Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Porsche Panamera wins inaugural <i>Bloomberg</i> Car of the Year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/10/porsche-panamera-wins-inaugeral-bloomberg-car-of-the-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/10/porsche-panamera-wins-inaugeral-bloomberg-car-of-the-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/10/porsche-panamera-wins-inaugeral-bloomberg-car-of-the-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2010 Porsche Panamera Turbo - click above for high-res image gallery

Normally when a vehicle wins a car of the year award, its merit is so obvious that all you have to do to justify the selection is say, "just drive one." However, with the Porsche Panamera, the excitement surrounding Porsche's first ever four-door sports sedan/car is so palpable all you must say is, "Just talk to someone that's driven one." The Panamera's that good. Our man Michael Harley's still heaping praise upon the Turbo in his sleep. In case you missed it - the Porsche Panamera rules.

Then it comes as no surprise that Bloomberg News has selected the different looking Panamera as its inaugural Car of the Year. Says Bloomberg's auto-guy Jason H. Harper, "Like a lot of people I wasn't entirely sure what to expect of the Panamera, but sometime between having a six-foot eight-inch buddy in the back seat and hauling into deep corners around the track, it became clear. It's still a Porsche -- just a really versatile one." You will also no doubt remember that our colleagues over at Inside Line recently stuck the Panamera at the tippity top of their "Most Wanted" list. That's a lot of praise, particularly for a vehicle that has been so divisive aesthetically.

Bloomberg also selected several other winners including Best Green Car (Ford Fusion Hybrid), Best Sports Car (Audi R8 5.2), Best Economy Car (Mazda3), Best Executive Sedan (Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG), Best People Mover and Family Car (Lincoln MKT EcoBoost) and Best All-Around Sports Utility Vehicle (Land Rover LR4). All good choices by the way, though this author might have swapped the E63 AMG for the Porsche and figured a way to sneak in the Ford Shelby Mustang GT500. Just sayin'. Press release after the jump.


Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Porsche Panamera


[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche Panamera wins inaugural Bloomberg Car of the Year

Porsche Panamera wins inaugural Bloomberg Car of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Porsche panamera2010 porsche panamera turbo2010PorschePanamera2010PorschePanameraTurboBloombergBloomberg Car of the YearBloomberg NewsBloombergCarOfTheYearBloombergNewsCar of the YearCarOfTheYearJason H. HarperJasonH.Harperpanamerapanamera turboPanameraTurboPorschePorsche PanameraPorsche Panamera 4SPorsche Panamera SPorsche Panamera TurboPorschePanameraPorschePanamera4sPorschePanameraSPorschePanameraTurboThu, 10 Dec 2009 14:29:00 EST<![CDATA[LA 2009: 2010 Kia Forte and Forte Koup crowned NADAguides.com COTY]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/04/la-2009-2010-kia-forte-and-forte-koup-crowned-nadaguides-com-co/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/04/la-2009-2010-kia-forte-and-forte-koup-crowned-nadaguides-com-co/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/04/la-2009-2010-kia-forte-and-forte-koup-crowned-nadaguides-com-co/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


2010 Kia Forte - Click above for high-res image gallery

With a brief press release and a trophy handoff at the LA Auto Show, car pricing authority NADAguides.com has heaped the first of what we could be many accolades upon the stylish and affordable 2010 Kia Forte and Kia Forte Koup by naming the duo their Car of the Year for 2009. Citing the pair's "best in class" features and stylish interior and exterior design, the group said these Kia compacts were standout vehicles in a pretty impressive field. Other contenders for the crown included such significant and praiseworthy vehicles as the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz E350 and Nissan 370Z Roadster.

In our own review of the Kia Forte, we praised its styling, build, layout and performance, and especially its budget-minded pricing, so we see where NADA is coming from. Sometimes, we have to scratch our heads a bit when one of these sorts of awards are announced, but in this case, we certainly think the cars are deserving.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Kia Forte SX


[Source: NADAguides.com]

Continue reading LA 2009: 2010 Kia Forte and Forte Koup crowned NADAguides.com COTY

