2009 North American Car and Truck of the Year Winners Announced
Published In: Auto, Michigan 
Sunday, January 11, 2009 10:33 AM
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DETROIT, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- A jury of 50 automotive journalists from
the United States and Canada has selected the Hyundai Genesis as the 2009
North American Car of the Year and the Ford F-150 as the 2009 North American
Truck of the Year.

The awards are designed to recognize the most outstanding new vehicles in
their segments.

The awards are based on factors that include innovation, design, safety,
handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar. Because the vehicles
are new, reliability is not a factor.

The awards are unique in the United States because they are given by
automotive journalists who represent magazines, television, radio, newspapers
and web sites instead of a single publication. Also, unlike some other
awards, the awards are financed entirely by the jurors.

The winners were announced today at a news conference at the North
American International Auto Show in Detroit, however, the show does not give
the awards and the voting does not take place there.

In December the top three cars and trucks were announced. The car
finalists were the Ford Flex, Hyundai Genesis and the Volkswagen Jetta TDI.
The truck finalists were the Dodge Ram, the Ford F-150 and the Mercedes-Benz
ML320 BlueTEC.

The Genesis received 189 points, the Flex received 180 and the Jetta TDI
received 131.

The F-150 received 259 points, the Ram received 167 points and the
Mercedes received 74 points.

The awards were first given in 1994.

Today was the first time a Korean automaker has won.

Today was the fifth time Ford has won the North American Truck of the Year
and the third win for the F-150. The other winners were the Expedition and
Escape Hybrid.

To be eligible, vehicles must be "all-new" or "substantially changed" from
the previous model. This year the jury considered more than fifty 2009
vehicles and settled on 14 cars and 11 trucks that deserved to be on the
ballot.

Michelle Collins, Vice Chairman Automotive at Deloitte & Touche, was
responsible for counting the ballots, which jurors sent directly to the
accounting firm. Until the news conference Ms. Collins was the only person who
knew the winners.

Last year the North American Car of the Year was the Chevrolet Malibu and
the North American Truck of the Year was the Mazda CX-9.


Excluding today:

* Hybrids have been honored twice.

* Domestic automakers have won North American Car of the Year eight times.
Japanese automakers have won three times. European automakers have won
four times. A Korean automaker has never won.

* Domestic automakers have won North American Truck of the Year nine
times. Japanese automakers have won four times. European automakers have
won twice. A Korean automaker has never won.


Here are the vehicles on which the jurors voted:

2009 North American Car of the Year nominees

Audi A4

BMW 1 Series

Cadillac CTS-V

Dodge Challenger

Ford Flex

Honda Fit

Hyundai Genesis

Jaguar XF

Lincoln MKS

Mazda 6

Nissan GT-R

Pontiac G8

Toyota Venza

Volkswagen Jetta TDI



2009 North American Truck of the Year nominees

BMW X6

Chevrolet Traverse

Dodge Ram

Ford F-150

Honda Pilot

Infiniti FX35/50

Kia Borrego

Mercedes-Benz ML320 BlueTEC

Nissan Murano

Subaru Forester

Volkswagen Tiguan


More information on the awards -- including the names of jurors as well as
previous finalists and winners -- is available at:
www.northamericancaroftheyear.org.


SOURCE North American Car and Truck of the Year Organizing Committee


 
Sunday, January 11, 2009 10:33 AM

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