Many expected Toyota to surpass General Motors in terms of sale last year.  After all, the focus was on the United States auto market.  And last year has been dismal for the Detroit automaker.  Month after month, General Motors posted declining sales while Toyota continues to attract American car buyers into their dealerships.

But when it was all over, General Motors managed to sell more vehicles than Toyota although by a very slim margin.  Last year, the Japanese automaker reported that they have sold 9.366 million units of vehicles while the Detroit automaker sold 9,369,524 vehicles.  But, one should remember that the distinction of being the world’s largest automaker is given to the company which produces the most vehicles.

Anyway, experts are expecting this race to the top to become more heated. And the focal point of the race is no longer in the United States.  What made it possible for General Motors to retain its leadership in sales is the increased demand for their vehicles on developing markets.  Thus, Toyota and General Motors will both be aiming to create vehicles which will become bestsellers on emerging markets such as China, India, and Russia.

Toyota is favored to unseat the Detroit automaker by experts.  The Japanese automaker is leading all automakers in developing advanced vehicle technologies which consumers are looking for.  General Motors though is not far behind and it will be more motivated to produce more quality vehicles.

The two automakers though should not put their focus on emerging markets alone as the United States auto market is still the most important market.  Even with the economy slumping, millions of vehicles are still being purchased in the country.

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When you say pickup, the first thing that comes to mind is the F-Series. Actually, that’s the reason why it’s called the bread and butter vehicle of the Dearborn automaker.

But the automaker is should not be feeling overly confident about that fact because powerful rivals in the pickup segment are set forth by competitors.

While Ford at the Detroit Auto Show unveiled its 2009 F-150, Chrysler flaunted its Dodge Ram 2009 version. Each pickup was engineered after extensive research to remedy problems encountered in the past. This is an effort to make them more efficient and striking.

This year also will be tough for pickups, said Erich Merkle, vice president of auto industry forecasting for the consulting firm IRN Inc. in Grand Rapids. "We don’t really foresee a bottom in home construction until very late this year, and even when we get to a bottom, we’re not going to see a slingshot back up," he added. "We could see a modest uptick in 2009, but nothing that’s going to re-ignite the pickup segment."

"The only remedy to any of that is good product," said Ralph Gilles, Chrysler’s chief designer on the Ram. "You’re still going to sell an amount of trucks in the marketplace, so hopefully you can take sales away from somebody else. That’s the objective, right?"

"It’s daunting to have the best-selling vehicle in your company to work on, but at the same time it’s invigorating. It’s what you live for as a designer," Gilles added.

At Ford, where the F-series has been the best-selling truck in the U.S. for 31 years, President of the Americas Mark Fields briefly paused work on it two years ago to make sure it would stay ahead of the competition, reported Chicago Sun-Times. "When you’re the leader, you’ve got a big target on your back and there’s a big responsibility for that because everybody’s gunning for you," said Fields.

Ford considered around 200 designs for the new F-150 badge, according to Patrick Schiavone, the designer who led the F-150 redesign. Schiavone said he wanted to dispel a notion that the Ford brand can’t be luxurious. "I don’t know where it came from that trucks can’t be fashionable," he said. "They’re uniquely American, but they can be extremely tasteful."

                                                
The award-winning Cadillac CTS got an impressive 5 stars as the redesigned luxury car earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick award for 2008! According to my source, the 2008 CTS along with the Audi A6 and Volvo S80 were the only luxury large luxury cars to receive the title this year. Recipients of Top Safety Pick’s five stars provided better-quality overall crash protection among the vehicles in their divisions. A vehicle must get the highest rating of good in the Institute’s front, side, and rear tests and must be set with electronic stability control to qualify.

"Criteria to win are tough because the award is intended to drive continued safety improvements such as top crash test ratings and rapid addition of electronic stability control, which is standard equipment on the CTS. Recognizing vehicles at the head of the class for safety helps consumers distinguish the best overall choices without having to sort through multiple test results," says Institute president Adrian Lund.

"All luxury cars should perform as well as the CTS. It’s a leader in its class for safety. Frontal crashworthiness has improved dramatically for all cars in recent years, but there are still significant differences in how vehicles perform in our side and rear tests,” added Lund.

"You don’t know what kind of crash you’re going to be in," Lund explained. "That’s why it’s important to choose a vehicle that will protect you in all kinds of crashes. The Top Safety Pick designation is intended to help people find the safest choices."

It’s raining awards once again and this time, it’s courtesy of Edmunds.com (www.edmunds.com)! Let’s all check it out! 

Edmunds’ Inside Line, Edmunds.com’s adrenaline-pumping online car magazine, announced the recipients of its first ever Edmunds’ Inside Line Editors’ Most Wanted Awards. According to the Auto Channel, The Editors’ Most Wanted Awards are chosen by Edmunds’ Inside Line editors who assessed 268 vehicles during the past year and picked one winner basing their judgements on the following requirements: speed, luxury, hauling, commuting and family. Additionally, the editors selected an “Instant Classic.”

“The vehicles chosen were our favorites - the ones that we didn’t want to give back after testing them,” said Scott Oldham, Editor in Chief, Edmunds’ Inside Line.

