Details are out regarding the all-new 2012 Ford Ranger, and the design looks poised to step right in below the F-150 in Ford's lineup. But, sadly to longtime Ranger enthusiasts (and there certainly are some), it's not coming to the U.S.
Here's why, in short: The new Ranger that was just introduced at the Australian International Auto Show in Sydney is a good deal larger than current versions—so much larger that it might overlap, to shoppers, with smaller F-150 models.
Almost-F-150-sized Ranger wouldn't fit so well
"We're moving it to a position of real capability," explained Schirmer, saying that Ford wanted to provide "performance leadership with this model," which also unfortunately meant bringing it to a size that would come too close to overlapping with the F-150 model lineup in North America. Although the new Ranger is about six inches narrower than the F-150, it's within just two or three inches in length.
Where it will be sold, in markets ranging from the Asia-Pacific region to South America and South Africa, the new 2012 Ranger is powered by a 2.2-liter four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, or a 3.2-liter in-line five-cylinder turbo-diesel, making 200 hp. The larger engine makes 347 pound-feet of torque—as much as some V-8s. Those engines come mated to six-speed manual or automatic transmissions; a version of the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission are also offered.
While the exterior of this truck bears a strong likeness to the 2011 F-150, the interior carries some design cues that are part of Ford's new global look (with a central controller and high-mounted screen), as well as some detailing borrowed from the F-150 as well as Bosch and DeWalt power tools and G-Shock watches, according to the automaker. The new truck comes with the all the updated connectivity features including an iPod connector and Bluetooth, as well as steering-wheel controls.
Shrinking demand for compacts
Overall, the compact truck segment is less than a quarter the size it was just a decade ago—from one million per year down to about 230,000.
Ford's Schirmer attributes this to several things; one of them is that the Ranger's longtime luster in company fleets has started to fade. A lot of Ranger buyers were fleet purchasers, choosing that model only because of price, Schirmer said. "It was often times only a purchase because it was an inexpensive Ford product, not as a pickup." Which, at the same time, always limited what could be done to keep the model updated.
Then on the personal-use side, many Rangers were bought by commuters, who didn't really need a truck. There, too, it was because buyers simply wanted a low-price, fuel-efficient Ford. "It just happened to be a pickup truck," Schirmer quipped. "If you need a pickup to work, you're buying an F-Series."
And those pricing boundaries might have been getting somewhat muddled as of late. According to the Detroit News, it might only cost $20 a month more to get into an F-150.
Larger F-150 family makes sense for Ford
"Ford wanted more people to be in the F-150 family," said Jesse Toprak, vice president for industry trends at TrueCar. "There are going to be net losses" in terms of sales, added Toprak, but he thinks that the decision will save them money on both the production side—with economies of scale—and with marketing, giving them a clear product message.
As Ford strives to produce even more F-150 models to fit customer needs—including better fuel efficiency—the Ranger "becomes less relevant in North America," according to Schirmer.
However, the F-150 isn't yet as affordable or as fuel-efficient as the Ranger. It's close in some trims, but the base Ranger's 22 mpg city, 27 highway EPA rating is still well ahead of even the base 2011 Ford F-150 V-6, which has been rated at 16/23.
Ford is anticipating that many business buyers will move into a Transit Connect, or into a base F-150 V-6, while other buyers might either move up to an F-150 or into a more fuel-efficient Focus or Fiesta. "We're not as heavy on the truck side as we once were," said Schirmer.

If you learn only one thing about the car buying process, car shoppers, let it be this: dealers don't own the cars they sell. They're making payments on them, just like you will be if you buy.

A dealer's loan, of course, is much more complex than the one you will probably take on if you buy the car. It's called a "floorplan loan," and it involves multiple vehicles and a complicated structure of escalating payments. Often, a dealer doesn't pay anything at all for the first 30 or 60 days the car sits in the showroom. But as time drags on, payments come do. Often (some financing companies do it differently than others), the payments grow over time. The longer a car sits unsold, the more it's costing the dealer just to keep it.

