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Redesigned 2012 Volkswagen Beetle priced from $19,765

The redesigned 2012 Volkswagen Beetle will launch with a base price of $19,765, including shipping charges, a minimal increase over the base price of the current version. The base VW Beetle, known as the 2.5L, is powered by a 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder engine rated at 170 hp. A five-speed manual transmission is standard and a six-speed automatic is an option.

A look at future Nissan products

The push for fuel economy leadership will heavily influence the look and performance of Nissan's new products for the next three years. The effort will be focused on three primary areas: cutting vehicle weight, improving aerodynamics and reducing friction in the engine and transmission. Those three priorities already can be seen in the 2013 Altima, which went on sale in June with 20 percent better fuel economy than the outgoing model.

November a strong month for car sales

U.S. auto sales--led by BMW, American Honda and Volkswagen Group--rose 15 percent to 1.14 million in November, exceeding analysts' forecasts and setting the stage for the industry to finish 2012 on a high note heading into the new year. The annualized industry sales rate, adjusted for seasonal trends, accelerated to 15.56 million--the highest rate since 15.59 million in January 2008.