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Average transaction prices climb to a record $36,270 in January

The automotive sector made a hash of the numbers last month, a mess of pluses and minuses clogging the transaction-price charts according to Kelley Blue Book. The overall industry rose one percent, even though buyers bought fewer cars and light vehicles in January 2018 vs 2017 using the selling-day adjusted rate. Due to January transaction prices rising to $36,270, a record for January, the value of new vehicles sold climbed more than $1 billion compared to January 2017. KBB's transaction prices don't include customer incentives, which changes the complexion slightly; average incentive spending rose to just over ten percent. The average transaction price in December 2017 was $36,756, so January dropped a bit - nothing unexpected, with the month annually blamed for "January doldrums." More revealing is the fact that the average transaction price in January 2017 was $34,910. This year's plumped-up figure came courtesy of the continued shift to crossovers, SUVs, and light trucks, which shouldn't surprise anyone who's read an automotive blog in the past 20 years. That category comprised nearly 70 percent of new vehicle sales for the month. Some manufacturers profited more than others, though. Fiat Chrysler managed 12.8 percent fewer sales in January compared year-on-year, but the company's vehicles sold for $1,300 more. The Ford brand suffered a 6.3-percent dip in sales, but brand transaction prices increased $2,000, while a Lincoln sold for $8,700 more on average. General Motors sold more cars and sold them for more money; overall GM transaction prices rose four percent, or $1,270, while a GMC traded hands for seven-percent more than in January 2017 and a Cadillac got $2,300 more on average. Of KBB's listed automakers, the Volkswagen Group got the most of out its customers, transaction prices rising at the German automaker by 5.6 percent to $42,243 in January 2018 compared to a year earlier. American Honda followed with a 4.3-percent increase to $28,991, GM in third at 4.1 percent to $40,313. Find your next car at Autoblog using our new and used car listings or the Car Finder tool. Broken out by segment, minivans rocked the table, transaction prices leaping by 7.9 percent to $35,380 compared to January a year earlier. Luxury cars boasted the next-highest rise, at 3.6 percent to $58,533.

Volkswagen Golf R Evo may debut at Beijing Motor Show

If a report in Auto Express is correct, a lighter, faster brother to the Volkswagen Golf R will be shown to the world at the Beijing Motor Show in April. Said to be called the Golf R Evo, the even harder hot hatch would be unveiled as one of those concepts that's practically a de facto presentation of the genuine thing. The Evo in its name will come from having a carbon fiber roof and CF in the bodywork, lighter wheels, thinner bucket seats up front and a roll cage instead of rear seats.
If there's a power increase, it's been described as "a small bump." However, as the report mentions, if the Jenny Craig regimen can drop 100 kilograms (220 pounds) from the the 3,247-pound weight of the European Golf R, then the Golf R Evo will do about the same damage on the scales as the Golf but have at least 50 more horsepower and 44 more pound-feet of torque.
Since we still don't have the current Golf, this isn't something that should keep you awake even if the 'concept' does become a production model. But it is good to know that the Golf R is really going to start pushing its boundaries.

2015 VW Passat Limited Edition priced from $23,995*

Volkswagen is doing some rearranging of its lineup for the Passat sedan, ditching a pair of trims on the entry level, 1.8-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder and replacing them with a new Limited Edition trim level. Gone are the Wolfsburg and SE trims from model year 2014, which rung up at $24,375 and $26,280, respectively. The new Limited Edition will start at $23,995, not including $820 in destination charging. According to VW, the new trim level packages $2,755 of extras over the base Passat S, but only demands an extra $1,555 of cash. Not a bad bargain, particularly as the Limited Edition adds some desirable features. An intelligent key with push-button start, 17-inch alloy wheels, a rear-view camera, heated leatherette seats with power controls on the driver's side and a touchscreen radio with an eight-speaker stereo, along with a few lesser options, like fog lights, chrome window trim and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Beyond the new list of standard equipment, this is still the same competent German sedan. The 1.8-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder is paired up with a smooth shifting six-speed automatic, as with other trim levels. Check out VW's press release on the new Passat Limited Edition, available below. VOLKSWAGEN RELEASES PRICING ON 2015 PASSAT LIMITED EDITION MODEL Mar 6, 2015 Passat Limited Edition model starts at $23,995 Fuel-efficient 1.8-liter TSI® engine and six-speed automatic transmission standard Value-laden model has a host of standard features, including KESSY® keyless access with push-button start, V-tex leatherette seating surfaces, heatable front seats,17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, touchscreen radio and rearview camera Herndon, VA – Volkswagen of America, Inc., today, announced pricing on the 2015 Passat Limited Edition model. The Limited Edition model will have a starting MSRP of $23,995 (plus transportation) and supersedes the Wolfsburg and SE models from the current model year. The new Limited Edition model offers a great value: compared with the automatic transmission S model, it has $2,755 of additional equipment, but costs just $1,555 more.