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These are your top 10 worst-selling vehicles of 2012

John Neff — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 15:01:00 EST

Despite 2012 being the best year of auto sales this country has seen since 2007, not every vehicle got an equally large share of the sales pie. Some barely got a sliver, as evidenced by this year's list of the top 10 worst-selling vehicles of 2012.

We've dug through sales data from every automaker to come up with this year's list and, like last year, we've set some parameters to ensure it includes legitimately bad-selling vehicles.

The first parameter is a starting MSRP under $100,000, which automatically excludes what's parked in most one-percenters' garages. We're also excluding vehicles cancelled in 2012, even if they garnered sales through the end of the year while dealerships sold off remaining inventory. This includes models like the Mitsubishi Eclipse, Mercedes-Benz R-Class and last year's worst-seller, the Acura RL. Next, vehicles are considered as they are reported by the automaker, which means that, while sales of the Murano CrossCabriolet were probably low enough to make the list, because Nissan reports only one number for all Murano sales, it was excluded. Cadillac, however, reports sales of the Escalade EXT separately from the Escalade, hence its repeat appearance.

Finally, there was the question of whether or not eligibility should be given to Suzuki vehicles, as the brand announced in November that it would end sales in the US as soon as its current inventory ran out. We decided Suzuki vehicles should be included as the brand was offering 2013 models at the time of the announcement, and as far as we can tell, inventory levels remained high enough to satisfy demand through the end of the year.

Without further ado, below are the top 10 worst-selling vehicles of 2012.

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These are your top 10 worst-selling vehicles of 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM recalls full-size truck, SUVs and vans over faulty shifter mechanism

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, SUV, Truck, Recalls, Safety, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

Twelve different General Motors vehicles from the 2013 model year, up to 54,686 units in total, are being recalled over two potential issues with their steering columns. The models in question, all full-size trucks, SUVs or vans, are the: Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Savana, Sierra, Yukon and Yukon XL.

The affected vehicles were built with a fractured parking lock cable or "a malformed steering column lock actuator gear in the lock module assembly." As a consequence, they could shift out of park without the brake pedal being applied or with the key removed or in the off position.

A bulletin from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that the recall should begin on January 17. GM will notify owners, at which time they can take their vehicles to their dealers for repair free of charge. Have a look at the bulletin below for more information.

Continue reading GM recalls full-size truck, SUVs and vans over faulty shifter mechanism

GM recalls full-size truck, SUVs and vans over faulty shifter mechanism originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cadillac Escalade EXT gets the bad Chinese knock-off treatment

Zach Bowman — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Truck, China, Cadillac, Design/Style

Chinese automakers are once again hard at work copying other automakers' designs. CarNewsChina.com recently spotted these renderings of the Shaanxi Victory S102, and it doesn't take a student of design to recognize the four-door pickup truck's front fascia as heavily influenced by the Cadillac Escalade EXT.

CarNewsChina.com reports Shaanxi Victory is a state-owned conglomerate with its hands in a range of manufacturing and mining industries. While the company had cranked out a few anonymous trucks and minivans in the past, the S102 appears to be the first to blatantly borrow design from another manufacturer.

So far, Shaanxi Victory has only served up these renderings, though the company's website makes the model seem real enough. The site lists plenty of specifications, including engine options. Buyers looking to sink their teeth into the EXT knock-off will be able to outfit their rig with one of two four-cylinder gasoline engines with either 91 or 100 horsepower. Both are paired to a five-speed manual transmission. We desperately want to drive one of these.

Cadillac Escalade EXT gets the bad Chinese knock-off treatment originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM recalls select 2011 model year pickup and SUV models over axle fears

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 08:02:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Recalls, Safety, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

2011 GMC Sierra - Click above for high-res image gallery

General Motors is recalling a handful light-duty GMT900 pickups from the 2011 model year due to faulty rear axle cross pins. Both the Chevrolet Avalanche and Silverado 1500 are subject to the action, as are the Cadillac Escalade EXT and GMC Sierra 1500 - a total of 1,262 vehicles in all.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cites that these rear axle cross pins were not manufactured up to proper specification and that the pin could "fracture and become displaced within the rear axle." NHTSA further details the consequences of a displaced pin, saying:

"The driver may hear a banging noise coming from the axle. If the pin shifts out of position, it could create an interference condition and cause the rear axle to lock. The driver may not be able to maintain directional control of the vehicle and a crash could occur without prior warning."

