Here they are: the 2007 Car and Truck of the Year nominees
A highlight of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit is the presentation of the awards for North American Car of the Year and North American Truck of the Year. The list of nominees for the 2007 COTY and 2007 TOTY includes 11 cars and no less than 15 trucks. Our buddies over at Winding Road, a few of who happen to be in the jury pool, let us in on the complete list, which will shrink to three finalists in each category due out in early December.Candidates for car of the year are:
- Chrysler Sebring
- Dodge Caliber
- Honda Fit
- Infiniti G35
- Jaguar XK/XKR
- Lexus LS 460
- Mercedes S class
- Nissan Altima
- Nissan Versa
- Saturn Aura
- Toyota Camry
As Winding Road points out, some of the vehicles on the lists aren't even available for sale yet. However, by the time ballots are cast they should be available in various press pools for jurors to review.
Honda ran away with all the hardware last year, for the Civic and Ridgeline (right), which was the first time a single make had ever won both awards.
You can also check out a complete list of past winners here.
[Source: Winding Road]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
hmmm 3:42PM (9/19/2006)
The Sebring, i never laughed so hard when i read that ! my pic is the G35 or the LS 460
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Carl 3:46PM (9/19/2006)
My vote is for the Saturn Aura. What a beautiful car! It drives great, very luxurous and an outstanding value at $20590.
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djSyndrome 3:49PM (9/19/2006)
LS 460. COTY voters go nuts when automatic transmissions get more gears.
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SherbornSean 3:51PM (9/19/2006)
My thoughts:
·Chrysler Sebring -- terrible car
·Dodge Caliber – good car, but not top of its class
·Honda Fit – the best car in the hottest class; dealers can’t keep them on the lot.
·Infiniti G35 – nice update, but second in class to 335i
·Jaguar XK/XKR – nice update, but luxury cars typically not relevant to COTY
·Lexus LS 460 – nice update, but luxury cars typically not relevant to COTY
·Mercedes S class – nice update, but luxury cars typically not relevant to COTY
·Nissan Altima – doesn’t stand out from Camry, Sonata, Fusion, Accord
·Nissan Versa – second in its class to Fit
·Saturn Aura – great car, but what are the odds a Saturn wins anything?
·Toyota Camry -- doesn’t stand out from Altima, Sonata, Fusion, Accord
·Honda Fit – the best car in the hottest class; dealers can’t keep them on the lot.
The Fit should take it, unless voters are sick of seeing Honda win everything.
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Chris 3:53PM (9/19/2006)
I'd say Camry in a landslide. But I'd love to see the Aura win it.
Hell, if they made the 300M a COTY, I guess they could pull the same BS with the Sebring...
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avixe 3:52PM (9/19/2006)
Sebring? Caliber? Geez. Where's the 335? How about the Cayman?
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Chris 3:53PM (9/19/2006)
The Fit shouldn't win it on the basis of it being a 5 (or is it 4?) year old model right now in the world. Even though it's amazing, it's an old model and the new one is due shortly.
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Seabass 3:58PM (9/19/2006)
Ha, not one Ford on the car list. And no, Jaguar does not count.
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Alain 4:06PM (9/19/2006)
Yea my pic would have to be Infiniti's g35 even though its not out yet, but i havent read anything bad about it so far, and it so beautiful.
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The other Bob 4:06PM (9/19/2006)
Ford doesn't have an all new 2007 car model dumbass, uh, I mean Seabass.
This list does seem short of a few models, but maybe I don't know the regs. How about the Sky? Others?
If they judge a car on looks, the Camry won't get it. Maybe the Fit, or the Altima depending on if it performs, but seems like the Aura could have a shot.
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chairman 4:11PM (9/19/2006)
Even though it reminds me of a guppy fish, I would go with the Fit. It's combination of keen handling (per C&D, faster than the Z06 in slalom test), versatile interior (folding seats like a mini-van), and Honda reliability and refinement for such a low price makes for quite an exceptional vehicle.
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kwc 4:12PM (9/19/2006)
Well, obviously they don't judge on looks because the Civic and Cringeline won last year....
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JarryHames 4:57PM (9/19/2006)
Probably the G35. It's a darling with critics and consumers. It would be nice to actually see one vs. pictures. The coupe is one of the best looking cars on the road. I am in the early stages of car shopping would consider a G35 or some psudo-lux CUV.
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Eric L. 4:19PM (9/19/2006)
My vote is either the Camry or the Fit. Yes they aren't exciting cars, but they are precisely the car that ordinary people want to buy in that particular segment.
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rwdmtparkingonly 4:17PM (9/19/2006)
These are all pretty boring, if I accidentally get a ballot I'm going to write in the Tesla Roadster.
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Ken 4:22PM (9/19/2006)
8. Ha, not one Ford on the car list. And no, Jaguar does not count.
Posted at 3:57PM on Sep 19th 2006 by Seabass 0 stars
This is why I shake my head at some of these posts on here, and why, if manufacturer reps are actually lurking on this board to see what the general public is saying, shouldn't take this board very seriously. Someone like "Seabass" posting a rediculous comment about Ford not having anything nominated. Not even knowing they don't have new models that are in the show rooms that are even eligible for this years COTY. I'm going to bet the Ford Edge will give it a run next year.
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atlkustoms 4:25PM (9/19/2006)
An the winner is SATURN AURA!
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DJ 4:27PM (9/19/2006)
What is the "on the lot for sale date" in order to qualify for this? Four of the trucks listed aren't available for sale yet and neither are the LS460, XKR or G35.
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Don dada 4:27PM (9/19/2006)
For Car: Honda Fit or Toyo Camry
For Truck: Acura MDX or Chevorlet Tahoe
Caliber or Sebring will not get it for their cheap ass interiors. All Chrysler dashboards came from the same mode. They look so cheap like Hyundai and Kia uses. Wake up Chrysler! Get some money from your parent Diamler.
To Chris:
Yes, the Fit is about 4 years old but this is for North America not World Car of the Year. Learn how to read.
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risingsun 4:37PM (9/19/2006)
G35. The Saturn shouldn't win, it's just a quick rebadging. The Camry just might win it because of they're "Look how thoughtful and caring Toyota is" commercials. Make the whole world think you're the king of saving the environment with hybrid cars and people just look past those pesky Land Cruisers, FJ Cruisers, Tundras, Tacomas, Lexus SUVs, et al. And 268hp in a Camry and a RAV4? What's this world coming to? Oh, and the new G35 is one of the most beautiful cars ever penned for mass production.
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