There comes a point in the process when the dealership may even take a loss just to get rid of a car. We can't tell you exactly when that point will come, as each dealership's financing arrangements are unique.

But we can tell you how long some models are sitting there. Our pricing partners at TrueCar.com track how long, on average, each model of car is taking to sell. The longer a model sits unsold, the more likely you are to talk a dealership into a lowball offer -- and the five slowest movers this month include some cars we'd be happy to own.

Every car on the list is a 2010 model, and in many cases, you'll find new 2011s in the showroom, with the 2010s tucked away in the back lot. But they're there, and though sometimes the 2011 is a redesigned car, often it isn't, and the 2010 is substantially the same as the 2011 model with the higer price. The difference between a 2010 Honda Accord and a 2011 Honda Accord, for instance? LIghter-colored A/C dials, and carpet lining the roof of the trunk. Not exactly worth a hefty price increase. So ask about 2010s, and make your local dealer a respectable low offer on one of these six. On average, they're sitting unsold longer than anything else on the market.

2010 Toyota Camry

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2010 Toyota Camry -- 238 days in inventory

America's best-selling car eight years running, the Camry took a public relations beating this year as allegations of unintended acceleration struck Toyota. But more than 99.9% of the current generation Camrys on the road have never been accused of the alleged fault, and every one on dealership lots, Toyota says, has been through the recall repair process that is supposed to fix the defect. So the Camry's battered reputation has become a great buying opportunity, as a well-rounded car with a long reliability history is now available at a significant discount.

Letters are in mailboxes recalling Ford Windstars produced between 1997 and 2003. These minivans have a rear axle that collects road salt and other corrosive contaminants and can fracture as a result of rust. The vehicles affected are in 21 states, Washington D.C. and Canada where road salt is used to facilitate winter driving, as is Michigan--all in the list that is commonly known as the “salt belt.”
While this report is not extremely timely, since the original news of the recall broke at the end of August, it is worth note for a number of reasons.
This recall is concerned with high-mileage vehicles that have been on the road for a minimum of seven years. However, the problem has been reported for some time and has been evident to the automotive community, if not because of its frequency, but for the severity of its consequences. Broken axles do not commonly happen over the lifetime of a vehicle. When they do, it is a curiosity to the service facility that encounters one.
But the notable consequence of a fractured axle is what it does to the vehicle both in the near and long term. When the axle fractures (in this case at either end) the top of the wheel nearest to the break tilts in toward the vehicle, and as the Ford recall letter states, “vehicle handling may be affected which could increase the risk of a crash.” The tire may then come in contact with the inner fender for, well, a chance meeting that every driver can do without, especially at highway speeds.
At the time of the recall announcement the Wheels blog reported that the NHTSA had received 234 complaints, including two accidents with no injuries. Not so bad considering that 975,000 Windstars were included in the recall you might say? That may be true if the number of compromised vehicles was a known quantity. My guess is that the fractures that have already occurred are the leading edge of this problem, since these vehicles are seven years old and probably just reaching 100,000 miles.
The long-term effect of this design flaw is one that is made in a class-action lawsuit being pursued in Pennsylvania. The suit contends that Ford has breached an implied warranty of merchantability. These vehicles are not salable with an axle that is prone to fatigue or fracture.
To Ford’s credit, the company is anxious to get these issues resolved, and it is taking swift measures to get them off the road. The recall letter states that if a vehicle fails an axle inspection Ford will pay for a rental until “a remedy is available.” In addition the company plans to make repurchase offers to owners of Windstars “with cracked or perforated axles in lieu of replacing the axle.”
Regardless of how many of the recalled vehicles Ford identifies, it is certain that resolution will be expensive.

Just the Facts:

* 2011 R8 Spyder 5.2 Quattro will be priced from $162,250 with a manual transmission.
* The R8 Spyder 5.2 will cost $171,250 with R tronic.
* Audi confirms RS5 Coupe will arrive in the U.S. in 2012.


