10. Hyundai Elantra - 24,445 Units

The sales numbers are in for April 2013, and we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 best-selling cars for last month.

Kicking off the list is the Hyundai Elantra with a starting MSRP of $16,965. The compact model from the Korean automaker saw 45.2 percent more sales this year than last in the month of April, and has sold 78,991 units so far this year. It’s worth noting that 25 percent of Elantra sales come from the Coupe and Elantra GT hatchback models, which weren’t available last year.

SEE ALSO: 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT Review

10. Ford Escape - 261,008 Units Sold

2012 was the best-selling year for automakers since 2007, marking the third year in a row that sales have increased. So now is a great time to look back at the best-selling vehicles from last year.

Coming in 10th place with 261,008 units sold is the Ford Escape which was updated for the 2013 model year. Earlier last year, AutoGuide.com had the opportunity to review the 2013 Ford Escape and we came away surprised by its sleek new look, engine selection, and its great handling. It wasn’t without its cons, but overall the crossover delivered a vastly improved driving experience.

SEE ALSO: 2013 Ford Escape Review – Video

[Source: Cars.com]

Ford is on track to sell 2.2-million vehicles in the U.S. this year, marking its second straight year topping the 2-million mark and being the only brand in America to do so. 

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Ford of Canada has made history this year, selling more than 100,000 trucks in 2012, making it the first automaker to ever do so in Canada.

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Things are looking up for automakers in the United States. All told sales topped 1.1 million new cars and trucks in November. That’s nearly a 15 percent increase compared to the same month in 2011. Year-to-date sales eclipsed 13 million units, an improvement of almost 14 percent compared to the same time period last year.

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The Ford F-150 has been updated for 2013, getting a fresh new nose and some new technology and  interior appointments.

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Top 10 Best Selling Pickups

The pickup truck is an icon that embodies the working spirit. It’s every blue collar employee’s calling card and farmer’s best friend. Truck buyers grow especially close to their vehicles as trucks are a  key tool in earning a living, depending on them to last through days and years of service.

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10. Chevrolet Corvette: 86.9%

Last month we reported the top 10 cars with the highest percentage of female owners, and now we have a less-than-surprising list of top 10 cars with the highest percentage of male buyers. The list is courtesy InsideLine with the data provided by Polk and reflects total purchases made last year in 2011.

Coming in at number 10 with 86.9 percent of its owners being male is the Chevrolet Corvette. Arguably the most iconic sports car in American history, it’s no surprise that the vast majority of them are owned and driven by men. In fact, there are few surprises on this list considering most of the vehicles are dream cars of teenage boys, or those suffering a mid-life crisis.

10. Chevy Impala: 14M units sold

The numbers are always changing and a new list of the Top 10 best-selling vehicles in history, compiled by 24/7 Wall St. has a new model on top.

There are some surprises on the list, but for the most part it all makes sense. Whether they’ve been in production for a long time or they’re reasonably priced worldwide, the top 10 best-selling cars of all time might not be the most exciting, but are clearly the most popular throughout history.

The Chevrolet Impala is the only GM vehicle on the list and has quite the history since hitting the market 54 years ago. Starting its life as a large two-door performance coupe, the Impala evolved into a versatile sedan. Or as we like to call it, a rental car. Ironically, it isn’t actually offered as a coupe anymore, which seems like a distant memory after 10 generations of upgrades.

Reports are coming in that Ford‘s next-generation F-Series full size pickups will be using plenty of aluminum panels in order to save weight. Ford is working adamantly to comply with fuel economy standards that continue to become more stringent.

Due in 2014, the new F-Series trucks will have aluminum doors and fenders, which is a tad shocking in the full size pickup market where steel has been the standard for decades. The continued movement towards using aluminum is consistent with Ford’s intentions to shave up to 700-lbs per model before 2019.

Currently the F-Series and Explorer utilize an aluminum hood, but the F-Series has never been outfitted with aluminum body panels. Ultimately however, weight savings means cost savings, in addition to better fuel economy.

[Source: Ward's Auto]

Men in the U.S. went big, brawny and sporty in 2011 – that is, when it came to the kind of vehicles they bought this past year.

