Filed under: Detroit Auto Show
2009 North American Car and Truck of the Year contenders announced
by John Neff on Sep 17th 2008 at 12:57PM 
The 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit is looming ever closer, which means the process to choose the 2009 North American Car and Truck of the Year has begun. The organization behind the very prestigious awards has trotted out the list of semi-finalists for both awards, which includes 26 vehicles total with 14 contenders for COTY and 12 for TOTY. The defining line between each category has been muddled this year by a bunch of crossovers that could be considered either car or truck, though most were placed in the Truck category except for the new Toyota Venza. There are also two diesel-powered models being considered: the VW Jetta TDI and Mercedes-Benz ML320 BlueTec.
The jury that decides the winners is comprised entirely of automotive journalists, two of which are part of the Autoblog family: John McElroy who writes a weekly editorial called Autoline on Autoblog and Gary Witzenburg who writes a weekly editorial called At Witz' End on AutoblogGreen.
While the 2009 TOTY award is likely to go to either the new Dodge Ram or Ford F-150, this year's coveted COTY award will be the most hotly contested one in recent memory. Seriously, which one would you choose? The giant-slaying GT-R? The class-busting Genesis? The Hail Mary pass XF? The techno starship MKS? The Grade-A retro Challenger? You get the idea. Vote for which vehicle you'd like to win in each category below in our straw polls.
[Source: Inside Line]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
why not the LS2LS7? 1:07PM (9/17/2008)
Genesis. No question. GT-R? It's just a fast car, there will be faster cars next year and the year after that.
It's not every year that a car company elevates themselves from 2nd rate to top tier (in the US at least), and Hyundai is doing that with the Genesis.
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cheezwiz 1:27PM (9/17/2008)
Keep drinking the cool-aid. Let's at least find positive reviews and get some test-drives in before we declare that unproven snoozer a "top-tier" car.
If big engines and RWD were all it took to make the best car, I'd be driving an F-150 sports car...
why not the LS2LS7? 1:46PM (9/17/2008)
http://www.edmunds.com/hyundai/genesis/2009/testdrive.html
Darrell 2:11PM (9/17/2008)
you know that most people will choose the GT-R strictly because its an icon and a new standard in the sports car ring. I like the Genesis just because it may show some luxury sedans what a rear drive car can do for a company (Honda/Acura, are you listening?).
Saying that, I chose the Cadillac CTS-V. For a company like GM to make a marvel of a car, it shows potential if they just try. If only they put that engine in the XLR-V...
Serge 2:44PM (9/17/2008)
Isn't the ZR1 the standard in sportscars these days? GT-R didnt hold any of it's performance crowns for long.
Yar 5:18PM (9/17/2008)
"GT-R didnt hold any of it's performance crowns for long."
The GT-R didn't really hold any crowns at all. It did run a blazing 'ring lap, but not besting the Zonda or Carrera GT. The ZR1 beat the GT-R and both the Zonda and the Carrera GT. Then, recently, the ZR1 was bested by the Viper ACR.
On a side note, I picked the V. In my opinion the vast improvement in every aspect over the previous CTS-V. Not just that, but it is a perfect GM demonstrator. It says simply and elegantly that GM is capable of miracles.
innoc3nt 10:41PM (9/17/2008)
I have to agree. The GT-R is a tremendous achievement and has shaken up the world of supercars, from the Chevy to Porsche, but it's insignificant to the average consumer. The Genesis promises to shake up the luxury market just the same, and is much more relevant.
Cheezewiz, just about every major automotive has already driven the Genesis--even Autoblog, months ago. http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/27/first-drive-2009-hyundai-genesis/
jsjs 11:52PM (9/17/2008)
Uhh cheezwiz - there are something in the order of 25+ positive to raving reviews of the Genesis.
While the CTS-V is impressive, personally, I don't think performance versions of existing models should count (like the M series for BMW).
I'd say that it's btwn the Genesis and the GT-R w/ the A4 being the darkhorse.
Torrent 1:11PM (9/17/2008)
I think Mazda6 has tried the hardest- compared to what they were last year- this new one is a maybach in comparison.
I also think the Borrego or Ram should win for best effort, but we all know if Dodge wins, their huge dodge Ram fold-out posters will destroy each issue of Car and Driver for the next 12 months. I'm voting for the Kia.
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Hike15 1:11PM (9/17/2008)
I picked the jag xf because its a car that could save a great company and put jag right back at the top of its class
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Samurai Jack 3:43PM (9/17/2008)
Exactly my reasoning for the same choice. Or +1 if you prefer.
Mike 1:16PM (9/17/2008)
Hyundai Genesis and BMW X6
=P
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Red 1:18PM (9/17/2008)
It's a toss up between the Genesis and the GT-R. I realize these two couldn't be more different, but if it's based on hype, the GT-R. It's fast, it's big and it's got more myth behind it than Hercules. If it's based on logic, the Genesis. It's big, it's fast (although I beg to differ), and it comes in double digit-thousands cheaper than comparable vehicles from the more established brands. I would bet that for that reason, the Genesis will likely get the nod for Motor Trend Car of the Year as well, however, it's not the sportiest and there are flaws, particularly the inconsistent quality (if you haven't checked one out, I suggest doing so because it's nicer than you think, but it's not perfect).
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why not the LS2LS7? 1:48PM (9/17/2008)
I don't really see how it's good enough to be car of the year. Then again, the Caprice Classic won.
Frylock350 1:20PM (9/17/2008)
Who the f*** put the X6 in a truck list??!!? Its no more a truck than an HHR is.
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Torrent 1:26PM (9/17/2008)
Well it would be dumb to have car of the year, truck of the year, suv of the year, crossover of the year, wagon of the year, hatchback of the year, convertible of the year and minivan of the year- so they just put it into 2 groups (car and truck of the year), and since the X6 is technically an SUV (although BMW gives it a stupid SAC 'sports activity coupe' crap name, and I consider it a big ass hatchback.) it's almost in the same class as a truck.
Soccer Mom 1:34PM (9/17/2008)
It's hard to call something with 3 fit of ground clearance and size of a house "a compact car". X6 is more of an SUV than many other traditional SUVs on the market.
Soccer Mom 1:24PM (9/17/2008)
No question - Genesis and X6.
Genesis - More than Lexus at half price. Incredible value for the money, like no other case. Plus, it is a stepping stone for the company that in a matter of years transformed itself from a cheap and clumsy manufacturer to a formidable contender on a world arena.
X6 - that is something unique. Great design, features and it looks different from everything else. Besides X6, X5 (which is a great vehicle on its own) just pales in comparison. X6 just like the original Infiniti FX when it came out - a true blend of SUV and a sports car.
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Red 1:41PM (9/17/2008)
You said the X6 has a great design....thanks for lifting my spirits with that uber-funny joke since the impending Wall Street meltdown this past weekend had me kinda down. You should take that one on tour.
Corey L 1:46PM (9/17/2008)
I get your point, but couldn't help to laugh at it anyway.
"a true blend of SUV and a sports car."