Civics Class: Vote for the Internet Car and Truck of the Year
The semi-finalists are in for the first annual Internet Car and Truck of The Year coronation, and now its time to let you, the genteel habitués of the world wide web, cast your own votes. Us autowriter types, including moi, have winnowed the bewildering field down to a list of seven contenders each for the car and truck categorie.
Voting is already underway at internetcarandtruckoftheyear.com and runs for a month. If you want to show off, there's also a writing contest that auto journos of any ilk can submit entries for. The full press release is posted after the jump so you can take a peek at what vehicles have been deemed good enough to make it this far. In its inaugural run, the ICATOTY is the only award of its type that allows the public a voice, so make sure yours is heard!
[Source: InternetcarandTruckoftheYear]
PRESS RELEASE
SEPT. 16, 2009 – For the first time, consumers will have the opportunity to vote on their
choice for Internet Car of the Year and Internet Truck of the Year. It all happens at
www.internetcarandtruckoftheyear.com, where the Internet Pros and the Average Joes
Pick the Car and Truck of the Year. At the same time, Internet automotive journalists are
invited to submit pieces for a writing contest.
A panel of 12 Internet automotive writers has voted on 7 semi-finalists for Internet Car of
the Year and 7 semi-finalists for Internet Truck of the Year. Consumers are now invited
to vote on the website for Consumer Internet Car of the Year and Consumer Internet
Truck of the Year starting at Noon (EDT), today, Sept. 16.
This is the only place on the Internet (where 91% of new car shoppers begin their
shopping process) for consumers to vote on a Car and Truck of the Year at a website not
dominated by manufacturer advertising. The website will not accept any OEM
advertising for vehicles eligible for a Car or Truck of the Year award.
Consumers will have until Oct. 16 at noon to register their selections for Internet Car of
the Year and Internet Truck of the Year. Then, starting Oct. 19 at noon they will select
among three vehicles in each category that have been selected as finalists. Voting ends
Nov. 13. The awards will be presented during a major auto show in December.
The semi-finalists for Car of the Year are:
- Chevy Camaro SS
- Ford Fusion Hybrid
- Ford Taurus SHO
- Kia Forte Sedan
- Mazda Mazda3
- Nissan CUBE
- Shelby GT 500
The semi-finalists for Truck of the Year are:
- Audi Q5
- Audi Q7 TDI
- Chevy Equinox
- Ford Raptor
- Ford Transit Connect
- Mercedes GLK
- Volvo XC60
Another exciting aspect of the Internet Car and Truck of the Year is the Internet
Automotive Journalism Contest. Writers and bloggers will be invited to submit their best
automotive Internet pieces from September 1, 2008 to September 1, 2009. Internet
automotive writers will be awarded in the following categories:
• Best Feature written solely for the Internet
• Best Automotive Review written solely for the Internet
• Best Single Blog Entry
• Best Series of Blog Entries.
All winners will have their work either presented or linked to on
www.InternetCarandTruckoftheYear.com (depending on original publication guidelines).
The emerging dominance of the Internet has created a major opportunity for further
recognition of "best of the best." The founding of Internet Car and Truck of the Year
LLC fills a void in this important medium. It will be creating four major awards that,
because of their nature, will gain instant credibility and prestige: Internet Car of the Year,
Internet Truck of the Year, Consumer Choice Internet Vehicle of the Year and the
Internet Automotive Journalist of the Year.
The Internet Car of the Year was created by Keith Griffin, the Guide to Used Cars for
About.com, and the Hartford (CT) Auto Examiner for Examiner.com, as well as a print
automotive journalist and vice president of the New England Motor Press Association.
Marketing for the awards is being handled by Al Vinikour of Vinikour Communications
in Trenton, Michigan.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Farmboy 5:05PM (9/16/2009)
The Raptor should get this one. That truck is purely sick. How did the Transit make it? On that note, towing with a Transit Connect should not be a true concern of many users.
The car will probably be the Camaro (yuck). Even though the Fusion Hybrid, Taurus SHO, and GT500 are on there, I doubt a Ford will take that. The Camaro is a huge hype car right now. Although the Taurus SHO winning would be almost hilarious.
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Gary Blomquist 5:41PM (9/16/2009)
If the 2010 Dodge Ram 1500 had been a joice it would have put it number 1 and then the Raptor number 2.
Surprised that the new Dodge Ram was not included?
Quantumphysics 6:16PM (9/16/2009)
The Raptor is a winner but, I'd pick the F-150 since it perpetually is the best truck out there year after year.
As for car, I'm choosing the MercedesBenz E-class but I think the #2 should be the BMW 3 and the #3 place should go to the SHO.
Genesis is disqualified for being a copying, low budget poser.
Vizel 7:05PM (9/16/2009)
Well, You do know that Genesis came out *last year* so it doesn't qualify... plus this little fella won 21 awards... more than any car has won in 21st century... needs to calm down itself =)
My biggest wtf of here is: Kia Soul wasn't included, but Nissan Cubefail was? I mean... I hope people are aware that Kia Soul outsells nissan cube AND scion xb combined and it's much cooler than both...
