cars 2011
New Car Sales in 2011
The sales of new cars so far in 2011 have been disappointing to the car industry as sales for June 2011 fell by 6.2 percent over 2010 figures. And the average rate of decline for the first half of 2011 stands at 7.1 percent. But it's not all bad news for the car industry as a slow and steady economic growth in the second half of 2011 should see volumes increase.
The big winners in the showrooms are diesel cars as customers seem to be focusing on buying what they perceive to be more economical vehicles. Figures show that the petrol-car market share fell by over 14 percent in June 2011 while new diesel car sales were up 4 percent.
The top selling new car in June was the Ford Fiesta followed by the Ford Focus and the Vauxhall Corsa. The Vauxhall Insignia was the best selling diesel car and in fourth place in the overall sales.
The top three cars are all small family cars which also substantiate the belief that the consumer is turning towards more economical cars or cars which are cheaper to run. Getting a smaller car with a smaller engine or buying a diesel car are ways the consumer feel they can be more frugal in their car purchases.
The Ford Fiesta can be bought for as little as £9,995 and is said to be a great and comfortable ride with a decent boot and enough leg room for back-seat passengers. The Ford Focus is larger than the Fiesta and is described as a great family car. Starting price for a new Ford Focus hatchback is £15,995. To view the top selling Fords you can visit a Ford dealer, London.
So far this year hybrid cars such as the Vauxhall Ampera are beating predicted sales forecasts; sales of the Ampera in Europe are expected to reach 10,000 a year by 2013. It's 2011 that has been hailed as the year of the electric car though, we will have to wait until the end of the year to see if sales figures match this statement.
But although sales figures have been down for 12 months running, the overall rate of decline is falling which means the car industry at least have some positive news. The hope now is that the decrease in decline will be followed by a further rise in sales in the near future.
The Top Cars Of 2011
Just like in the fashion world, street rods change every year. Car shows are similar to that of a fashion week for retail fashion. These cars not only include sophistication and style, but also the comfort and creativity the car manufactures put into their design work.
We have to admit, the previous year was a challenge to the car manufacturing industry because of the economic problems, but this year there is hope that it will thrive, just like what it did during the two world wars and the depression.
Consumers are not only looking for warranty, insurance, performance or even brand. They are now after the design, the creativity and the uniqueness of the car. Because of that rising competition, street rods are becoming like fashion statements and even get celebrity endorsers to promote the products
Career-wise, this is the best time to be a car designer for every car manufacturer is out to get and hire the best and creative designers. Notice the cars of late have front grilles like that of an Audi, not only for circulation and ventilation, but also for style.
So, what constitutes as a top car for 2011? One can consider the design, performance and the trend of the car as good check points. It can be an electric or solar powered car as well. It can also be the hybrid and the classic coupe, even Kia's Picanto takes the center stage for being considered a top car.
Street rods that can run on battery power can be the best contender for the top car for 2011. Family vehicles or SUVs come into the picture too. Don't forget the famous pick-up truck or even a trusty sedan to join in this rambunctious gallery of best cars for the year. With a lot of categories to choose from, one must be having a hard time picking what would be the top street rod for 2011.
Regardless of the critics praising or ranting about a certain street rod, the consumer will still be able to decide for them self what would be the best and the top car for 2011.
Even the high-end companies are seriously looking at manufacturing a car that has the same quality and yet meet the standards and the demand of the consumer. Not only are there advances in technology and engineering but also be on the lookout for better and sleeker cars in the years to come. If you're an avid fan of movies and action heroes, you might want to take a look at the cars they drive on the big screen to see for yourself what is to come.
Still undecided what would be the top car of 2011? Cable television already has a channel dedicated to cars and has so many shows that address the needs of fans. They also have shows that present hosts test driving cars and give feedback on the good or bad points. At the end of the day, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to choosing the top car. What matters most is how the car lives up to its performance, quality, power, after sales assistance, warranty, technology and even the price.
If the consumer is satisfied with all that, then it can be considered the top car of 2011.
Car Reviews: 2011 Jaguar XJ Luxury Car
The 2011 Jaguar XJ is the British car manufacturer's flagship car and is loaded with luxury and is the most technologically advanced XJ to date. The current model's design, which was introduced for the 2010 model year, is a departure from the previous generations of XJ cars that have been around for decades. The new design is aimed to bring a younger audience to the brand.
The new design seems to have worked as the car has been getting many rave reviews from car websites and magazines; the design is very unique and can't be mistaken for another car. The interior design is very contemporary with a very user friendly layout and ease of use in mind. The entire interior is covered by leather including the seats, the dashboard, the center console and even the door panels. Because of all this soft material and extra sound dampening materials, the Jag's interior is extremely quiet and luxurious. The car comes with a 600 watt Bowers & Wilkins sound system and can hold up to 10 gigabytes of music on the hard-drive. The sound system is controlled through an eight inch touch screen LCD display which also controls the climate and the message seats. The same screen also acts as the navigation screen and can be used as a screen to watch movies (currently only available in the European models) and displays images from the rear view camera when in reverse gear.
On the exterior the Jaguar XJ has a very sleek and sporty look to it; the rear window is sloped like a sports car. It makes the car look good but it makes it very difficult to look out the back window when reversing, the reverse camera and parking sensors come in very handy.
The standard version of the 2011 Jaguar XJ comes with a 5.0 liter V8 engine that produces 385 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 380 pound-feet of torque at 3,500 rpm and is equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission that can be shifted by paddles located on the steering wheel. The car can reach 0 to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds and is electronically limited to a top speed of 121 miles per hour. There is also a supercharged version of this car available which increased horsepower to 470 and 424 pound-feet of torque, making the 0 - 60 run in 4.9 seconds. The third and most powerful version is called the Supersport which ups the power to 510 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque.
The standard Jaguar XJ starts at a price of $72,700 and gets an EPA estimated fuel mileage of 16 miles per gallon in the city and 23 on the highway. The supercharged version starts at a price of $87,700 and gets 15 miles per gallon in the city and 21 on the highway. The Jaguar XJ Supersport starts at $113,200 and gets 15 miles per gallon in the city and 21 on the highway.