According to J.D. Power’s Power Information Network (PIN) real-time transaction data, men leaned towards sports cars and pickup trucks in the first 11 months of 2011. In fact, out of the top 10 new-model vehicles that men bought or leased, six of them were large pickup trucks or vans. Topping the list of model pickups and vans were the Ford F-Series and Chevrolet Silverado. The data shows that these vehicles were purchased for commercial uses, not necessarily for dropping kids off at soccer practice.

Also in the top 10 models were three cool sports cars – BMW M3 , the Porsche 911 and Chevrolet Corvette. The M3 had highest number of male car buyers in the sports category, with most of these buyers falling into the 16- to 35-year-old demographic. The Porsche 911 was the second top pick, followed closely by the Corvette.

Also making the 2011 list is the GMC Sierra, the Audi A8/S8, the Ford Econoline and the Chevrolet Express. One of the new entries on the list this year is the Chevrolet Volt, although it didn’t crack the top 10.

[Source: J.D. Power and Associates]

An automatic transmission defect initiated a recall for 2011 Ford F-150, 2012 F-250, F-350,F-450 and F-550 pickup trucks.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the 16,091 examples of Ford trucks may suffer a problematic brake shift interlock switch. This defect may allow the transmission to shift out of park without the need of engaging the brake pedal.

NHTSA recommends this recall because this hazard could cause a driver to accidently shift the vehicle out of park, launch the truck, and increases the risk of a car accident.

Recalls will begin on December 19th. So far, no incidents have been linked to this issue.

Ford announced that they are investing $446 million into their Sao Bernardo do Campo plant near Sao Paulo, Brazil towards the production of a new global vehicle.

Unfortunately Ford didn’t announce any more details in regards to the new model, but it will likely be something geared toward’s Brazil’s emerging middle class.

The Sao Benardo do Campo plant currently produces the Ka, Courier and F-250 models and has an annual capacity of of 160,000 cars and light vehicles in addition to 40,000 trucks.

Brazil has become an emerging market for many vehicle manufacturers. Nissan also announced previously that they’ll be building a $1.5 billion factory in Brazil to supply some of the brand new models

[Source: Automotive News]

12. Toyota Camry

While automakers and outside research firms publish sales figures and earnings reports on a regular basis, one metric we rarely get a glimpse of is how profitable each vehicle is. In an era of re-badging and platform sharing, one would think that the most profitable vehicles are those with a large number of derivatives to spread the cost around. But a new report from Bernstein Research suggests that two factors – price point and volume – are the keys to making big bucks off vehicles. And judging by the list, longevity seems to help as well.

Number 12 on the list is the Toyota Camry, and for good reason. The Camry has a number of factors in its favor – massive volumes, an accessible price point and its made in America (currency fluctuations, particularly a rise in the euro or yen, can make exports unprofitable). Bernstein’s report notes that high volume cars at a medium price point are one of the keys to profitability, and the Camry might be the textbook definition of this formula. The Camry’s twin, the Lexus ES350, was absent from the list, but no doubt earns its keep, as a gilded version of the Camry.

Even as General Motors readies their new Chevrolet Colorado mid-size pickup, Ford and Chrysler are hedging their bets that consumers won’t return to the floundering small truck market, and continue to opt for full-size pickups instead.

General Motors has claimed that the new Colorado will do most of what a full-size truck can do with substantially reduced running costs. GM’s strategy appears to hinge on rising gas prices and a general trend towards more fuel-efficient vehicles. On the opposite end, Ford is killing off its Ranger pickup entirely, and will offer a replacement in world markets, but not North America. Thailand will be a big market for the Ranger (it’s the world’s largest mid-size pickup nation) and much of the Colorado’s development work was done there.

Studies have shown that the current mid-size truck entries are actually costlier to own once depreciation is factored in. Fuel economy advances in the full-size segment, along with the macho image of a full-size truck have helped contribute to the demise of the mid-size pickup.

Chrysler, which recently killed off their Dakota mid-size pickup, is still exploring whether to bring a new smaller truck to market, with spokesman Dave Elshoff telling Automotive News “We believe there is still a substantial market for small pickups,.. “We’re studying the demographics and business case for a small Ram pickup
.
[Source: Automotive News]

America’s most popular vehicle hasn’t gone unnoticed at the 2011 SEMA show, as Ford brought out a few customized concepts showing what tuners can do with the Ford F-Series pickup trucks.

