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| Passenger Cars |
| The passenger car category is, by far, the largest and most competitive in the auto business—in 2000, passenger cars accounted for over 47 percent of total vehicle sales. With prices starting around $9,000 and reaching as high as $34,000, consumers have a staggering number of nameplates to choose from. Consumers also face a wide range of choices in size and body style. From small cars to full-size cars, and from station wagons to convertibles, the number of individual models (also known as "trims") tops 300. |
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| Luxury Cars |
| Last year, Americans bought more than 650,000 new luxury cars, accounting for almost four percent of total new light-vehicle sales. Priced above $34,000, luxury cars represent an ideal of comfort, security, prestige and elegance. In recent years, luxury car sales had slowed as a growing number of luxury sport utilities have taken to the road. For example, traditional luxury sales were down about four percent in 2000. However, sales of international luxury marques, such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus, rose about two percent. |
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| Sports Cars |
| So what exactly is a sports car? Is it a compact open-seater with no luggage space and a raspy exhaust note? Or is it a sleek and powerful 200-mph exotic? Depending on whom you ask, you may find it's both, or neither. Generally speaking, sports cars are performance-oriented cars targeted at auto enthusiasts. They're typically 2-door coupes or convertibles with powerful engines, sport-tuned suspensions and sleeker body styles. That said, the essence of sports cars is not really within a particular body style or drivetrain configuration, but more in what they do for the driver. |
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| Sport-Utility Vehicles |
| The sport-utility vehicle (SUV) category is one of the hottest in the industry, making up almost 20 percent of the market in 2000, according to research done by J.D. Power and Associates. Sales of luxury SUVs are also on the increase, making up more than 11 percent of all sport-utility sales. Consequently, consumers are paying top dollar for these popular new vehicles as automakers seize the opportunity, bringing to market a range of new and exciting all-purpose vehicles. |
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| Vans/Minivans |
| Vans and minivans—together—comprise over 10 percent of all new vehicles sold in the U.S., with minivans outselling full-size vans three to one. Although technically classified as light trucks, today's minivans are commonly regarded as cars by their owners. Many come fully loaded and share some of the same creature comforts and safety features as passenger cars. |
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| Pickups |
| In fact, the best-selling vehicle in America is a pickup—the Ford F-Series. Meanwhile, four of the top-ten best-selling vehicles in 2000 were pickup trucks, according to auto analyst J.D. Power and Associates. This popularity has helped make pickups one of the brightest categories in the auto business. Consumers now think of both compact and full-size pickups as legitimate—and, in some cases luxurious—people movers . . . with plenty of room in the back for serious cargo. |
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