NEW YORK -

The positive momentum being built in the auto industry doesn’t appear like it will end anytime soon, according to a recent study from Forbes Insight, which indicates the segment of the car business that will likely see particularly good fortunes is the luxury sector.

And the luxury brands that are currently the kings of the marketing hill are BMW and Audi, suggests the “2012 Special Report: Luxury Automotive Outlook.”

“Barring some cataclysmic event in the next several months, it seems wise to take consumers at their word as far as their purchase plans,” Forbes Insights summed up in the conclusion to its report.

“The data is signaling that the first half of 2012 will continue to be quite positive for the auto market overall in the U.S., and especially rosy for the luxury sector,” it added.

Forbes Insights utilized consumer data from BIGinsight  and crafted what it calls a “Luxury Car Buzz Index.”

This ranks 10 leading luxury brands through a composite score determined by “customer satisfaction and loyalty, car owners’ propensity to recommend their brand to others, and the effectiveness of marketing efforts in both traditional and digital media, as well as the impact of digital word-of-mouth through social media and blogs.”

Topping the list was BMW, which had the strongest overall score of 83.7. Analysts say this “seems fitting in light of 2011 sales that made it the best-selling luxury brand in the U.S.”

Placing second was Lexus (78.9) followed by Audi (70.7).

Interestingly enough, Lexus notched this lofty ranking even though it was extremely challenged by the supply aftermath of the Japanese natural disasters.

“This reflects strong loyalty among its customers, who recommend the brand to others with particular enthusiasm,” officials noted.

As such, Lexus edged out Volvo in the Brand Satisfaction category (46.09) and took the Personal Promotion category as well, receiving a score of 18.04.

The Brand Momentum honors went to Cadillac (0.87).

In the Digital Media category, Audi (10.75) narrowly beat BMW (10.21) for first place. Officials note that Audi is having the most success at bringing in “social media buzz.”

The Traditional Media category was led by BMW (21.74), with Audi in second place (18.99).

“As the Japanese automakers recover from their supply problems, they may well win some market share back, especially Lexus, thanks largely to loyal customers,” officials noted. “But BMW and Audi now dominate the marketing wars, and Mercedes seems to be on an upswing.”

They added: “The U.S. luxury auto market is volatile and intensely competitive. With American brands busy reinventing themselves, and even newcomers like Hyundai edging into the luxury space, the overall shape of this sector by 2013 can barely be glimpsed through a (tinted) windshield darkly.”

In addition to using data from BIGinsight, Forbes Insights talked with chief marketers and general managers of several luxury brands.

“Forbes Insights and BIGinsight have partnered to create a unique and forward-looking report on the luxury auto business that presents actionable information for anyone involved in the luxury automotive business,” said Bruce Rogers, Forbes’ chief insights officer.