至尊英语阅读资料之汽车专题第27集.pdfVIP

Automotive articles 27 [651]April Auto Sales: Small is Big Oil prices are rising and sales of small sport utility vehicles, compact cars and fuel-efficient crossovers rise are increasing as well. The strong sales of small cars, crossovers, minivans and at least one pickup truck were attributed to vivacious promotions and redesigned product lines. Toyota Motor Corp. reported a 3.7 percent gain in sales for its Lexus, Toyota and Scion vehicles versus April last year. The Japanese automakers divisional sales rose 2.3 percent, and Lexus was up 14.1 percent in April. Toyota Prius, the hybrid gas/electric car of the automaker benefited from incentives last month. As such, the car accounted for 71.8 percent sales increase, making April its best-ever month. Toyotas smallest car, Yaris, a subcompact launched in 2006, accounted for 7,232 units sold last month. Honda Fit, a subcompact car, accounted for sales of 3,958 units in April. The car, which went on sale last April, has had a remarkable five months of sales gains. The redesigned CR-V compact SUV of the Japanese automakers sold 17,379 units, up 39.4 percent compared to April last year. The Civic increased a percentage as well. Honda Division year-to-date sales were up 3.4 percent, with 421,773 units sold. Toyota light truck sales were pushed a little further by the RAV4 compact SUV, whose 14,495 sales mirrored a 13.3 percent increase compared to same period last year. Meanwhile, the redesigned Tundra pickup is trumping its predecessor with April sales of 14,200, a gain of 74.1 percent. Among Detroit automakers, Ford saw sales down 13 percent for the month, although the new Edge crossover and Fords trio of mid-sized cars--Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ-- are selling strongly. Ford sold 9,134 Edges and 2,901 of its sibling Lincoln MKX. Sales of Fords Fusion car rose 22 percent year-to-date, although sales dipped in April. DaimlerChrysler AGs Chrysler Group sales increased two percent c