Best-selling 2005 models

The 2005 model year has been excellent for new entries into the automobile market. Here's a look at the hottest of the hot:

Chrysler 300C

2005 Chrysler 300C SRT-8 Click image for larger view

"It's the star of our line," says Gary Dilts, Chrysler Group senior vice president for sales.

In December, dealers sold a whopping 13,525 units, which accounted for 15 percent of all full-size cars sold in the United States, according to Jesse Toprak, director of pricing and market analysis for Edmunds.com, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based auto price tracking service.

What's more, the 300's "days to turn" -- industry lingo for the amount of time a car spends at the dealer until it's sold -- was a very brisk 22 days. The industry average for all cars is 66 days.

The 300 is Motor Trend magazine's "Car of the Year." Angus MacKenzie, editor-in-chief of Motor Trend, says, "The Chrysler 300 is an extremely compelling combination of power, responsiveness, room and refinement -- a home run on significance, a slam dunk on value and clearly superior to its rivals in every way."

Auto expert Lauren Fix agrees. "The 300 is an exciting new entry," she says. "It's bringing back the great American Sedan."

With an MSRP that starts at $23,370 for the base model, and $34,420 for the top-of-the-line all-wheel-drive Touring Sedan, experts say the 300 could help Chrysler gain market share on GM and Ford.

Dodge Magnum

The Chrysler corporation's other hot new entry is the Dodge Magnum. The roomy five-passenger wagon looks like a muscle car, but can also help mom get around town.

It's one of Car and Driver magazine's 10 best for '05. The base model's MSRP is $22,020, while the top of the line RT carries a sticker price of $30,070.

Dodge dealers sold 6,260 Magnums in December, a 7-percent increase over November's sales, says Toprak who says the days-to-turn figure for the Magnum is currently 45.

Honda Accord Hybrid

The all new 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid is a four-door, five-passenger family sedan. It's the world's first V6 powered gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle.

It comes with a standard 3.0-liter, V6, 240-horsepower, hybrid engine that achieves 29 miles per gallon in the city and 37 on the highway. A five-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is also standard. MSRP is $29,990.

"It's a good choice for families in general, and the Hybrid is an even better choice if you want to do your part to clean up the environment," says Paul Lienert, an automotive writer and columnist for The Detroit News.

The Accord Hybrid made its debut in mid-December and sales figures for the Hybrid are not in yet, says Edmunds.com's Toprak. But dealers report strong interest in the company's third hybrid. Honda expects to sell 45,000 of the gas-saving hybrids -- Accords, Civics and Insights -- in the United States this year, twice the number sold last year.

Cadillac STS

The V8 is equipped with a standard 4.6-liter, V8, 320-horsepower engine that achieves 17 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway. A five-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard on both. MSRP is $40,525 for the V6 and $47,025 for the V8.

According to Cadillac spokeswoman Deborah Silverman, dealers sold 3,240 units in December. The STS made its debut in November. Days-to-turn for the STS is 29 nationwide, but some dealers are selling them almost as soon as they are delivered.

"We have waiting lists for the top of the top-of-the-line STS V8," says Tony Catalfo, sales manager at Ed Morse's Bayview Cadillac in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Nationwide, the STS's days-to-turn is a vigorous 29 days, but Catalfo says it's only 15 at his South Florida dealership.

Peter Davidson is a freelance writer based in Florida.

-- Posted: Feb. 15, 2005