LA 2009: 2010 Kia Forte and Forte Koup crowned NADAguides.com COTY originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Kia2010 Kia Forte2010 Kia Forte Koup2010Kia2010KiaForte2010KiaForteKoupcar of the yearCarOfTheYearCotyforteForte CoupeForte KoupForteCoupeForteKoupkiaKia ForteKia Forte CoupeKia Forte KoupKiaForteKiaForteCoupeKiaForteKoupKoupla 2009la auto showLA Auto Show 2009LA Showla show 2009La2009LaAutoShowLaAutoShow2009LaShowLaShow2009nadanada guidesNadaGuidesnadaguides.comFri, 04 Dec 2009 10:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Volkswagen Polo named 2010 European Car of the Year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/30/volkswagen-polo-named-2010-european-car-of-the-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/30/volkswagen-polo-named-2010-european-car-of-the-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/30/volkswagen-polo-named-2010-european-car-of-the-year/#commentsFiled under: , ,


2010 Volkswagen Polo - Click above for high-res image gallery

It can be a bit overwhelming when every magazine and their various editions pick their own Car of the Year each annum. Fortunately, the Europeans have it together. Literally.

Every year, seven of the continent's biggest car mags - each from a different country and in a different language - get together and jointly choose the European Car of the Year. The process is exhaustive, first identifying the candidates in the summer, then whittling it down to a shortlist of nominees in the fall before selecting their one winner for the year in the winter. And with temperatures dropping everywhere on this side of the equator and the new year fast approaching, the time has come once again.

For 2010, the jurists have selected the new Volkswagen Polo as their Car of the Year. The fifth-gen VW hatch beat out some stiff competition from the Citroen C3 Picaso, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Opel/Vauxhall Astra, Peugeot 3008, Skoda Yeti and Toyota iQ. It was a close race, the Toyota coming in a narrow second with 337 points to the Polo's 347. The Astra took third place by a wide margin at 221 points.

It's the first time a Volkswagen has won the award in some 17 years and only the second time Wolfsburg's taken the prize home in the forty-five years since the jury first sat. Sister company Audi has also won the award twice (for the 1973 Audi 80 and 1983 Audi 100), and Porsche once (for the 1978 Porsche 928).


Gallery: 2010 Volkswagen Polo


[Source: CarOfTheYear.org]

Volkswagen Polo named 2010 European Car of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 european car of the year2010 european coty2010EuropeanCarOfTheYear2010EuropeanCotycar of the yearCarOfTheYearcotycoty 2010Coty2010ecotyeuro cotyEuroCotyeuropean car of the yeareuropean cotyEuropeanCarOfTheYearEuropeanCotyMon, 30 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford Fusion wins <i>Motor Trend</i> Car of the Year award]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/17/ford-fusion-car-of-the-year-motor-trend/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/17/ford-fusion-car-of-the-year-motor-trend/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/17/ford-fusion-car-of-the-year-motor-trend/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2010 Ford Fusion Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

For the first time ever, Motor Trend announced the winner of its annual Car of the Year award this afternoon live via webcast. Though the field of 23 contenders was highly competitive this year (follow the jump for a complete list), we guessed immediately that the winner was a Ford as soon as the webcast came online. How'd we know? The fact they were broadcasting the announcement from Ford World Headquarters in Detroit was a not-so-subtle clue. The Fusion, Taurus and Mustang were all in the running, but it was Ford's redesigned mid-size sedan, the Fusion, that took home the coveted Golden Calipers.

In retrospect, the choice is a solid one and not all that surprising. The Fusion was extensively reworked for the 2010 model year and features a new exterior design, new models and new powertrains. Ford offers a four-cylinder model, two strong V6 options and a full-on parallel hybrid variant, which means buyers should have no trouble finding a Fusion that fits their needs. And indeed they have, as the Fusion has already broken its own yearly sales record - with two months left to go.

Like MT, we're big fans of the Fusion here at Autoblog, and even have high hopes that one day it could be the domestic car that knocks the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord from atop their perches as the best selling cars in the States. That said, this Ford still has a long way to go. Toyota has sold nearly twice as many Camry models as the Fusion so far this year, and the Accord and Nissan Altima are still flashing their taillights at Ford's CoTY winner. It's not just demand, as Ford doesn't even have the production capacity at the moment to match Camry sales, and it doesn't help that the Mercury Milan siphons off a few potential Fusion customers, as well.

