Following May sales, analysts have been less than pleased with the results despite strong sales numbers from automakers across the board.
Bucking the reports are two vehicles, the Fiat 500 Abarth hot hatch and the Tesla Model S Signature Series, both of which announced today that its entire lot has been sold.
According to Detroit News, the new 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth had only arrived in U.S. showrooms for a little over a month. However, Chrysler Group LLC has already informed its dealers that wholesale orders will no longer be accepted for the model.
Maybe it's the Charlie Sheen "House Arrest" commercial or maybe it's the awesome scorpion badge. Whatever it is, demand for the little 500 Abarth has been so immense that those who placed orders now will be filed into a waiting list that extends to the 2013 model, which will begin its first shipment in the fall. One disappointed customer commented in an enthusiast website, "I put my deposit down back in March and I found out today that I'm being bumped to the 2013 build batch and now have to wait until mid-September."
Initially, Fiat had built about a thousand or so of its edgy Abarth hot hatch for its April debut. However, Fiat soon realized its massive under-estimation when it received just as many deposits from customers after the car. Responding to the demand, Abarth production has been bumped by about 3,000 units, pretty much the maximum capacity of which the Toluca, Mexico factory could handle.
In a matter of a month, Fiat demonstrated a massive sales spike of 432 percent in the United States, according to Chrysler.
Moving on to the Tesla Model S, the Tesla website stated, "United States Signature Series reservations are sold out. A wait list is available to all reservation holders. Please email us at reservations@teslamotors.com for more information."
The bombshell? Not a single Model S has even been delivered yet. In fact, delivery doesn't start until later this month, on June 22nd. Marketed as the electric automaker's "affordable electric sedan," the Signature Performance model retails for a steep $105,400. Though Tesla charges a premium level price, it appears that the Model S Signature edition is worth every penny.
Currently, Tesla is still accepting deposits for its base Model S. However, given the speed in which the Signature flew off the shelves, who knows how long availability will last. According to Inside Line, "It will be interesting to see if and when the base Model S sells out, which may signal Tesla's critical shift toward being a mass-production automaker."
Finally, those anticipating the 2014 Model X crossover can begin pre-ordering. First customer cars should arrive by late 2013.
It's always interesting to note what sort of vehicles are doing well in the ever evolving market, especially when the two standouts are as dissimilar as the little Scottish terrier that is the Fiat 500 Abarth and the sophisticated all-electric Tesla Model S Signature. Despite a less-than-ideal general sales performance number combined with a slowed economy recovery, it's positive to see the eclectic variety of vehicles currently available on the market for buyers.
