Autosignal | Wednesday, December 23, 2009
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GM, Ford Each Have Two Finalists for Car, Truck Honors Detroit automakers took four of the six finalist spots announced last week for the 2010 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards. General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. each had a car and a truck named as finalists for the coveted award. Car of the year nominees are the Buick LaCrosse, Ford Fusion Hybrid and Volkswagen Golf, while truck of the year nominees included the Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Transit Connect and Subaru Outback. The winners will be named Jan. 11 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The finalists, revealed at an Automotive Press Association event, were chosen from among more than 50 vehicles that were all-new or underwent a substantial change from prior models. Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. were shut out of the awards this year. "It's a great way to take some product momentum into 2010," GM spokesman Terry Rhadigan said. The awards, now in their 17th year, are given by a jury of 49 automotive journalists from Canada and the United States. They recognize the most outstanding vehicles of the year based on factors that include innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value. "To me it's huge," said Rob Stevens, chief engineer for Ford's commercial vehicles. "We are greatly appreciative of everyone really understanding and seeing the Transit Connect for what it is: a work truck. We've got to be greener, improve fuel economy but still provide a truck that can do the job." The 2009 Car of the Year was the Hyundai Genesis, while the Ford F-150 snagged the truck honor. Domestics nabbed three of the six finalist spots in the 2009 vote. Domestic vehicles have dominated prior awards. GM snagged four of six finalist spots for the 2008 North American Car and Truck of the Year award. While the Dodge Ram was a finalist in the 2009 Truck of the Year competition, automaker Chrysler Group LLC was shut out of finalist ranks for 2010. Detroit's automakers have won car of the year honors eight times compared to three wins for Japanese automakers. European brands have won four times and Korean brands once. In the truck category, domestic brands have won 10 times while Japanese have taken top honors four times and Europeans twice. Critical acclaim does not always translate into improved sales. The Saturn Aura, for example, won car of the year in 2006 but fell short of GM's sales expectations and now the brand is being eliminated. But the honors could help GM change perceptions about the company since emerging from bankruptcy court July 10. "When you lose your reputation, it's hard to get it back," GM Chairman and CEO Ed Whitacre told reporters before the award finalists were announced. (Source: The Detroit News, 12/17/09) Click here to add your comment about the article. Click here to email to client
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