The 2012 Toyota Prius. Image: Toyota

The Prius now sounds like a spaceship, and Honda continues to preview the upcoming 2012 CR-V. Dads would rather drive a crossover than a minivan–yes, we know, shock–and Volvo is downsizing. All this and more in today’s car news, right here on TheCarConnection.

Honda showed off the 2012 CR-V Concept in Anaheim, and the lightly changed real version is still coming to the L.A. Show.

The 2012 Toyota Prius, Prius V, and Prius Plug-In Hybrid are all going to sound like spaceships.

Dads prefer crossovers for family hauling duties, a new survey says.

Suzuki wants VW to apologize for the lawsuit filed against its Fiat engine buy. Can’t they just kiss and make up?

Ferrari is launching a winter driving school. We love prancing horses in the snow.

Here are five classic cars that achieve modern-day fuel economy. Suzuki Swift GT, anyone?

The Urbee 3D printed car has made its first appearance in Canada.

Volvo is hopping on the downsizing bandwagon, with a new range of three- and four-cylinder engines.

OnStar clarifies its terms of service in a new video. So are they watching even after you unsubscribe?

Don’t speed in Massachusetts, or you’ll pay–no matter what.

2011 Nissan Titan

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If you’re in the market to buy or lease a new car, TrueCar says there’s no time like this weekend. In fact, the vehicle-transaction-price tracking website estimates that this Saturday, September 24, will be your best shot at getting a good deal in the month of  September.

If you’re looking to buy a full size pickup or SUV, the 2011 Nissan Titan can be had for $22,497, thanks to incentives totaling $5,888 (which represents a discount of 20.7 percent from list). The 2011 Ford Expedition is selling for $36,502, thanks to $6,208 worth of available incentives, which saves you 14.5 percent from sticker price.

If a sedan is more to your liking, consider the 2011 Volvo S80, which can be had for $31,631, a discount of $6,394 (and 16.8 percent) from list price. If you want an American sedan, the 2011 Chevy Malibu is selling for $19,946 (a discount of $3,789, or 16 percent) and the 2011 Chrysler 200 can be had for $21,035 (saving you $3,660, or 14.8 percent).

If you’re looking for help with financing, the 2011 Buick Enclave, the 2011 Ford Fusion, the 2012 Hyundai Elantra and the 2011 Toyota Camry LE are all available with zero-percent financing, with terms up to 60 months. Kia is offering 1.9-percent financing on 2011 Kia Sedona models, plus it will give you an additional $3,000 cash back if you finance through its lender.

If leasing is more your style, you may want to check out deals on the 2012 Audi Q5 2.0T ($499 per month for 39 months), the 2011 Hyundai Sonata ($199 per month for 36 months), 2012 Infiniti M37 ($549 per month for 39 months) the 2012 Jaguar XF ($649 per month for 36 months) or the 2012 VW Passat ($219 per month for 36 months). Remember that lease deals all require cash down at signing, and most cap you to either 10,000 or 12,000 miles per year.

It’s a good time of year to be car shopping, since the end of September is also the end of the third quarter. If car makers are hungry to make deals at the end of the month, they’re ravenous to close sales at the end of the quarter. Use this to your advantage, and you’ll be able to cut the best deal possible on your next ride.

2011 Nissan Quest

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With the numbers rolling in from major automakers today, it’s difficult to not see progress in August 2011’s car sales figures versus those posted in July–but still, the overall trend is slow, slow, slow.

According to market analysts at J.D. Power, the seasonally adjusted seling rate (SAAR) for August 2011 totaled 9.9 million retail units, a slight improvement over figures for July, but well off the 11-million-unit rate seen in February.

When fleet sales are factored in, the 12.1-million-unit SAAR actually fell a fraction of a percent versus July.

Economic frustration continues to keep car shoppers away from dealerships, Power’s director of global forecasting Jeff Schuster says. “There is little question that a strong level of pent-up demand exists, but economic and financial uncertainty is keeping it from being released.”

For the year, Power expects a total of 10.2 million retail vehicle sales, and 12.6 million units including fleet sales.

