Q. What was the top-selling “pony car” last year— the Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger or Chevrolet Camaro? — J.R. (via Internet) 

A. The top seller was the Mustang, with sales of 75,842 units. Second was the Challenger, with 66,716 units. It beat the Camaro (50,963 units) for the first time. Incidentally, some folks still incorrectly call these autos “sports cars.” They never were such autos—always have been “pony cars.” That name naturally came from the Mustang being generally accepted as being the first of the bunch, being introduced in mid-1964 as officially a 1965 model. 



Q. What do you think of the new Toyota Supra? — E.N. (via internet)

A. It’s a marvelous sports car with lots of BMW mechanical parts, but it’s expensive (around $50,000).  Earlier Supras weren’t inexpensive, but were more practical for regular  driving. 



Q. I fondly remember the beach buggy of the 1960s. What do you think of Volkswagen’s modern, full-electric concept version of that vehicle? — W.P. (via Internet)

A. VW hasn’t said if this beach buggy will go into production, but I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for a production version. For one thing, its market would be very limited. This beach buggy is supposed to show the flexibility of the automaker’s electric vehicle architecture that will underpin battery powered VW, Audi, Skoda and Seat brands. 

Q. Virtually every automaker in the world, even the exotic ones, is making an SUV, including Lamborghini, Bentley, Rolls-Royce and, reportedly, Ferrari.  I say enough is enough. — L.A. (via Internet)

A. I agree. But SUVs are hot, and automakers inevitably go where the money is. However, super-exotic Bugatti says it has no intention of building an SUV.



Q. Why is Ford Motor Co., which put the nation on wheels with its Model T auto, becoming known as the “truck company?” — J.C. (via Internet)

A. Because Ford is dropping most standard cars (except its Mustang) to sell mostly SUVs and pickup trucks of various types. Ford’s F-Series pickup is enormously profitable and, predictably, was the top-selling vehicle in January. It’s been the top seller for many decades. Not incidentally, the F-Series was followed in January by the Chevrolet Silverado and Ram pickup trucks. Pickups generate huge profits. In recent years, they have been introduced with luxury vehicle prices, with posher interiors, more powerful engines and premium options such as massage seats and large touch screens. Some trucks even cost more than $75,000, making them more costly than some luxury cars.



Q. With all this emphasis on pickup trucks and SUVs and “crossover” vehicles, how are car sales doing in the United States? — M.E. (via Internet)

A. You might be surprised that car sales fell to just 31 percent of sales in 2018, from 36 percent a year earlier and 50 per cent in 2013, says the trade publication Automotive News. The 5.4 million cars sold in 2018 represented the “fewest since they had tail fins, in 1958,” the publication said. Meanwhile U.S. light truck sales as a whole in America last year totaled to 11.98 million units—a level that Automotive News says has car sales have never reached.



Q. What is one of the ultimate high-performance luxury sports cars being sold? — P.N (via Internet)

A. The Bentley Continental GT. It probably will be a classic decades from now with its gorgeous styling, luxury and amazing performance.




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