NASHVILLE, Tenn. -

Dataium’s latest Automotive Shopper Intensity Index showed potential buyers flocked to websites operated by Toyota dealers in March.

Analysts found the brand secured the highest ASI ranking of all nameplates as vehicle searches on dealership websites rose 10 percent above the previous month.

Coming in behind Toyota in Dataium’s breakdown was Ford, followed by Chevrolet.

Consistent with the ASI brand ranking, Dataium discovered both the Toyota Camry and Prius were the highest and second-highest ranked new vehicles for the second straight month this year. 

Nissan’s Altima, whose ASI rank fell last month, jumped a few spots in March and landed in the third position, according to analysts.

Following close behind were three vehicles from Ford — the F-150, Mustang and Focus.

“The first quarter’s ASI rankings indicate that 2012 is shaping up to be the year of the fuel-efficient models,” Dataium chief executive officer Eric Brown surmised.

“The highest ranking models have tended to be those that offer some of the best fuel economy (highest mpg) in their respective classes,” Brown continued.

Brown pointed out the February ASI report predicted a positive increase in March sales, which was confirmed with March sales figures being the best since 2007. 

He added the March ASI also reflects continued sales growth for the third consecutive month.

Through proprietary data collection and analytics, Dataium aggregates and measures billions of auto shopper behavioral events from a database of more than 100 million active shoppers across a network of diverse auto websites. 

To request complete access to Dataium’s ASI predictive modeling tool on future consumer demand by make, model, trim level, segment, region and market, call (877) 896-3282 or visit the firm online at http://www.dataium.com/contact.