MastrCake 8:05PM (9/16/2009)
You know which car I voted number 1?
The Taurus. The Ecoboost engine truly is the engine of the future, and the Taurus is a great car as well. When I checked it out at the dealership, I was amazed. The power. The interior quality. The size, even though it didn't feel huge. It is a true man's family car (and woman's, if they like their cars fast), even if you don't have a family!
Also, when I was at the Ford lot, I looked at the Fusion Hybrid. It is probably the best geeks car (I'm a geek), with the instrument cluster, the nav system, hell, even the Blind spot monitoring.
And the GT500? Man, what a car!
I also voted the Raptor as my favorite truck. Why not? It's the true definition of "truck".
God, I love Fords...
Brian 8:41PM (9/16/2009)
The Taurus is over-priced and overhyped. Nobody will pay forty grand for a FORD! Plus "Taurus" reminds people of a crap rental they got at an airport Hertz counter.
BTW, since the Taurus is so expensive, where does that leave the MKS (Lincoln Taurus)? Even more expensive. These cars will FLOP, just like the Flex did for the same reason--people don't pay that much for Fords.
Quantumphysics 9:50PM (9/16/2009)
Brian
You are dumb.
They got people to pay $38,000 for a Chrysler 300.
i paid $40,000 for my 2002 Expedition.
If they can get people to spend $40,000 for a hyundai, they can get you to do anything.
Randy 9:56PM (9/16/2009)
@Brian
I think you're confused!
The Taurus base model made luxury cars that are 20 to 40K more money look like overpriced ego trips on wheels. It's an incredibly nice car! I'm doubting you've sat in one! The MKS is even nicer! Actually the MKS is one of the coolest looking Linolns I've ever seen! It's got a stance that says "bring it".
One needs to remember that it's not about breaking all the records. It's about breaking important records and then being about 99% of the less important factors but then being 20 grand less than everyone else!
I'd gladly take a Taurus over anything else in its class with the money I'd save!
Matt 10:59PM (9/16/2009)
"Although the Taurus SHO winning would be almost hilarious."
Yes it would. The looks of a Camry and a gas guzzling V6.
The only thing unique about the Taurus SHOW is the outrageous price.
skine 5:06PM (9/16/2009)
Great showing by Ford ....im impressed ...my vote is the Shelby for car ..and Raptor for Truck
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Farmboy 5:10PM (9/16/2009)
The best chance for Ford in ICOTY is probably the Fusion Hybrid. The green mid-sized is a huge plus in any contest such as this. It also looks very pleasing. The GT500 is probably second. It is incredible, but its price and lack of presence on the Internet really could hurt its chances.
Swede 5:08PM (9/16/2009)
American internet car of the year
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sparrk 5:14PM (9/16/2009)
what ? is there something outside of America ?
Luis 5:15PM (9/16/2009)
That's funny...I voted the Transit Connect #1, along with the Fusion Hybrid. I think they are both game changers for Ford, that's why I voted them so highly. #2 on car is the Mazda3, just because I like it (3 was the SHO). #2 truck was the Q5 followed by the XC60.
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216 5:23PM (9/16/2009)
Fusion Hybrid, and Chevy Equinox for me (with Audi Q7 TDI in close 2nd)
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the4thheat 5:24PM (9/16/2009)
Umm...that's a pretty limited selection just for the semi-finals.
This isn't run by Ford or something is it? I mean 4 out of 7 choices are affiliated with Ford (Shelby, Mazda). And it's pretty obvious the Cube isn't winning car of the year anytime soon there.
Anyways this is a BS contest if the winner comes from a pool of only 7 competitors to vote on 3 for the finals...wtf
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the4thheat 5:25PM (9/16/2009)
Oh I see the cars were chosen by a mystery panel of "internet journalists". Totally legitimate there now.
Infinihertz 5:53PM (9/16/2009)
1. The "mystery panel of 'internet journalists'" you refer to misrepresents things. The website says "from prestigious sites such as Autoblog.com, About.com, and LatinosOnWheels.com" and Autoblog linked to them - no that doesn't list them all or the individual journalists by name, but it gives you a pretty good idea of how it's organized.
2. Just because you don't know how the list was arrived at doesn't mean it's some corrupt organization. Ford happened to release a lot more new products than other companies in the U.S. market this year. Do you think that they should only have a single one we can vote for? A hybrid buyer probably wouldn't vote for the SHO, and vice versa; that basically hands the vote to the automaker that makes a certain type of product.
Infinihertz 5:55PM (9/16/2009)
On second look, the full list of judges, their qualifications and affiliations are here: http://internetcarandtruckoftheyear.com/The_Judges.html
Jake 5:27PM (9/16/2009)
The Truck of the year ballot should have had actual trucks on it, well more than 1.
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