Like most of us, the car industry is coming off a topsy-turvy 12 months. Spring 2020 was the worst of times for car sales, with the economy crashing and dealerships closing as COVID-19 exploded. Spring 2021, in contrast, may be the best of times — after all, many people are sitting on disposable income they haven’t been spending on luxuries like vacations, fancy restaurants and childcare.
Those two factors alone make comparing year-over-year trends straight-up almost pointless. Almost everything is up, to the point some manufacturers are doubling last year’s Q1 sales figures.
Still, there are insights to gleam at the margins, where specific cars are performing exceptionally well. Now, it seems, is the time to splash out on that flashy sports coupe or off-roader for many people. Maybe a short-range EV makes more sense if you’re working from home. Perhaps it’s time to pull the trigger on a Land Cruiser, considering it may be the last year you can buy a new one.
Here are ten cars selling at a far faster clip than they did in Q1 202, all without having a new model to change the paradigm.
A manual transmission Supra could come in spring 2022
Car Sensor says Toyota will introduce a manual transmission version of the Supra in spring 2022. While the 2.0-liter model would seem the more natural fit — its BMW counterpart has been fitted with a manual already — the report says Toyota will add the option to the more powerful 3.0-liter inline-six.
Toyota
The first Neue Klasse vehicles will arrive in 2025
BMW has confirmed it will build its first Neue Klasse vehicle in 2025. The first two vehicles will be a compact sedan and a compact crossover, de facto electric versions of the 3 Series and the X3, BMW’s best-selling car and SUV, respectively.
Per BMW Blog, the vehicles may be called the i3 and iX3 , respectively, and exist alongside new CLAR-based combustion models.
BMW
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Porsche
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Toyota
The Audi E-Tron Is Better and Cheaper for 2021
Audi made some improvements to the E-Tron for 2021 that should have EV buyers paying attention.
Audi
Lexus IS
Q2 2020 Sales: 2,712
Q1 2021 Sales: 6,028
Increase: +122%
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Volvo
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Toyota
BMW X6
Q1 2020 Sales: 1,251
Q1 2021 Sales: 2,038
Increase: +62.9%
UWE FISCHER
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Courtesy
GMC Is Giving the Canyon an Awesome Off-Road Upgrade to Battle Tacoma and Gladiator
The GMC Canyon often gets lost in the midsize truck discussion, but this upgrade should help it compete with the Tacoma and Gladiator.
GMC