2013 Top Selling Cars - USA

Lucrative growth rates and a large pool of untapped customers in China, India, Brazil and Russia might have channeled the focus of the automotive industry to these countries of late, but the sheer volumes and associated margins in United States of America, still the second largest market for automobiles next only to China, is too good to ignore. There just isn't any country in the world that consumes big trucks the way America does and considering the profits that trucks apparently rake in, you get our point. For the last few years, the overall industry volumes in USA has been showing significant growth and 2013, with a 8% growth rate over 2012, is no different.

Ford remained the most popular brand in USA, taking the crown of the largest selling brand once again in 2013. Chevrolet finished the year as runner up followed by the three Japanese brands Toyota, Honda and Nissan.

'Change is the only thing that's constant on earth,' they say. We would like to rephrase it slightly. Ford F-Series ending up as the best-selling automobile in USA is the only thing that's constant month after month, year after year and heck, even decade after decade. We aren't exaggerating at all, 2013 marked 32 years at the top for Ford's full-size pickup truck. With sales of 763,402 units last year, the F-Series decimated the competition yet again. With an all-new model going on sale, Chevrolet Silverado continued to remain popular as ever, ending 2013 as the second best-selling automobile in USA. After almost toppling Silverado in 2012, Toyota Camry settled on the final step of the podium and remains the most popular car in America.

Honda carried over its good performance from the year before into 2013, with three of its models making it to the Top 10 list. Accord, Civic and CR-V finished fourth, sixth and eighth, sandwiching Ram Pickup and Nissan Altima between them. With a relatively young lineup that's proving to be very popular, Honda's grip of the American market will stay firm, for the next couple of years at least. Toyota Corolla, a global best-seller and Ford Escape, the compact crossover that's making waves in many countries, rounded off the list.

2013 Top 10 in USA:

1. Ford F-Series - 763,402
2. Chevrolet Silverado - 480,414
3. Toyota Camry - 408,484
4. Honda Accord - 366,678
5. Ram Pickup - 355,673
6. Honda Civic - 336,180
7. Nissan Altima - 320,723
8. Honda CR-V - 303,904
9. Toyota Corolla/Matrix - 302,180
10. Ford Escape - 295,993

Source for Figures: Best Selling Cars Blog

| Star of 2013 - Ford F-Series |

| Promise of 2014 - Ford F-Series |

Despite being on the verge of replacement by an all-new model, the current F-Series' total dominance of the American market in its final full year of production makes it the star of 2013. With a revolutionary redesign, significant weight saving and a far-downsized engine lineup, the all-new F-Series that's creating ripples in the industry since its debut at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show is a gamble, a real big one at that. But somehow, we believe that the new F-Series will become a smash hit in USA and, much like Ford Motor Company themselves, consider the new truck as a promise of 2014.

Ford Fusion missed out on the tenth position by just a few hundred units, while Chevrolet Cruze, Hyundai Elantra, Chevrolet Equinox and Ford Focus stay close by, threatening to break into the top ten at any given opportunity.

Interestingly, Mercedes-Benz is the top-selling luxury brand in USA, helped in no small part by the stunning new CLA compact four door coupe. With the new C-Class and GLA expected to join a lineup that's already bolstered by the presence of the refreshed E-Class and the all-new S-Class, the brand with the three pointed star is all set for the future as well. The rest of the luxury brands were led by BMW and Lexus.

2013 Top Selling Cars - India

As the competition gets stiffer with each passing year, India's largest car manufacturer Maruti-Suzuki seems to be only getting stronger than ever. Toyota, GM, Volkswagen, Hyundai and Ford might be forces to reckon with globally, but Maruti-Suzuki demolishes them when it comes to the unique Indian market, teaching these global giants a lesson or two in the process. Apart from topping the sales charts and contributing significantly to the parent company's bottom-line, Suzuki's Indian subsidiary regularly tops all the customer satisfaction and sales satisfaction indices. Now, that's what we would call incredible!

A compilation of the annual sales statistics of 2013 shows that Maruti-Suzuki produces five of the top ten selling passenger cars and utility vehicles in India. As it has been since 2004, Alto is the country's largest selling car, with a total of 265,777 customers reposing their faith in this little car. The Alto might not look impressive, but it comes across as a no-nonsense city car with adequate space for five, a fuel-efficient engine and excellent reliability. Add to it the company's widespread service network, low maintenance costs and cheaper spares and you know that customers just can't go wrong with the Alto.