Which brands posted increases on the month, and which have more warning signs to read as economic recovery fails to gain steam? The results by automaker, with some still to come:  

General Motors: GM (NYSE: GM) posted August sales of 218,479 vehicles, for an 18-percent boost. Chevrolet’s winners included the Cruze and Equinox, while GMC’s Terrain was up 88 percent. Buick had its 23rd consecutive sales increase, year over year, and the Regal posted sales double those of last August.

Ford: Ford (NYSE: F) sales of 175,220 were an increase of 11 percent over August 2010. Ford-brand sales rose 16 percent, while Lincoln pulled out of last month’s swoon for a 25-percent increase. The Explorer continued its sales rehabilitation, with numbers up 300 percent from August 2010.

Chrysler: Chrysler sales of 130,119 units translated into a 31-percent increase over last year. Jeep sales were up 58 percent; Fiat had its best sales month yet. Big movers included the Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee, and the Dodge Durango.

Toyota / Lexus: Toyota sales fell 16.1 percent, on total volume of 129,483 vehicles. The Toyota division was down 16.9 percent, while Lexus sales dropped 10.6 percent.

Honda / Acura: Honda says its August 2011 sales results still were affected by the March earthquake in Japan. The company sold 73,267 Honda-brand cars, off 21.2 percent from a year ago, and Acura’s sales of 9,054 units were a drop of 24.5 percent. Total sales of 82,321 vehicles represented a decrease of 27.2 percent.

Nissan / Infiniti: Nissan said its August 2011 sales totaled 91,541 units, for a 19.2-percent increase. Infiniti’s numbers actually were down 4.3 percent, but Nissan-branded cars sold 22.4 percent better than in August 2010. The Leaf electric car topped 1,362 sales, and the Rogue had its best month ever, while the mid-size Altima lineup saw sales rise almost 25 percent over a year ago.

Hyundai: Hyundai CEO John Krafcik says, via Twitter: “August sales? Up 9% over last year to 58,505.” 

Kia: Kia had its best August ever, with total sales of 41,188 vehicles, for a 26.9-percent increase.

Volkswagen: VW continued its sales streak with a 10.4-percent climb; it’s up almost 21 percent on the year. Jetta sales rose 55.5 percent, while the Touareg climbed 140 percent. Diesels continue to account for about a quarter of all Volkswagen sales in the U.S.

BMW / MINI: BMW says combined sales of BMW and MINI vehicles in August fell a slight 0.2 percent to 23,924 units. Sales of BMW-brand vehicles were up 6.5 percent to 20,815 units; MINI was down 29.7 percent to 3,109 units. For the year, the combined business is up 14.6 percent.

2011 Nissan Quest

Enlarge Photo

With the numbers rolling in from major automakers today, it’s difficult to not see progress in August 2011’s car sales figures versus those posted in July–but still, the overall trend is slow, slow, slow.

According to market analysts at J.D. Power, the seasonally adjusted seling rate (SAAR) for August 2011 totaled 9.9 million retail units, a slight improvement over figures for July, but well off the 11-million-unit rate seen in February.

When fleet sales are factored in, the 12.1-million-unit SAAR actually fell a fraction of a percent versus July.

Economic frustration continues to keep car shoppers away from dealerships, Power’s director of global forecasting Jeff Schuster says. “There is little question that a strong level of pent-up demand exists, but economic and financial uncertainty is keeping it from being released.”

For the year, Power expects a total of 10.2 million retail vehicle sales, and 12.6 million units including fleet sales.

Which brands posted increases on the month, and which have more warning signs to read as economic recovery fails to gain steam? The results by automaker, with some still to come:  

General Motors: GM (NYSE: GM) posted August sales of 218,479 vehicles, for an 18-percent boost. Chevrolet’s winners included the Cruze and Equinox, while GMC’s Terrain was up 88 percent. Buick had its 23rd consecutive sales increase, year over year, and the Regal posted sales double those of last August.

Ford: Ford (NYSE: F) sales of 175,220 were an increase of 11 percent over August 2010. Ford-brand sales rose 16 percent, while Lincoln pulled out of last month’s swoon for a 25-percent increase. The Explorer continued its sales rehabilitation, with numbers up 300 percent from August 2010.

Chrysler: Chrysler sales of 130,119 units translated into a 31-percent increase over last year. Jeep sales were up 58 percent; Fiat had its best sales month yet. Big movers included the Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee, and the Dodge Durango.

