Five Hottest-Selling Rides: What You Should Expect to Pay

2010 Lexus RX

$42,672 - average transaction price

Toyota Venza
$30,401- average transaction price

Hyundai Genesis
$32,587 - average transaction price
Dodge Challenger
$35,501- average transaction price

Smart fortwo
$16,913 - average transaction price


Source: Power Information Network based on April 2009 Sales and the average transaction prices consumers paid. This is different from MSRP (the white sticker on the window.) The aforementioned vehicles stayed on the dealers' lots for a shorter time period in comparison to most vehicles. Furthermore, these vehicles are selling with little to no incentives from the automaker or dealer.

Four Hot Rides: What Consumers Are Paying

Dodge Challenger - $34,056

smart fortwo - $16,294

Mercedes-Benz GLK - $41,096

Toyota Venza - $31,628

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Despite the turmoil in the auto industy, here's a sampling of four of the fastest-selling vehicles last month and their average transaction price, according to Power Information Network. The vehicles listed sold with little to no incentives. To find out more about each vehicle, visit our new car-buying guide.

Minorities Help Offset U. S. Auto Sales Decline

While total new vehicle sales fell by 3% in 2007, minorities - African Americans, Hispanics and Asian Americans - picked up the slack for the auto industry. Last year, sales to minorities buyers accounted for 22.4 percent of the U.S. market, up from 22.3 percent in 2006, according to a recent study by R.L. Polk & Co., a Detroit based company, which analyzes new vehicle registrations. Hispanics, African Americans and Asian Americans accounted for 9.9%, 7.1% and 5.4% of new car retail sales, respectively. As the minority population continues to grow, the auto industry will need to make sure they're allocating their resources properly diversify their workforce, advertising and supplier base, reflecting the spending power of these groups. The above chart represents the most popular brands based on individual ethnic groups.