First up is the 2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty by Superlift Suspensions, a show vehicle prepped in collaboration with Matchbox. Painted in an outrageous shade of orange, the truck features a 10-inch lift kit, 41 inch Interco IROK tires and all kinds of emergency lights, brush bars and other gear designed to resemble a Matchbox die-cast emergency vehicle. The truck is absolutely massive in a way that photographs simply can’t capture, but the effect is stunning.

Hulst Customs also showed off an F-350 Super Duty, though the aesthetic is very different from the Matchbox vehicle. Clad in a glossy black paint scheme with a silver hood and a custom stainless steel grille, the Hulst truck barely scrapes the ground, and is focused more on luxury than utility. Rear suicide doors with a Scissor Doors hinge kit allow access to an opulent, leather-and-wood lined interior while the gigantic alloys show that this truck is staying on the pavement at all times.

Also on display was an F-650 customized by Mobsteel, dubbed the “Hollow Point”. Said to be “a huge dose of pure gangster attitude”, the Hollow Point rides on 24″ rims and features a Caterpillar C7 engine and a 6-speed Allison transmission. PPG paint and a 2600 watt JL Audio System round out the whole package.

Gallery: Ford F-Series

The world’s largest aftermarket expo is just days away and Ford has released a second batch teaser images, highlighting the customization potential of its truck and SUV offerings.

Three modified versions of the new Ford Explorer will be on hand at the 2011 SEMA Show. The first, called the “Business Edition” Explorer is built by Stitchcraft Interiors will feature luxurious leather and Alcantara interior with a custom charcoal and orange exterior. The DSO Eyewear Explorer is designed to embrace a “active urban lifestyle” with 24-inch Niche wheels, a pear white paint job and “Midnight Tuscany” leather interipr with “Raven Suede” accents. And finally there’s the Tjin Edition Explorer, also with 24-inch wheels (from iForged), Eibach suspension, a Baer brake upgrade, while inside the car gets a Lamborghini-esque black leather interior with orange stitching.

Heading into the realm of real trucks, you won’t be able to miss the F-350 Super Duty, which has been transformed into the Matchbox Superlift Brush Truck. With a 10-inch Superlift Suspensions lift kit and 41-inch wheel and tire package. Painted “Oh, So Orange” the truck gets a complete firefighting utility bed and equipment, along with all the necessary lights and sirens. (And we secretly think its a Transformer).

The “Project No Compromise” F-150 gets a solid array of mods, from a MagnaFlow exhaust and Skyjacker Suspensions four-inch lift, to a two-inch fender flare kit. A real truck, it also boasts Ford’s new fuel efficient and powerful EcoBoost V6 engine.

Built by CGS Performance Products the “Tarmac” F-150 is notably more urban, sitting low to the ground with an extensive list of mods that include Colorado Custom billet wheels, a Whipple twin-screw supercharger, a modified exterior with a new hood and grille, plus a custom red leather interior.

And finally there’s the “Black Mamba” F-350 Super Duty (above) with its Bentley-styled front-grille and suicide rear doors.

GALLERY: Ford Explorer, F-Series SEMA Show Cars

Check out AutoGuide’s complete 2011 SEMA Show preview here.

The Japanese earthquake disaster and the resulting supply disruption mixed up the Top 10 best-selling vehicles in June, allowing the Chevrolet Cruze compact to top the chart in the US, a spot usually reserved for the Toyota Camry.

The Camry did make the Top 10 and was the only Japanese vehicle to do so but as number eight, with sales down 27.7 percent from last June. Toyota has regained strength and production is almost back to normal so expect the Camry to move back up. Honda also took a tumble and fell to 15th place with the Civic, down 34 percent compared to this time last year. The Altima was Nissan’s top seller coming in at 11th place with sales up 22.7 percent.

Coming in first place was Ford’s F-series which improved over last year by 6.7 percent. Second place was awarded to the Chevrolet Silverado which improved by 5.1% over last year.

The Top Ten Sellers For June are the Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Escape, Ford Focus, Ram Pickups, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion, and Hyundai Elantra.

[Source: USA Today]

The first half of 2011 is officially over, and the Ford F-Series and Toyota Camry are still the top selling truck and car in America. While the F-Series has traditionally been the best selling vehicle in America since time immemorial, the Camry has often traded places with the Ford Taurus and Honda Accord, and our sales tally also lumps in sales of the Solara coupe as well, similar to the Corolla and Matrix, which are grouped together for second place in the passenger car standings.