Nevertheless, this is less about what the Fusion could be in the future than what it is today: the 2010 Motor Trend Car of the Year. Congrats to Ford and the Fusion team.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Fusion Sport


Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Fusion SE 6MT


Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

2010fordfusionhybrid_review0002010fordfusionhybrid_review0012010fordfusionhybrid_review0022010fordfusionhybrid_review0032010fordfusionhybrid_review004

[Source: Motor Trend]

Continue reading Ford Fusion wins Motor Trend Car of the Year award

Ford Fusion wins Motor Trend Car of the Year award originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 ford fusion2010FordFusionbreakingcar of the yearCarOfTheYearcotyfordford fusionford fusion cotyFordFusionFordFusionCotyfusionfusion car of the yearfusion cotyfusion hybridfusion sportFusionCarOfTheYearFusionCotyFusionHybridFusionSportmotor trendmotor trend car of the yearMotorTrendMotorTrendCarOfTheYearTue, 17 Nov 2009 14:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Lotus wins 2 <i>EVO</i> magazine car of the year awards]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/12/lotus-wins-2-evo-magazine-car-of-the-year-awards/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/12/lotus-wins-2-evo-magazine-car-of-the-year-awards/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/12/lotus-wins-2-evo-magazine-car-of-the-year-awards/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2010 Lotus Evora - click above for high res image gallery

Lotus has managed to snag two car of the year honors from EVO magazine for two different machines. The new Evora came out on the top of the heap among the new road going cars, while the Evora went into production earlier this year and as of last month, Lotus has apparently delivered about 800 examples. EVO did their testing in Scotland at the Isle of Skye and the Lotus bested the likes of the Ferrari 458, Aston Martin V12 Vantage and Porsche 911 GT3.

EVO also evaluated track cars at the Bedford Autodrome for their own award and here Lotus again took the top prize. Running against an assortment of competitors from the Ford Focus RS and Mitsubishi Evo to more extreme machines like a Lamborghini Gallardo and the latest Arial Atom, the Lotus 2-Eleven got the best score. The 2-Eleven had the second best time and was found to be the most fun to drive. Considering the 2-Eleven looks more like a pure race car, it's astonishing that under British rules you can actually get single vehicle type approval to drive them on public roads. 'Scuse me Lotus? We'd love to try out the 2-Eleven!


Gallery: Lotus Evora


Gallery: Entry-Level Lotus 2-Eleven


[Source: Lotus]

Continue reading Lotus wins 2 EVO magazine car of the year awards

Lotus wins 2 EVO magazine car of the year awards originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car of the yearCarOfTheYearevoevo magazineEvoMagazineLotuslotus 2-elevenlotus 211Lotus EvoraLotus2-elevenLotus211LotusEvoratrackday car of the yearTrackdayCarOfTheYearThu, 12 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[2010 European Car of the Year nominees announced]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/05/2010-european-car-of-the-year-nominees-announced/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/05/2010-european-car-of-the-year-nominees-announced/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/05/2010-european-car-of-the-year-nominees-announced/#commentsFiled under:



You'd expect the European Car of the Year contest to be stacked mainly with European cars, of course, if not cars from around the world that are sold in Europe. But this year, the fight is being waged almost exclusively between European cars that we don't even get on this side of the Atlantic.

The candidates for the 2010 awards were announced back in June, but that's basically just a list of eligible vehicles. Now the panel of automotive journalists from across the old continent have picked their seven nominees among from which the final winner will be selected. Those up for the prize are the Citroen C3 Picasso, the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the Opel/Vauxhall Astra, Peugeot 3008, Skoda Yeti, Toyota iQ and Volkswagen Polo. The iQ is the only non-European product on stage, and the Mercedes the only car among the finalists even currently available in the North American market. That's definitely a bummer, but even without us, we expect the winner to be announced by the end of the month.

[Source: CaroftheYear.org]

2010 European Car of the Year nominees announced originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 car of the year2010 coty2010 ecoty2010 european car of the year2010CarOfTheYear2010Coty2010Ecoty2010EuropeanCarOfTheYearcar of the yearCarOfTheYearcotyecotyeuropean car of the yeareuropean cotyEuropeanCarOfTheYearEuropeanCotyThu, 05 Nov 2009 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Oh, Canada! Great White North journos pick their cars of the year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/04/oh-canada-great-white-north-journos-pick-their-cars-of-the-yea/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/04/oh-canada-great-white-north-journos-pick-their-cars-of-the-yea/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/04/oh-canada-great-white-north-journos-pick-their-cars-of-the-yea/#commentsFiled under: ,


Guess what boys and girls, the auto show season is ramping up and that means the constant flow of Car of the Year awards is upon us. The biggest auto show award in our quaint little hemisphere is likely the North American COTY award, which, we would have thought included Canada, Mexico and our United States. Well, not so much. The Canadians have their own international show and their own COTY, complete with car and utility honors from among 12 categories and 52 award-eligible vehicles of all shapes and sizes.