HERNDON, Virginia — Audi said its 2011 R8 Spyder 5.2 Quattro, which was previewed earlier this year as Tony Stark's vehicle of choice in Iron Man 2, will be priced from $162,250 with a manual transmission and $171,250 with R tronic when the car goes on sale next month. Prices include a $1,250 shipping charge.

Audi also confirmed that the 450-horsepower RS5 Coupe will arrive in the U.S. in 2012, but released no other details on that model's pricing or North American specs.

The R8 Spyder lacks the trademark "side blades" from the R8 Coupe, but shares the 525-hp 5.2-liter V10 from the coupe. The soft-top sports car accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds, with a top speed of 195 mph.

Inside Line says: The R8 Spyder certainly looked good on Robert Downey, Jr. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent

Just the Facts:

* Photos of the new 2011 Audi A7 have leaked on the Internet.
* The new quad-coupe will be officially unveiled later today on Facebook.
* Audi A7 will be on display this fall at the Paris auto show.


INGOLSTADT, Germany — Official images of the new 2011 Audi A7 have leaked on the Internet, ahead of the car's official unveiling Monday afternoon, to be webcast live on Audi's Facebook page.

Audi said it will pull the wraps off the car, which is based on 2009 Audi Sportback Concept, at the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich.

The car, a large four-door "quad coupe" in the same vein as the Mercedes-Benz CLS, will make its public debut this fall at the 2010 Paris Auto Show.

Audi's long-range plan for the A7 includes S7 and RS7 performance variants, as well as a hybrid edition.

Inside Line says: Expect an equally hefty price tag on this one. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent

Just the Facts:

* Having sold 2 million vehicles in the U.S., Audi wants users to envision the cars of the future.
* Audi's taken 40 years to sell 2 million cars in the U.S. and expects to hit 3 million in "fewer years."
* Last year, Audi's U.S. sales were down 6 percent from the previous year but first-half sales in 2010 were a record.


HERNDON, Virginia — To mark the sale of its 2 millionth vehicle in the U.S., Audi has launched a contest on Facebook, asking users to predict how future Audis will look when the brand sells its 3 millionth vehicle here.

Audi has been marketing its vehicles in the U.S. for 40 years, but said it expects to hit the 3 million mark in "fewer years." Last year, Audi's U.S. sales totaled 82,716, down 6 percent from the previous year, although first-half sales in 2010 were a record 48,440.

If Audi can sell an average 100,000 cars a year in the U.S., it could reach the milestone by 2020.

In a press release, the company said, "Audi concept cars suggest there are indeed more progressive innovations and designs to come...including the E-tron electromobility studies."

To check out the 3-million contest, go to Audi's fan page on Facebook.

Inside Line says: The contest rules seem a bit fuzzy — just like the future. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent

Just the Facts:

* Audi's A7 Sportback will make its public debut at the 2010 Paris Auto Show after a July 26 reveal in Munich.
* The A7 Sportback's main competitors are the Mercedes-Benz CLS and the BMW 5 Series GT.
* The A7 is expected to come in performance-oriented S and RS variants, as well as a hybrid edition.


INGOLSTADT, Germany — Audi said it will officially reveal its new A7 Sportback on July 26 at the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich. The event, which is being teased on YouTube and a Dutch Web site, will be broadcast live on Audi TV, about two months ahead of the car's public debut at the 2010 Paris Auto Show.

The A7 Sportback was previewed at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show with the Audi Sportback Concept. The large five-door sedan with "quad coupe" styling aims to challenge the next-generation Mercedes-Benz CLS, which is also expected to break cover at Paris, as well as the BMW 5 Series GT, among others.

Plans for the U.S. market are still vague, although fully finished prototypes have been running around Europe for months.

The production A7 will offer a variety of power plants and transmissions and is expected to come in performance-oriented S and RS variants, as well as a hybrid edition.

Inside Line says: How many more big, expensive five-doors can the luxury market absorb? — Paul Lienert, Correspondent