Toyota / Lexus: Toyota sales fell 16.1 percent, on total volume of 129,483 vehicles. The Toyota division was down 16.9 percent, while Lexus sales dropped 10.6 percent.

Honda / Acura: Honda says its August 2011 sales results still were affected by the March earthquake in Japan. The company sold 73,267 Honda-brand cars, off 21.2 percent from a year ago, and Acura’s sales of 9,054 units were a drop of 24.5 percent. Total sales of 82,321 vehicles represented a decrease of 27.2 percent.

Nissan / Infiniti: Nissan said its August 2011 sales totaled 91,541 units, for a 19.2-percent increase. Infiniti’s numbers actually were down 4.3 percent, but Nissan-branded cars sold 22.4 percent better than in August 2010. The Leaf electric car topped 1,362 sales, and the Rogue had its best month ever, while the mid-size Altima lineup saw sales rise almost 25 percent over a year ago.

Hyundai: Hyundai CEO John Krafcik says, via Twitter: “August sales? Up 9% over last year to 58,505.” 

Kia: Kia had its best August ever, with total sales of 41,188 vehicles, for a 26.9-percent increase.

Volkswagen: VW continued its sales streak with a 10.4-percent climb; it’s up almost 21 percent on the year. Jetta sales rose 55.5 percent, while the Touareg climbed 140 percent. Diesels continue to account for about a quarter of all Volkswagen sales in the U.S.

BMW / MINI: BMW says combined sales of BMW and MINI vehicles in August fell a slight 0.2 percent to 23,924 units. Sales of BMW-brand vehicles were up 6.5 percent to 20,815 units; MINI was down 29.7 percent to 3,109 units. For the year, the combined business is up 14.6 percent.

2011 Nissan Quest

Enlarge Photo

With the numbers rolling in from major automakers today, it’s difficult to not see progress in August 2011’s car sales figures versus those posted in July–but still, the overall trend is slow, slow, slow.

According to market analysts at J.D. Power, the seasonally adjusted seling rate (SAAR) for August 2011 totaled 9.9 million retail units, a slight improvement over figures for July, but well off the 11-million-unit rate seen in February.

When fleet sales are factored in, the 12.1-million-unit SAAR actually fell a fraction of a percent versus July.

Economic frustration continues to keep car shoppers away from dealerships, Power’s director of global forecasting Jeff Schuster says. “There is little question that a strong level of pent-up demand exists, but economic and financial uncertainty is keeping it from being released.”

For the year, Power expects a total of 10.2 million retail vehicle sales, and 12.6 million units including fleet sales.

Which brands posted increases on the month, and which have more warning signs to read as economic recovery fails to gain steam? The results by automaker, with some still to come:  

General Motors: GM (NYSE: GM) posted August sales of 218,479 vehicles, for an 18-percent boost. Chevrolet’s winners included the Cruze and Equinox, while GMC’s Terrain was up 88 percent. Buick had its 23rd consecutive sales increase, year over year, and the Regal posted sales double those of last August.

Ford: Ford (NYSE: F) sales of 175,220 were an increase of 11 percent over August 2010. Ford-brand sales rose 16 percent, while Lincoln pulled out of last month’s swoon for a 25-percent increase. The Explorer continued its sales rehabilitation, with numbers up 300 percent from August 2010.

Chrysler: Chrysler sales of 130,119 units translated into a 31-percent increase over last year. Jeep sales were up 58 percent; Fiat had its best sales month yet. Big movers included the Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee, and the Dodge Durango.

Toyota / Lexus: Toyota sales fell 16.1 percent, on total volume of 129,483 vehicles. The Toyota division was down 16.9 percent, while Lexus sales dropped 10.6 percent.

Honda / Acura: Honda says its August 2011 sales results still were affected by the March earthquake in Japan. The company sold 73,267 Honda-brand cars, off 21.2 percent from a year ago, and Acura’s sales of 9,054 units were a drop of 24.5 percent. Total sales of 82,321 vehicles represented a decrease of 27.2 percent.

Nissan / Infiniti: Nissan said its August 2011 sales totaled 91,541 units, for a 19.2-percent increase. Infiniti’s numbers actually were down 4.3 percent, but Nissan-branded cars sold 22.4 percent better than in August 2010. The Leaf electric car topped 1,362 sales, and the Rogue had its best month ever, while the mid-size Altima lineup saw sales rise almost 25 percent over a year ago.