GM will begin notifying owners about this problem in January, and dealers will install a new rear axle cross pin without any cost to the customer. NHTSA's official statement is available after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 GMC Sierra

[Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]

Continue reading GM recalls select 2011 model year pickup and SUV models over axle fears

GM recalls select 2011 model year pickup and SUV models over axle fears originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ay Dios Mio! 2011 Lincoln Mark LT spotted south of the border

Jonny Lieberman — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 09:02:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Truck, Lincoln, Luxury

The Lincoln Mark LT never really worked out according to plan. The thinking was that trucks and SUVs were so hot, all you had to do was rebadge 'em and then roll around in all the easy money. And while that worked wonders for Cadillac via the Las Vegas-a-riffic Escalade EXT, Lincolns with beds just never got any play. In fairness to the LT, the stage for failure was set by the Blackwood, a truck only intended to appeal to polo players (the bed was carpeted). The LT, on the other hand, was essentially a fully-dressed F-150 with Lincoln badges. Lincoln Mark LT production stopped in late 2008 and no one cared. Except, apparently, Mexicans.

Despite all that, last March brought us some spy shots of a 2011 Lincoln Mark LT running around the Detroit metro area. Huh? Well here's the thing: These trucks are headed down south -- way down south. Turns out that the Lincoln brand still has a certain cachet in Mexico, and our neighbors to the south see no problem in shelling out a little extra for the honor of the badge. Don't laugh, there are plenty Americans who routinely shell out around $50,000 for the same truck with a Ford badge (the Lincoln Mark LT is essentially the Ford F-150 Platinum).

Anyhow, here's a pre-production 2011 Lincoln Mark LT running wild somewhere in Mexico. We thought maybe we'd be able to tell from the license plate, but that's definitely a 2002-2007 Distrito Federal plate. Frankly, this truck could be anywhere. But seeing as how most of us don't know our Aguascalientes from our Hidalgo, what's it matter where? The larger point is that in a few years time if someone asks you to bring them the head of Alfredo Garcia Jr. and you want to do so in high style, has Lincoln got the lux-truck for you.

[Source: Auto Cosmos]

Ay Dios Mio! 2011 Lincoln Mark LT spotted south of the border originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 02 Aug 2009 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motor Trend: Next Escalade to go Lambda

Alex Nunez — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:56:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Cadillac, GM, Rumormill

MotorTrend reports that GM insiders are saying that the next-generation Cadillac Escalade will jump from its current GMT900 truck platform to the Lambda crossover architecture that underpins the GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook, Buick Enclave, and Chevy Traverse. MT points to the Buick Enclave Super that didn't happen as evidence that an Escalambda would be able to handle an eight-cylinder engine, which would be a step up from the rest of El Generalissimo's increasingly-crowded crossover lineup. Edgier, CTS-like styling would likely be a given, too.

Frankly, this is a good idea. The packaging afforded by the Lambda platform is vastly superior to what the GMT900 trucks offer. Remember that in the latter, the 3rd row is bolted to the cargo floor, it doesn't fold flat, and it's generally uncomfortable. The Lambda solves that instantly, and is better suited for what's positioned as a luxury vehicle anyway. Ride quality would be much better, and if GM Design were to deliver an interior on par with what's now found in the CTS, a Lambda-based Escalade would probably represent a quantum leap forward in terms of styling and refinement over the current vehicle.

As for the Avalanche-based Escalade EXT, MT says that GM's mulling over the idea of moving to a unibody pickup, a la the Zeta-based GMC Denali XT concept, to replace both of those vehicles. Again, not a bad idea, especially for Cadillac. The downside is that owners of the current vehicles who use them to tow will likely need to look elsewhere to fill that need. Still, if Cadillac's gig is to sell legit luxury vehicles, moving to more car-like platforms makes all kinds of sense. It's going to be really interesting to see if any of this stuff actually pans out.

[Source: MotorTrend]

Motor Trend: Next Escalade to go Lambda originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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