Just as we predicted, the Swift and Swift Dzire showed their mettle yet again, finishing on the podium and falling just short of 200,000 units each. Making it four in a row is the consistent Wagon-R that sold close to 160,000 units. With sales of 62,219 units, the Ertiga is the third model from the Swift platform that finds a place in the Top 10 chart, albeit the last spot. With appealing looks, peppy and frugal engines, excellent dynamics and a big-car feel to it, the Swift has captured the hearts and minds of Indians, the positive effect of which is rubbing off on the Dzire and Ertiga.

Finishing behind the four Suzukis with yet another stellar performance in the sales chart is the Mahindra Bolero. That makes the top five selling cars in 2013 the same as the previous year. Despite the Bolero's age-old underpinnings, Mahindra's constant efforts in refreshing the model range and its workhorse nature rubs off positively with the Indian customers. And that makes the Bolero India's best-selling utility vehicle by a huge margin.

A trio of Hyundais come up next, with the Eon besting the i10 and i20. With the Grand i10 making a strong debut in the second half of the year, the older i10 has understandably lost its sheen and will effectively bow out of the Top 10 list this year. But, we expect the Grand i10 to put up a strong showing in 2014. The ninth position goes to Toyota Innova, that continues to find favour with customers despite its ever-inflating prices.

2013 Top 10 in India:

1. Maruti-Suzuki Alto - 265,777
2. Maruti-Suzuki Swift - 199,257
3. Maruti-Suzuki Swift Dzire - 198,317
4. Maruti-Suzuki Wagon-R - 159,233
5. Mahindra Bolero - 110,470
6. Hyundai Eon - 89,964
7. Hyundai i10 - 77,913
8. Hyundai i20 - 71,788
9. Toyota Innova - 63,184
10. Maruti-Suzuki Ertiga - 62,219

Source for Figures: www.team-bhp.com (Monthly Sales Charts)

| Star of 2013 - Maruti-Suzuki Swift |

| Promise of 2014 - Hyundai Grand i10 |

For reasons that have been stated several times before, Maruti-Suzuki Swift takes our crown as the shining star of the Indian automotive industry in 2013. The revolution that started in 2006 is showing no signs of slowing down and might well continue unabated for the next few years. Much improved over its predecessor which was a top-seller itself, the Hyundai Grand i10 promises to take the fight to India's largest car manufacturer, something that no other brand or model has dared to before. That makes the Grand i10 the promise of 2014.

Outside the top ten, Honda Amaze, Ford Ecosport, Renault Duster and Hyundai Verna post impressive sales figures that might carry over in 2014 as well.

The battle for luxury supremacy sees yet another change, with Audi leapfrogging its fellow Germans to end 2013 as the most popular luxury brand in India. That's a great achievement for the Volkswagen group brand, given the fact that it is the newest entrant in India. With a slew of new launches and customer-centric initiatives, Mercedes-Benz came up second, relegating BMW to the third spot. Well, how quickly things change! Jaguar and Volvo are nowhere near to threaten the Germans, while Lexus, Acura and Infiniti are yet to announce their plans for the Indian market.

General Motors sweeps 2014 North American Car & Truck/Utility of the Year awards

As always, the first day of the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit began with the announcement of the winners of two of the most prestigious awards in the automotive industry, the 2014 North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year. Chosen by a panel of 49 automotive journalists from the United States of America and Canada, these awards, now in their 21st year, are designed to recognize the most outstanding new vehicles of the year. Unlike most other awards that are handed out by a single media outlet, the jury for these awards consists of journalists representing magazines, television, radio, newspaper and websites.

To be eligible for this award, a car or truck should be either all-new or substantially changed from the previous model year, priced less than $ 100,000 and must have an annual foreseeable North American sales of 5000 units for cars and 2000 units for trucks. From a group of 28 cars and 18 trucks, three finalists were shortlisted for each category. While the Cadillac CTS, Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and Mazda 3 were the three finalists in cars, it was the Acura MDX, Chevrolet Silverado and Jeep Cherokee that made the cut in trucks.