Here’s the complete set of winners of this year’s Edmunds’ Inside Line Editors’ Most Wanted Awards along with the judges review for each vehicle courtesy of TheAutoChannel.com. Dig in guys:

2008 GMC Sierra Denali

“Think of the Sierra Denali as the perfect truck for the contractor who actually loves his job and happens to have hit the Lotto. And just bought a boat,” said John Pearley Huffman, Edmunds’ Inside Line Contributing Editor.

2008 Mazda3

“Bottom line, the Mazda3 is Edmunds’ Inside Line Editors Most Wanted Award winner because it offers a driving experience for beyond expectations and, more importantly, beyond its price tag,” said Josh Jacquot, Edmunds’ Inside Line Senior Road Test Editor.

2008 Porsche 911 GT3

“The GT3 provides world-class performance just a couple of short steps removed from that legendary racing iron, and it does so in a package accessible to mere mortals,” said Dan Edmunds, Edmunds’ Director of Vehicle Testing. “This is the essence of the Porsche story, and it makes this car an unforgettable thrill.”

2008 Honda Odyssey

“With an interior that would make a Bentley blush and road manners not found in many sedans, the Odyssey claims the top spot,” said John Pearley Huffman, Edmunds’ Inside Line Contributing Editor.

Instant Classic: 2008 Audi R8

“The Audi R8 successfully extends the automaker’s model line beyond coupes and sedans into the realm of the pure fantasy machine. The fact this car makes you dream about the long-term commitment just makes the whole fantasy that much more exciting,” said Kevin Smith, Edmunds’ Editorial Director.

For the model year 2008, what cars are expected to hit the industry like a storm?

Auto Mujeres al Volante, a leading auto authority for US Hispanic women, has selected the 2008 Chevy Malibu “Car of the Year for Woman”.

"The FAMA Autos awards are becoming a staple in the automotive industry and we are pleased to award the 2008 Chevy Malibu for stepping up to the plate with this impressive vehicle," said Ileana Muñiz, editor-in-chief of FAMA Autos. "Our audience depends on us to honor the new models that best demonstrate overall superiority, significance and value, and the 2008 Chevy Malibu stood out in each of those categories for its outstanding engineering, impressive capability, price and safety, the number one concern of all women especially mothers."

When selecting the award FAMA-Autos considered what today’s US Hispanic women are looking for in a car, according to a Hispanic PR Wire release. The main requirement is safety, followed by looks, interior room, and of course the mechanics of the vehicle. Additionally, a special Humanitarian Award will be presented to OnStar for saving lives.

The Award is chosen by the editors of FAMA Magazine and the readers of http://www.fama.us. To stress, 12,600 votes were cast this year.

Wikipedia says: “The Malibu is redesigned for the 2008 model year. It is built on a revised version of the long-wheelbase Epsilon platform shared with the Saturn Aura and Pontiac G6. It will continue to be assembled in Kansas City and Mexico City, Mexico like the 2004-2007 Malibu, however in anticipation of increased demand, the car will also be produced at Lake Orion, Michigan alongside the Pontiac G6. Overall it is three inches longer with a wheelbase that is six inches longer. Interior room remains mid-size like the previous Malibu’s, and has been decreased from 101 cubic feet to 95 cubic feet despite having a longer wheelbase, although front legroom has increased from 41.9 in to 42.4 in. Rear legroom has decreased from 38.5 in to 37.6 in. The interior design has also been completely reworked, with a selection of two-tone color combinations, telescoping steering wheel, higher-quality materials and a twin-cowl dash design reminiscent of classic Corvettes.”

Chevrolet Malibu, with a base price of $19,995, is a sign of the Detroit automaker’s revolution in manufacturing world-class vehicles.

Top 10 FAMA Autos Editor’s Choice:

1. Chevy Malibu
2. Lexus LS 600
3. Jeep Liberty
4. Toyota Tundra Sport
5. Honda Accord
6. Mercedes Benz SLK 350
7. Chevrolet Corvette
8. Mazda MX 5
9. Cadillac CTS
10. BMW 3 – Series

Hyundai’s compassion to cancer patients led to the establishing of their newest agenda, the Hyundai Scholars Pediatric Cancer Fellowship Program at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). Furthermore Hyundai gave an astonishing $150,000 check to the institute for their daily expenses and other necessary expenditures.

“Hyundai and its dealers have been great allies in the fight against pediatric cancer with financial and emotional support to hospitals, patients and their families. The funds received from Hope On Wheels and the Hyundai Scholars Fellowship Program will be put to good use in our research department as we continue to look for new solutions and innovative tools in the pursuit of a cure,” says Dr. Leonard Sender M.D., the director of the Cancer Institute at CHOC and Director of Clinical Oncology Services at CHAO Family Comprehensive Cancer Center at UC Irvine.

According to the Auto Channel, Hyundai’s Scholars Fellowship Program will fund research and study positions at primary pediatric cancer institutions across the country. The program’s goal is to help doctors determine the cure for this lethal illness. Also, the Hyundai Scholars Fellowship Program plans to accumulate over $10 million. It will be donated to researchers for pediatric cancer studies for the next five years.

“Hyundai’s involvement in pediatric cancer has grown both in total contribution and company-wide commitment since the beginning of the Hope on Wheels program. With the implementation of the Hyundai Scholars Pediatric Cancer Fellowship Program, Hyundai hopes to further develop awareness around pediatric cancer research funding and inspire others to support this important cause,” says Zafar Brooks, director, Corporate Affairs and Diversity Outreach.