Lexus HS 250h
Lotus Evora
Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3
Mercedes Benz E-Class
Nissan Cube
Nissan 370Z
Porsche Panamera
Subaru Legacy
Suzuki Kizashi
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Golf/Golf TDI

2010 North American Truck of the Year candidates:

Acura ZDX
BMW X5 xDrive35d
Cadillac SRX
Chevrolet Equinox
Ford Transit Connect
GMC Terrain
Honda Crosstour (name to be officially announced/confirmed later)
Land Rover LR4
Lincoln MKT
Subaru Outback
Toyota 4Runner
Volvo XC60

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When results are announced during the Detroit Auto Show look right here.

Ford has been proactive in getting rid of ailing assets lately, including included Jaguar, Land Rover, and even Aston Martin. But one brand that Ford has been slow to remove from its umbrella is Volvo. The Swedish automaker has not attracted promising offers, but recent reports suggest that Chinese automaker Geely is currently a front-runner to purchase Volvo.

News sources in China have reported that Geely has submitted a letter of intent to purchase the company from Ford. However, Ford has not yet released any details regarding a potential purchase notes St Paul Used Cars, but no other names of potential buyers have yet surfaced.

With Volvo suffering from layoffs and sales setbacks, Boston Auto Loans suggests the automaker could benefit from producing cars in Geely facilities in China. The reported offer will include a total investment of up to $10 billion. In addition to potential China-based production facilities, Geely also hopes to assist in the development and deployment of the next generation XC90, which should reach Nashua Volvo Service showrooms within two years.

While Ford has recently denied the sale, and Volvo remaining silent on the issue, Geely appears to be the most likely candidate as a potential buyer. Volvo Service Jersey City points out that other Chinese automakers have also been mentioned as viable buyers.

Since the Swedish government has pledged loans to the automaker to help it limp through the current recession, Volvo New York believes the Volvo brand has become somewhat more attractive for potential buyers. For a Chinese automaker, the Volvo brand would be quite attractive as Volvo has a fairly large dealer network within the lucrative North American auto market, which Chinese automakers have yet to gain. As Volvo’s estimated value continues to plummet, it’s likely that Ford wants to see a sale sooner rather than later.

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Automotive news and car buying trends can be researched here.

Demand for the all-new 2010 Toyota Prius remains high both in Japan and in North America. Here in the U.S., Toyota’s latest advertising campaign for the new 2010 Prius is in full swing and demand continues to brew. However, the demand for the latest Toyota hybrid is causing production dilemmas as Toyota has been inundated with orders that it is struggling to fill.

Advance orders for the 2010 Toyota Prius have reached about 80,000. Considering Toyota originally forecasted sales in Japan for 100,000 units per year, those initial forecasts now seem to be a bit understated as the overall sales goal has almost been reached just weeks after launch.

Demand for the 2010 Prius hybrid is great for Toyota, but with production unable to go fast enough, the Prius may become hard to find for eager U.S. consumers, which is a fear of one San Diego Toyota hybrid dealer.  Toyota is considering changing its allocation for the new Prius in order to better satisfy strong demand at home in Japan.

Globally, Toyota wants to sell about 500,000 units of the third generation Prius each year. About half of that is intended for customers in the U.S., such as those at Toyota Service Northridge that crave the Prius’ new eco-friendly technology. With no sign of falling demand for the new hybrid in Japan, there are plenty of production limitations that will keep the Prius out of the hands of plenty of consumers. The availability of the batteries is perhaps the greatest hurdle to overcome according to Albuquerque Auto Financing and may constrain how many Prius units are sold in various markets.

Toyota dealers are eager to get new shipments of the much anticipated 2010 Toyota Prius, as are consumers. However, production will continue to be hampered until Toyota’s battery manufacturing facility receives an update and battery supply becomes more plentiful.

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Get the latest news surrounding the 2010 Prius hybrid here.

In Korea, the Kia Soul has already received a solid start. The youth oriented Kia Soul features unusual shapes, colors, and features, which all help it stand out from the crowded market segment. The Hyundai owned automaker plans to sell more than 40,000 units a year in the U.S. and Canada, and with demand at Kia dealers already high, those projections are certainly appear realistic.

Kia has struggled to make inroads in the U.S. auto market. Hyundai has recently gained momentum for its high-value and surprisingly luxurious new models. But for Kia, Philadelphia Kia dealers believe that the Soul maybe the fun, dynamic car they need to make a similar impact.

The Kia Soul is a new direction for the Kia brand. Previously, most models have been centered on price and value. The Soul adds styling and should appeal to people that are attracted to the car itself and not just its price. Used Kia Connecticut sees Kia as moving away from dull vehicles, and toward cutting edge design. This may mean Kia vehicles may move slowly up market as well.

Priced from $13,995, dealers say the Kia Soul is priced right. A fully loaded model can be had for under $20,000. Its base four-cylinder engine can also get 31 mpg on the highway further reinforcing its value. But thanks to combining these high value features with the distinctive design, St Louis Kia expects plenty of new customers venturing to a Kia dealership for the first time.

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