After pouring over vehicles ranging from the Mazda3 to the Porsche Panamera and everything in between, the Canadians have narrowed their focus to one vehicle in each of the 12 categories. Volkswagen is the best-represented automaker in the final 12, with three VW models, two Audis and the Panamera. The Mazda3 wins in two different categories and the Ford Taurus is the only finalist among Detroit automakers.

Also shut out - somewhat surprisingly we may add - are the Honda and Toyota brands, although the Lexus Lexus RX450h was voted the top crossover/SUV over $60,000. The 2010 Canadian International Auto Show begins February 12. Hit the jump to view the rest of the winners.

[Source: AJAC via Auto North]

Continue reading Oh, Canada! Great White North journos pick their cars of the year

Oh, Canada! Great White North journos pick their cars of the year originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 canada car of the year2009CanadaCarOfTheYear2010 canada car of the year2010CanadaCarOfTheYearawardscanadacanada car of the yearcanada cotyCanadaCarOfTheYearCanadaCotycar of the yearCarOfTheYearcotymazda3porschevolkswagonWed, 04 Nov 2009 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Civics Class: Vote for the Internet Car and Truck of the Year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/16/civics-class-vote-for-the-internet-car-and-truck-of-the-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/16/civics-class-vote-for-the-internet-car-and-truck-of-the-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/16/civics-class-vote-for-the-internet-car-and-truck-of-the-year/#commentsFiled under:


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]

Continue reading Civics Class: Vote for the Internet Car and Truck of the Year

Civics Class: Vote for the Internet Car and Truck of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car and truck of the yearcar of the yearCarAndTruckOfTheYearCarOfTheYearfalseinternet carinternet car and truck of the yearinternet car awardinternet votingInternetCarInternetCarAndTruckOfTheYearInternetCarAwardInternetVotingtruck of the yearTruckOfTheYearvotingWed, 16 Sep 2009 16:58:00 EST<![CDATA[European jurists announce candidates for 2010 Car of the Year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/24/european-jurists-announced-candidates-for-2010-car-of-the-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/24/european-jurists-announced-candidates-for-2010-car-of-the-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/24/european-jurists-announced-candidates-for-2010-car-of-the-year/#commentsFiled under:

It's getting to be that time of the year when jurists select their favorites for the various Car of the Year awards. And so, hot on the heels of the announced list of nominees for the 2010 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards comes the roster of candidates for the 2010 European Car of the Year awards.

For those unfamiliar, the European COTY award is a joint effort between several automotive publications across Europe that banded together way back in 1964 to select their one favorite. England's Autocar, Italy's Auto, Spain's Autopista, Holland's Autovisie, France's L'Automobile, Germany's Stern and Sweden's Vi Bilagare all contribute jurists who take several months to narrow down the list of eligible candidates to a seven-car shortlist before picking their choice for the year.

Although it doesn't have any nominees in the field this year, Fiat has won the award nine times (plus two for Alfa Romeo and another for Lancia). Recent winners have included the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia, Fiat 500, Ford S-Max and Renault Clio. Follow the jump to view the list of this year's candidates and stay tuned for the seven-car shortlist before the winner will be announced on November 30.

[Source: CarOfTheYear.org]

Continue reading European jurists announce candidates for 2010 Car of the Year

European jurists announce candidates for 2010 Car of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awardcar of the yearcar of the year awardCarOfTheYearCarOfTheYearAwardcotyecotyeuropean car of the yeareuropean car of the year awardeuropean cotyEuropeanCarOfTheYearEuropeanCarOfTheYearAwardEuropeanCotyWed, 24 Jun 2009 18:31:00 EST<![CDATA[UK's <i>What Car?</i> names Ford Fiesta its Car of the Year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/23/uks-i-what-car-i-names-ford-fiesta-its-car-of-the-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/23/uks-i-what-car-i-names-ford-fiesta-its-car-of-the-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/23/uks-i-what-car-i-names-ford-fiesta-its-car-of-the-year/#commentsFiled under: , ,



In another sign of good things to come from Ford later this year, the company's new Fiesta has just won a Car of the Year award from What Car? magazine in the UK. Specifically, the Fiesta 1.25i Zetec was selected by the publication's editors. They praised the looks, handling and efficiency of the new B-segment entry that's now available in Europe and has just started production in China. At the end of 2009, Ford will start production at a plant in Cuautitlan, Mexico that is being converted from production of F-Series trucks.

