GM Sells 227,217 Vehicles in China in April, Toyota's Sales UP 68 % in the Country

April turned out to be a very positive sales month in China for two of the world's largest automakers, General Motors and Toyota. The Detroit firm and its joint ventures in China set a domestic sales record for April of 227,217 vehicles, up 11.7 percent from the same month last year. In the first four months of 2012, GM's sales totaled 972,369 units, an increase of 9.4 percent on an annual basis.
“GM and our joint ventures today [May 7, 2012] sold our 1 millionth vehicle in China this year,” said Kevin Wale, president and managing director of the GM China Group. “This is the sixth time and the earliest in our history that we have reached this important milestone in China. It has put us on track to once again set a new sales mark for the year as a whole.”
On its behalf, Toyota and its two local joint-venture partners sold about 81,700 vehicles in April, an increase of 68 percent over the same month a year ago. According to a company spokesperson, for the first four months of 2012, the Japanese carmaker delivered 293,200 vehicles, up 14.3 percent from a year ago.
Toyota said that it is on track to sell 1 million cars in China this year, up from around 883,400 vehicles in 2011.

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2013 Cadillac ATS Compact Sports Sedan with prices

Given that the summer launch of the all-new 2013 Cadillac ATS is just around the corner, General Motors decided it was time to reveal initial pricing data on its compact luxury sports sedan, which eyes the BMW 3-Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class saloons. Cadillac's new entry-level sedan will be offered with a choice of three powerplants, with prices starting at $33,990, including destination charges, for the base rear-wheel drive version propelled by a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four producing 200HP and 188 lb-ft (255Nm).
The wreath and crest brand says that the base model's highway fuel economy will be "well over 30 mpg".
Moving up a step in the range will get you GM's new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder unit rated at 270-horses and 260 lb-ft (353Nm) of torque, with this version priced from $35,795, including destination. Buyers will be able to choose between 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions, as well as rear- or all-wheel drive.
Sitting at the top of the ATS' lineup is a 3.6-liter V6 with a preliminary rating of 320 horsepower, costing $42,090 including destination with an automatic transmission and standard content that includes Cadillac's CUE infotainment system, leather 8-way power seats with memory, adaptive start and more. All-wheel drive will be available on this model as well. According to the Detroit automaker, the V6 model is expected to have a 0-60 mph (96km/h) acceleration time of "well below six seconds".
In comparison, the base Audi A4 sedan with a 211hp and 258 lb-ft 2.0-liter turbo starts at $33,375, the BMW 328i powered by a 240hp and 260 lb-ft 2.0-liter turbo at $35,795 and the Mercedes C250 fitted with a 201hp and 229 lb-ft 1.8-liter turbocharged four at $35,675. All the aforementioned prices included a destination and handling fee.
“The ATS enters a vehicle segment this year that’s one of the most competitive in the market, from both a price and performance standpoint,” commented Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac Marketing. “ATS will bring a distinctive presence and compelling value while offering quick, nimble, fun-to-drive dynamics that will appeal to the lifestyles of modern luxury buyers and challenge the segment’s status quo,” he added.

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