Hyundai: Hyundai CEO John Krafcik says, via Twitter: “August sales? Up 9% over last year to 58,505.” 

Kia: Kia had its best August ever, with total sales of 41,188 vehicles, for a 26.9-percent increase.

Volkswagen: VW continued its sales streak with a 10.4-percent climb; it’s up almost 21 percent on the year. Jetta sales rose 55.5 percent, while the Touareg climbed 140 percent. Diesels continue to account for about a quarter of all Volkswagen sales in the U.S.

BMW / MINI: BMW says combined sales of BMW and MINI vehicles in August fell a slight 0.2 percent to 23,924 units. Sales of BMW-brand vehicles were up 6.5 percent to 20,815 units; MINI was down 29.7 percent to 3,109 units. For the year, the combined business is up 14.6 percent.

2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8

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A single-seat electric car from VW has broken cover, nearly two weeks before its official reveal: Volkswagen Nils Electric Car Concept: 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show

While car sales numbers for August roll in, the Nissan Leaf takes a wider lead over the Chevy Volt: Aug Electric-Car Sales: Nissan Leaf Rises, Chevy Volt Creeps Back

Chrysler’s updated 300 and Dodge Charger sedans get better gas mileage, thanks to a new transmission: 2012 Chrysler 300 To Get 31 MPG Highway, Thanks To 8-Speed Automatic

SYNC in a Boss? It’s coming next year: 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 To Feature More Tech: Report

Will gas cost you more this weekend, because of a long-gone hurricane? Gas Prices Up Slightly Over Labor Day Weekend: Irene To Blame?

It’s back in the barrel for Saab, but question: why do banks keep hopping on the rollercoaster? Saab Posts Significant First Half Loss, Seeks Loan To Avoid Bankruptcy

Eager beavers ready for their next Porsche can plan one out online: 2012 Porsche 911 Configurator Goes Live

Ford’s using the popular Zipcar daily rental service to show off its latest cars to college types: Ford Promotes Its Cars To College Students With Zipcar Deal

Finally today, the next big SUV from Lincoln will look a lot like today’s sport-ute, except for its engine: 2012 Lincoln Navigator Luxury Family SUV Reportedly To Get EcoBoost V-6 Engine

2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8

Enlarge Photo

A single-seat electric car from VW has broken cover, nearly two weeks before its official reveal: Volkswagen Nils Electric Car Concept: 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show

While car sales numbers for August roll in, the Nissan Leaf takes a wider lead over the Chevy Volt: Aug Electric-Car Sales: Nissan Leaf Rises, Chevy Volt Creeps Back

Chrysler’s updated 300 and Dodge Charger sedans get better gas mileage, thanks to a new transmission: 2012 Chrysler 300 To Get 31 MPG Highway, Thanks To 8-Speed Automatic

SYNC in a Boss? It’s coming next year: 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 To Feature More Tech: Report

Will gas cost you more this weekend, because of a long-gone hurricane? Gas Prices Up Slightly Over Labor Day Weekend: Irene To Blame?

It’s back in the barrel for Saab, but question: why do banks keep hopping on the rollercoaster? Saab Posts Significant First Half Loss, Seeks Loan To Avoid Bankruptcy

Eager beavers ready for their next Porsche can plan one out online: 2012 Porsche 911 Configurator Goes Live

Ford’s using the popular Zipcar daily rental service to show off its latest cars to college types: Ford Promotes Its Cars To College Students With Zipcar Deal

Finally today, the next big SUV from Lincoln will look a lot like today’s sport-ute, except for its engine: 2012 Lincoln Navigator Luxury Family SUV Reportedly To Get EcoBoost V-6 Engine

2012 Volkswagen Passat

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When it comes to political leaders who work the system for their own benefit, the United States hardly has a monopoly. In China, being a government official practically entitles you to a free car, free maintenance, and in some cases, all the government money you can embezzle via phony service invoices.

Despite recent efforts to crack down on car-related abuses, the number of cars purchased for officials in all levels of Chinese government has climbed dramatically in recent years. In the first five months of 2011 nearly 12 percent of all new cars registered in China were purchased for “official use.” Buyers include politicians in all levels of government, as well as managers of government institutions and state-owned companies.