Finally, it was Chevrolet that made it big this time, making it a clean sweep for General Motors. The Corvette Stingray was crowned the 2014 North American Car of the Year (NACOTY) and the Silverado won the 2014 North American Truck of the Year (NATOTY) title. Though the Corvette and Silverado have won this award before in 1998 and 2007 respectively, this is the first time Chevrolet have bagged both the titles in a single year.

Ever since its debut early last year, the all-new Corvette Stingray has been the cynosure of all eyes, building on the nameplate's chequered history and unmatched legacy. Undoubtedly, with its shattering performance, eye-popping design and thousands of loyal enthusiasts who swear by it, the all-new Corvette promises to push the envelope for the bow-tie brand. Finishing runner-up to the Corvette is the brilliant Mazda 3 followed by the stunning new Cadillac CTS, another GM representation in the award.

2014 NACOTY RESULTS:

1. Chevrolet Corvette Stingray - 211
2. Mazda 3 - 185
3. Cadillac CTS - 94

PREVIOUS NACOTY WINNERS:

* 2013 - Cadillac ATS
* 2012 - Hyundai Elantra
* 2011 - Chevrolet Volt
* 2010 - Ford Fusion Hybrid
* 2009 - Hyundai Genesis

Moving on to trucks, Chevrolet Silverado proved its mettle yet again, by impressing the jurors with its much-improved and redesigned 2014 model. Armed with a slew of improvements in the form of reduced weight and a lineup of fuel-efficient engines that includes a V6 option, the new Silverado is all set to extend the popularity of its predecessors for the next few years. The much-promising and eagerly-awaited Jeep Cherokee finishes runner-up, with the Acura MDX taking the final spot.

2014 NATOTY RESULTS:

1. Chevrolet Silverado - 261
2. Jeep Cherokee - 142
3. Acura MDX - 87

PREVIOUS NATOTY WINNERS:

* 2013 - Ram 1500
* 2012 - Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
* 2011 - Ford Explorer
* 2010 - Ford Transit Connect
* 2009 - Ford F-150

Let's not forget that the Cadillac ATS and the Ram 1500 were the recipients of these titles last year, with the two Chevrolets taking over the mantle in 2014.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the world's best car, arrives in India in style

Mercedes-Benz India has kick started 2014 with a splash with the launch of its flagship luxury sedan, the S-Class. Priced at INR 1.57 Crore ex-showroom Delhi, the top-of-the-line S 500 is the only variant being offered for now. Imported from Germany as a Completely Built Unit (CBU), the S 500 is expected to be joined by other variants later this year. As is the norm with Mercedes-Benz, the 'Launch Edition' of the S-Class is the first variant that was launched. And amazingly, all 125 units of the Launch Edition S-Class were apparently sold out before launch.

In a price sensitive market like ours, a car with such high sticker price selling out its initial allocation before launch might come as a shock to some, but we aren't surprised. Rather, this was more on expected lines, given the kind of image and legacy the S-Class nameplate carries. After all, not for nothing is the S-Class being considered as the best car in the world by the critics and the media. For five generations, the S-Class has been the pinnacle of automobiles, boasting technology and features that were nothing short of revolutionary.

The all-new S-Class, codenamed W222 and currently in its sixth generation, is not only tasked with competing with its traditional rivals, the BMW 7-Series and the Audi A8, but also expected to rival the uber-luxury marques Bentley and Rolls-Royce. That’s obvious, given the fact that Maybach has bit the dust, transferring Daimler's uber-luxury aspirations onto the broad shoulders of the mighty S-Class.

Powering the S 500 is a 4.7-liter Twin-Turbo V8 engine that boasts power output of 453 bhp and torque of 700 Nm. Mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes just 4.8 seconds while the top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h. The design and styling of the S-Class is a perfect mix of retro and modern styling cues, with the large radiator grille, arched roof line, dropping character lines and an all-LED lighting system attracting desired levels of attention.

Befitting its price and positioning, the interiors of S-Class oozes luxury, comfort and elegance. Standing out is the unique two-spoke steering wheel that has 'Mercedes-Benz' etched in a never-before-seen font. Dominated by two huge LCD screens that double up as the instrument cluster and the center console, the dashboard of the S-Class is a rich mix of leather, wood and brushed metal. From the air-conditioner vents to the switches in the door pads, every single part that's visible in the images released by Mercedes-Benz screams luxury. The rear seats, apart from offering king-size legroom, promises to pamper the occupants in the best possible way.