Fortunately, Ford has seen the light and will offer both hatchback and sedan variants of the Fiesta in North America. The U.S. market is expected to initially get the car with a 1.6-liter normally aspirated four-cylinder and a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox. We can't wait to try it out for ourselves and pit the Fiesta against the Honda Fit and its other segment-mates. Check out a high-res gallery of the Fiesta below and then click on the jump to read the official press release.

Gallery: 2009 Ford Fiesta


[Source: Ford]

Continue reading UK's What Car? names Ford Fiesta its Car of the Year

UK's What Car? names Ford Fiesta its Car of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car of the yearCarOfTheYearford fiestaFordFiestaFri, 23 Jan 2009 19:28:00 EST<![CDATA[N.A. Car and Truck of the Year Finalists Announced]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/18/n-a-car-and-truck-of-the-year-finalists-announced/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/18/n-a-car-and-truck-of-the-year-finalists-announced/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/18/n-a-car-and-truck-of-the-year-finalists-announced/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Click either image for a high-res gallery of the NACOTY and TOTY nominees

Now that the motoring world has announced the International COTY and TOTY contenders, the finalists for North American Car and Truck of the Year have been revealed. The six chosen chariots consist of some of the same nameplates, but whereas the international body tapped the Dodge Challenger, Ford Flex and Nissan GT-R for the car honors, the 50 N.A. automotive journalists have elected the Ford Flex, Hyundai Genesis and Volkswagen Jetta TDI as finalists for the 2009 NACOTY. So the Challenger makes the International list but not the North American one? Baffling. The Nissan GT-R didn't make the N.A. cut, but it could be argued that the Flex and Genesis are more important to their respective companies, and the Jetta, well, it's green and all. The Jetta TDI did appear on the separate Earth, Wind & Power list from the international committee.

On the Truck side we have the Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram making both lists, but the N.A. group selected another Earth, Wind & Power nominee, the Mercedes-Benz ML320 BlueTEC, instead of the internationally-nominated Subaru Forester. All of the contendors seem worthy of recognition, but we're sure you'll have your own suggestions, as do we. Both sets of winners will be announced January 11th at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The full press release with all of the eligible nominees is after the jump and we've assembled a gallery of the finalists below.

Gallery: 2009 North American Car and Truck of the Year finalists

Hyundai Genesis SedanVolkswagen Jetta TDIFord FlexFord F-150Dodge Ram

[Source: North American Car & Truck of the Year]

Continue reading N.A. Car and Truck of the Year Finalists Announced

N.A. Car and Truck of the Year Finalists Announced originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car of the yearCarOfTheYearcotydodge ramDodgeRamford f-150ford flexFordF-150FordFlexhyundai genesisHyundaiGenesisMercedes-Benz ML320 BlueTECMercedes-benzMl320BluetecNA Car of the yearNA truck of the yearNaCarOfTheYearNaTruckOfTheYeartotytruck of the yearTruckOfTheYearvolkswagen jetta tdiVolkswagenJettaTdiThu, 18 Dec 2008 15:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Nissan GT-R crowned Motor Trend Car of the Year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/18/nissan-gt-r-crowned-motor-trend-car-of-the-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/18/nissan-gt-r-crowned-motor-trend-car-of-the-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/18/nissan-gt-r-crowned-motor-trend-car-of-the-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Nissan GT-R

Do you sense a pattern here? Not only has the Nissan GT-R won just about every comparison test on the planet, but it's also racked up a Popular Science Best of What's New award, Car of the Year honors from Automobile Magazine, and now the GT-R can add Motor Trend's CotY trophy to its mantle, as well. Calling it simply "Ichiban", the MT team praised Nissan's supercar-for-the-people as a standout in a pretty deep pool of contenders. While practically none of its CotY competitors even comes close to matching the GT-R's performance, several that are almost as good in their own right made the finals. Good as they are, the Honda Fit, Hyundai Genesis, BMW 1 series, Jaguar XF, Acura TL and TSX, Audi A4, Mazda6 and Volkswagen Passat CC just couldn't match the dominance of Gozilla. It would have been more difficult for MT to justify picking something other than the GT-R for this honor, and we can't think of any reason to disagree with their choice. Full press release after the jump.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Nissan GT-R


[Source: Motor Trend]