The Chevrolet Silverado and Dodge Ram take second and third place in the truck standings, while the Corolla/Matrix, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion round out the car category.

Other strong performers include the Hyundai Elantra and Sonata and the Volkswagen Jetta. All three are relative newcomers to the top of the sales charts, but have managed to gain significant market share amid recent re-designs.

[Source: The Truth About Cars]

Back in 2008, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) passed a law that made it illegal to idle your new diesel powered truck, if it had a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 14,000 lbs, for more than five minutes.

This basically means most chassis cabs and trucks with more than a 1 ton capacity, think Ram chassis cabs (like the one shown above), Ford’s F-450 Super Duty, as well as class 6 and 7 rigs, vehicles most often used in delivery and construction.

Traditionally, most trucks used for such tasks were often found idling for extended periods, primarily for convenience, such as frequent stop/start driving or powering accessories, such as refrigerators and heavy equipment.

However, an engine tends to be at it’s least efficient when idling, as well as producing the greatest amount of  oxides of nitrogen (smog). The CARB ruling required that in order to certify diesel trucks for California, automakers had to meet an idle emissions standard of 30 grams of NOx per hour.

One way of doing this is by injecting urea into the exhaust stream and employing a special catalytic converter, to convert it into nitrogen and water vapor, as employed on Dodge’s 4500 and 5500 chassis cabs. As a result, these trucks and others that meet the idle test standard, receive special Exemption Stickers, meaning they can now idle indefinitely.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Ford is asking dealers to curtail orders of three shades of red paint, and one hue called “Tuxedo Black” due to difficulties sourcing metallic elements needed for the paint. The element, which is produced by a Japanese supplier, is unable to be produced to due damage resulting from the natural disasters that occurred in the country.

So far, full-size pickups and SUVs are unable to be ordered in Tuxedo Black, while vehicles like the Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS will have their supplies of the color restricted. The shades of red will be scaled back on cars like the F-Series Super Duty and Ranger pickups, Focus, Econoline and Lincoln Navigator.

Ford says it is looking to find a replacement for the substance, called Xirallic, which is used to give the paint a metallic finish.

[Source: CNN Money]

When it comes to automotive loyalty, Ford proves they must be doing something right, as the company just won the 15th annual Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards.

The last time that Ford won this award was back in 1999, so they’ve had plenty of time to work on the customer loyalty aspect of the business. And it’s paid off – Ford came away on top in the many categories, including: Overall Loyalty to Manufacturer; Overall Loyalty to Make; Ethnic Market Make – African-American; and Mid/Full-Size Pickup for its F-Series truck line up.

The Polk’s Automotive Loyalty Awards are given to automakers that retain car owners over repeat buying cycles. To track owner loyalty, Polk follows trends throughout the year and completes in-depth analysis of automotive shopping behaviors, related market influencers and development of retention strategies. Polk also determines automotive loyalty when a new vehicle consumer purchases or leases another new vehicle of the same model or make.

According to Brad Smith, director of Polk’s loyalty management practice, the 2010 awards are based on an analysis of 4.9 million return-to-market events during the 2010 model year. The 2010 model year runs from October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010.

You can see the full list of winners after the jump.

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Ford‘s F-Series truck is America’s best selling vehicle for the 34th straight year, moving an astounding 528, 349 units, up nearly 28 percent from 2009. In second place was the Chevrolet Silverado, which moved a relatively paltry 370,135 trucks, but saw a 17 percent jump in sales.

The Toyota Camry and Honda Accord duked it out for the title of Best Selling Passenger Car, with the Camry edging out the Accord by 16,423 units. Toyota sold 327,804 Camrys in 2010, a 7.5 percent drop, while Accord sales were up 8.1 percent to 311,381 units.

Rounding out the top 10 were the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion, Honda CR-V and Dodge Ram. Also noteworthy is that Ford sold more total units in 2010 than previous leader Toyota.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

As the best selling vehicle in both the United States and Canada, the launch of the upcoming F-Series pickup truck is likely the most important event for Ford.

But a parts shortage, affecting unspecified components, threatens to impede Ford’s launch plans, forcing a batch of F-Series trucks to sit idle as the automaker waits for the parts.

The 2011 F-Series was given a range of new powertrains designed to address consumers increasing desire for better fuel economy. F-Series sales rose by 30 percent last month, a strong number in light of the upcoming refreshed model and rising fuel prices.

[Source: Automotive News]