3. Toyota Prius c

Forbes: The Hardest-To-Find New Cars

Toyota doesn’t break down sales separately for what are now four Prius vehicles, but suffice it to say things are going gangbusters with its line of gas/electric powered hybrids. Combined sales were up by over 210 percent in May, compared to the same month in 2011 and posted a 72.9 percent boost over the first five months of 2012. In shortest supply, at an average of nine days' stock, is the new subcompact Prius c. It’s based on the Toyota Yaris, and while it only generates the equivalent of 99 horsepower, it’s estimated to get a stellar 53/46 mpg, which gives it the same 50-combined mpg as the larger and more powerful Prius.

(PR NEWSWIRE)

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

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The Hardest-To-F... It’s been some time since the U.S. auto business boasted a bona fide “Next Big Thing” that had consumers pressing their faces up against showroom windows and paying hundreds – perhaps thousands – of dollars over sticker price to be among the first to get behind the wheel of what was a true head-turner.

Models like the MINI Cooper, Chrysler PT Cruiser and Volkswagen New Beetle were sudden sensations when they were first released, with demand far outstripping supply, at least initially. Similarly, the recently introduced ultra-quick Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and the ferociously fast Ford Shelby GT 500 models are currently the hot tickets among auto enthusiasts who are willing and able to pay whatever it takes to beat their peers to the punch for vehicular bragging rights.

Forbes created the accompanying slideshow of what are the hardest-to-find cars this summer, based on current “days’ supply” figures provided to us by TrueCar.com. This statistic represents the theoretical number of days it takes the average dealership to sell its existing inventory of a given model and is a good indicator of how easy or difficult it will be to find an ample selection in stock from which to choose (also how easy or difficult it will be to strike a good deal – more on that later). While the industry-wide average days’ supply for June 2011 among all makes and models stands at 51 days, Mercedes dealers have only eight days’ inventory of the $105,500 SL-Class on hand.

(Courtesy Toyota)

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
10. 2012 Kia Sou... Kia infused its popular line of boxy small wagons with modestly revised styling and revamped powertrains for 2012, with sales up by about 10,000 units over the first five months of the year. It remains one of the brand’s most popular models and is in surprisingly short supply on dealers’ lots with an average of just 11 days’ worth of inventory at hand.

(PR NEWSWIRE)

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
9. 2013 Lexus RX... This is the gas/electric hybrid version of the RX 350 crossover SUV that's not only quicker, but boasts fuel economy that beats the standard RX (32/28 city/highway versus 18/24). A new “Sport” operating mode affords more aggressive steering, transmission and throttle response. Not as big a seller as the standard version, it’s nonetheless hard to find with just an average 11-day supply on dealers’ lots.

(Lexus)

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
8. 2013 Hyundai ... This stylish compact car broadens its inherent appeal by adding sportier-looking coupe and more-practical GT four-door hatchback model variations for 2013. The Elantra remains a solid choice in a competitive market segment with fuel economy that tops out at a frugal 40 mpg on the highway. Hyundai dealers are able to keep only 11 days’ worth of model-year 2013 Elantra stock on hand.

(Forbes Image)

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Eight 'Killer New-Car App' Features For 2013
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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
7. 2012 Subaru I... Redesigned for 2012, the compact Impreza has become a blockbuster seller for Subaru, with sales up by 170 percent over the first five months of the year and a whopping 236 percent this May over 2011’s figures. It’s sufficiently stylish on the outside, roomy on the inside and is playful to drive – especially the “fast and furious” WRX models – with all- wheel-drive standard. The wagon versions are obviously hot properties, sitting a mere 11 days sitting in an average dealer’s inventory.

(Subaru)

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
6. 2013 BMW X3 Sales of BMW’s sporty compact crossover SUV continue to climb, with an updated early-2013 version just hitting the road. The X3 now shares its powertrains with the recently redesigned 3 Series sedan, which means a choice of a turbocharged four-cylinder with 240 hp or a faster 300-hp turbo inline-six. Both engines include a start-stop function to help boost fuel economy by automatically depowering while at idle. The average BMW dealer has only 10 days’ supply of the latest X3 models in stock.

(BMW)

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
5. 2013 Lexus RX... This popular midsize luxury crossover SUV is refreshed for 2013 with modest styling changes that include Lexus’ new signature “spindle shaped” front grille. The basics remain the same, however, and they’re all good, including a 3.5-liter V6 engine puts a smooth 270 horsepower to the pavement via a responsive six-speed automatic transmission. Just coming into inventory, Lexus dealers are able to keep an average of only 10 days’ stock in hand.

(Lexus)

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10 Fast and Fuel-Frugal Sports Cars

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
4. 2012 Toyota P... This is a plug-in version of the standard Prius four-door hybrid hatchback that can travel for up to 15 miles on a charge solely on electric power. Once the battery is depleted to a certain level it operates like a standard Prius. Toyota claims it gets an estimated 87-mpg in combined gas/electric driving. While it likely sells in low volumes, especially at its sky-high price tag, at least for now it remains among the hardest to find vehicles in the industry, with dealers boasting an average 10 days’ supply.

(Courtesy Toyota)

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Eight 'Killer New-Car App' Features For 2013
10 Best New-Car June Clearance Deals
10 Fast and Fuel-Frugal Sports Cars

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
3. Toyota Prius ... Toyota doesn’t break down sales separately for what are now four Prius vehicles, but suffice it to say things are going gangbusters with its line of gas/electric powered hybrids. Combined sales were up by over 210 percent in May, compared to the same month in 2011 and posted a 72.9 percent boost over the first five months of 2012. In shortest supply, at an average of nine days' stock, is the new subcompact Prius c. It’s based on the Toyota Yaris, and while it only generates the equivalent of 99 horsepower, it’s estimated to get a stellar 53/46 mpg, which gives it the same 50-combined mpg as the larger and more powerful Prius.

(PR NEWSWIRE)

More From Forbes:
Eight 'Killer New-Car App' Features For 2013
10 Best New-Car June Clearance Deals
10 Fast and Fuel-Frugal Sports Cars

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
2. 2013 BMW X6 The sleeker five-passenger alternative to the X5 SUV is updated for 2013 with modest revisions and added features. It retains its signature coupe-like roofline that, unfortunately, tends to hamper rear-seat and cargo utility for the sake of styling excess. A 300-hp 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six-cylinder engine remains standard, with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 alternately available that generates a more forceful 400 horses; both drive all four wheels via a smooth and responsive eight-speed automatic transmission. BMW dealers currently have an average of just nine days’ supply on hand.

(Forbes Image)

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Eight 'Killer New-Car App' Features For 2013
10 Best New-Car June Clearance Deals
10 Fast and Fuel-Frugal Sports Cars

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
1. Mercedes-Benz... With only eight days’ supply on dealers’ lots, the redesigned SL retractable hardtop roadster is making affluent hearts race with a new twin-turbo 4.7-liter V8 engine delivers a neck-snapping 429 horsepower (with an auto stop/start function to save fuel) and a seven-speed automatic transmission. Not fast enough? The SL63 AMG features a 530 horsepower V8, while the top SL65 packs a 621 horsepower V12 under its hood.

(Wieck)

More From Forbes:
Eight 'Killer New-Car App' Features For 2013
10 Best New-Car June Clearance Deals
10 Fast and Fuel-Frugal Sports Cars

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
See the Full Gal... To see the full gallery of The Hardest-to-Find New Cars, click here.