The annual operating cost of “government” vehicles has climbed dramatically as well, and is estimated to be as high as $62 billion in 2011, a figure which represents 12 percent of all Chinese government spending. Submitting fake fuel or service invoices is a popular way to pad one’s income, and is among the most common means of embezzlement reported among Chinese officials.

The most popular cars aren’t even domestic brands, but instead are comprised of sedans from Audi, Volkswagen, Buick, Toyota, Honda and Nissan. These six brands represent 80 percent of the “official” purchases made by the Chinese government, but steps are now being taken to change this.

New rules limit the purchase to one car for every 20 officials, and limit engine size to a maximum of 1.8 liters. Prices are also capped, and are now limited to $27,950, instead of the $38,820 previously allowed.

While the intent was to give an advantage to domestic brands, foreign automakers are struggling to maintain their Chinese government business. When engine size was capped at 1.8 liters, Volkswagen was the first to respond with a 1.8-liter turbo version of the 2012 VW Passat sedan, and other foreign automakers are expected to follow suit.

In the end, though, the new policies aren’t likely to have much of an impact. The very officials who abuse the system are the ones tasked with policing it, which should ensure that Chinese officials remain some of the best customers of global auto brands.

Ward’s Auto (subscription required)

Volkswagen has just taken the cover off an all-new concept called the Up! Lite, a sinister looking diesel hybrid that gets (according to VW) 70 mpg combined. As in both City and Highway. Impressive, even if that only ends up being 90 percent accurate. In fact, should Volkswagen decide to green light the unfortunately named Up! Lite, it would be the most fuel efficient and environmentally friendly four seat vehicle on the planet. Again, if the Up! Lite comes to fruition, we’ll all be impressed. Interestingly, this concept isn’t the most fuel efficient and environmentally friendly car on earth is because another Volkswagen — the L1 from Frankfurt – is. But it only seats two.

Ready for the good parts? The aptly titled Up! Lite barely tips the scales at 1,530 pounds. There are Honda Goldwings flirting with that weight class. This svelteness is achieved via a mix of aluminum, lightweight steel and carbon fiber. For instance, the roof is made entirely from the expensive weave. And those amazing wheels consist of ten carbon-fiber spokes and an aluminum fairing. Nifty, no? The tiny, stylized winglettes replace conventional rearview mirrors and contain cameras instead of reflective glass. The same holds true for the interior mounted mirror, as has been replaced by a camera.

Up front, there’s an active air dam that opens up as needed. The extra cooling will help out the TDI hybrid drive lifted from the two-seater L1. This 800cc powerplant transmits power to the wheels using a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox. Even though the diesel engine is teeny, when coupled to the electric motor, the Up! Lite can reach 100 mph and hit 60 mph in 12 seconds. Not fast by any means, but good enough – especially for an ultra-high mileage vehicle. And it can haul stuff, too – including humans. Unlike the Up! Concept we saw in Frankfurt, the Up! Lite seats four people, and with the rear seats folded, it can haul 30 cubic feet of stuff. Not bad at all.

Overall, we’re pretty impressed by the looks and promise of the Up! Lite. In our estimation, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with blending a Honda CRX with a Volvo C30. Will the Up! Lite ever make it to production? Who knows. VW claims the first Up!s(?) will go on sale in 2011. We get the sense that any future decision will be based on how the two-door Up! does. But we get the feeling the Up! Lite might give the people more of what they want.

The engine is a 2.0-litre TDI that makes 180hp (134kW) from 4,200rpm and a hefty torque of 350Nm made from just 1,750rpm. Said to be capable of a 0 – 100km/h time of 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 226km/h (140mph), the Blue Sports concept emits just 113g/km in harmful C02 gasses. It averages 4.3 litres per 100km (55mpg US/ 66mpg UK) in fuel consumption.

Not to be classified as a lightweight with no proper credentials, the car runs on massive 235/35ZR19 tyres front and 245/35ZR19 rear. The gearbox is VW’s trusted quick-shifting DSG with 6 forward gears and one reverse.

Technologies adopted are bi-xenon LED headlights outside, a touchscreen that controls infotainment sources inside and an easy-to-use top that can be removed in seconds. Could the Concept Blue Sports be pointing towards a future Scirocco cabriolet? Time will tell.

On NJ State Auto Auction  you could find what you want