Boasting features like an energizing hot stone massage function in the seats, a Burmester 3D surround sound system with 24 speakers and 9 tweeters, individual folding tables and entertainment systems, 12V power sockets, USB and Aux-in points, wireless hot spot, an Android  “Touch app” that controls massage function, seat heating and multimedia and a 7-colour ambient lighting with 5 dimming levels, the S-Class is fit for a king. While the AIRMATIC suspension would ensure a magic carpet ride for the passengers, safety remains a top priority as always. An army of active and passive safety features that include a 360-degree surround view camera with Night View Assist, Active Park Assist, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with 8 airbags and PRE-Safe, Brake Assist and Adaptive Brakes with HOLD function, ASR and Hill Start Assist would ensure that the S-Class remains one of the safest things on road.

Unfortunately, the famous 'Magic Body Control' that's making waves globally isn't offered in India as the system uses radar that operates at a frequency restricted for civilian usage in our country. For those who are curious, that system reads the road ahead and tunes the suspension accordingly to make the ride as smooth as possible for the occupants.

Well, now that Mercedes-Benz has upped the ante with the S-Class, its time for the competition to play catch up as always.

Honda launches the all-new City in India

When Honda unveiled the all-new fourth-generation City last November, it was evident that the Japanese manufacturer has adopted a conservative approach this time around. That's a clear departure from the revolutionary shocks that Honda had in store for the three previous generations of the City. With Hyundai going all guns blazing with the Verna and Volkswagen close on its heels with the Vento-Rapid siblings, it is clear that Honda is playing it safe to regain its lost crown in the midsize segment. After all, this is a segment that the Honda City ruled for more than a decade until Verna displaced it from the top in 2011.

Well, Honda is back with vigor, and how! The all-new City is available in five variants - E, S, SV, V and VX. Each of these variants come with the option of either a 1.5-liter petrol engine or a 1.5-liter diesel engine. Additionally, automatic transmission is being offered in the petrol SV and VX variants. That makes it a whopping 12 variants on offer.

Learning from its disastrous 'premium' positioning of the Jazz earlier, it has to be said that Honda has priced the City competitively, especially the petrol variants. The petrol variants with manual transmission are priced between INR 7.42 Lakhs and INR 9.93 Lakhs, while the two automatic transmission variants retail for INR 9.49 Lakhs and INR 10.98 Lakhs respectively. While the base diesel variant is priced at INR 8.62 Lakhs, the top-end VX diesel retails at INR 11.10 Lakhs. All prices are ex-showroom Delhi. That puts the City bang on target to challenge the likes of Verna, Vento, Rapid and Fiesta.

The petrol engine is the popular 1.5-liter, SOHC, i-VTEC mill that churns out 119 PS of power at 6600 rpm and 145 Nm of torque at 4600 rpm. Known for its refinement and smoothness, the City petrol is officially rated at 18 km/l for the automatic variant and 17.8 km/l for the manual variant. The 1.5-liter, DOHC, i-DTEC 'Earth Dreams' diesel engine that made its debut under the hood of the Amaze is the other new weapon in City's arsenal. Generating 100 PS of power at 3600 rpm and 200 Nm of torque at 1750 rpm, the City diesel boasts an ARAI-certified fuel efficiency of 26 km/l, making it the most fuel-efficient car in India.

Honda has always been a miser when it comes to loading its cars with features, but the new City might make us change that opinion. A driver airbag, Antilock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), power steering with tilt adjustment, power windows and electric mirrors are available as standard across the City range. The top-end VX variant comes loaded with goodies that include a passenger airbag, sunroof, leather upholstery, automatic air-conditioning system with a touch-screen control panel, rear air-conditioning vents, cruise control, audio system with a five inch screen, bluetooth telephony and a rear camera with three view options. The City customers sure aren't going to be disappointed this time around.

At such reasonable price levels, loaded with features that it has and armed with a powerful petrol and a frugal diesel engine, the new City has all the makings of a winner. India is the first market in the world where the new City went on sale and Indians have responded well with the model managing to garner 9000 pre-launch bookings. Yes, it doesn't look all-new, shows a lot of resemblance to the previous generation model that debuted in 2008 and the chrome grille in the top variants look tacky, but that's not going to stop the car from selling well. Verna is in for some trouble and it is time for Hyundai to put on its thinking caps.