Continue reading Nissan GT-R crowned Motor Trend Car of the Year

Nissan GT-R crowned Motor Trend Car of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car of the yearCarOfTheYearcotygt-rgtrmotor trend car of the yearmotortrendcaroftheyearMT COTYMtCotynissan gt-rnissan gtrNissanGt-rNissanGtrTue, 18 Nov 2008 10:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Opel/Vauxhall Insignia wins European Car of the Year by single point]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/17/opel-vauxhall-insignia-wins-european-car-of-the-year-by-single-p/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/17/opel-vauxhall-insignia-wins-european-car-of-the-year-by-single-p/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/17/opel-vauxhall-insignia-wins-european-car-of-the-year-by-single-p/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia

Looks like there won't be much of a fiesta for Ford this year, as the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia has captured the 2009 European Car of the Year award by just one point over the hot little hatch with the big blue oval on its snout. Scoring 321 points to the Fiesta's 320, the Insignia claimed the victory with the bronze going to the Volkswagen Golf (223 points). It's the first win for Opel in 22 years, although the European branch of GM has scored four runner-up spots in the past. You might even say this is payback for Ford, which snatched the top prize from Opel in 2007 when the Ford S-Max nipped the Corsa by two points in the balloting. According to the jurors, the Insignia won this year based on its "artistry with German precision" good looks, active and passive safety features, comfort and a wide array of efficient engines including that 280-hp turbo V6. Options such as the Opel Eye that reads road signals, FlexRide suspension and nine-mode Adaptive Forward Lighting were also cited. Hopefully this car will eventually show up Stateside as the next Saturn Aura. Thanks for the tip, everyone!

Gallery: Opel / Vauxhall Insignia


[Source: Car of the Year]

Opel/Vauxhall Insignia wins European Car of the Year by single point originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above for a high-res gallery of the production Toyota iQ

Any guesses on what car Japanese jurors might pick as their Car of the Year? Guess again; and again. That's right, the Nissan GT-R only managed to snag enough votes to garner a bronze finish in Japanese COTY voting. Wondering what epically amazing machinery bested the mighty Godzilla? That would be the miniscule Toyota iQ. Once again, it is clear just how far the priorities for transportation have changed. Supercar levels of acceleration, on-board supercomputers and remarkable handling prowess just aren't enough to woo the top pick from judges in Japan. Not only was the iQ the top overall choice in a landslide victory, the Citroën C5 managed to garner enough votes to steal second place from the mighty GT-R.

Don't get us wrong, the Toyota with the funny name is a vehicle deserving of all the recognition it gets. A packaging miracle, the smarty-pants iQ manages to cram four real human beings inside a footprint that's pretty darn close to that of the smart fortwo, a car that seats just two people including the driver. These days, exceptional fuel economy, low emissions and intelligent packaging are apparently the way to a Japanese heart, and likely many from the rest of the world, as well. What do you think? Is the Toyota iQ the, ahem... smart person's COTY?

Gallery: 2009 Toyota iQ


[Source: Inside Line]

Great things come in small packages. iQ wins Japanese Car of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The panel of 59 automotive journalists which decide each year's European Car of the Year have narrowed down their selection from the initial list of 38 contenders to just seven finalists, which have now been announced. Along the way, some noteworthy new vehicles have been forsaken, among them the new Audi A4, BMW 7 Series, Honda Accord, Jaguar XF and Volkswagen Scirocco, but not everyone could make the short-list. Otherwise it wouldn't be a short list.

The finalists for the coveted prize includes the Alfa Romeo MiTo, Citroen C5, Ford Fiesta, Opel/Vauxhall Insignia, Renault Megane, Skoda Superb and Volkswagen Golf. It's worth noting that previous versions of the Megane took home the trophy in their hatchbacks twice since the contest was instituted thirteen years ago. Fiat and Alfa Romeo, meanwhile, have won it six times. We'll see who takes home the prize for 2009, with the winner scheduled for release in just over a week on November 19.

[Source: CarScoop]

Jury announces finalists for European Car of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above for high-res gallery of the Nissan GT-R

Nissan has hit a major home run with its latest Skyline, known as the GT-R here in the States. In fact, the car was knocked so far out of the park that it seems an obvious choice for anyone's Car of the Year. Nissan's latest supercar boasts enough performance to take on the best from the rest of the world regardless of price, making it an amazing value despite costing upwards of $80,000. As such, the new GT-R has been awarded the Car of the Year trophy from Automobile Mag. Who are we to argue?

Other winners of Automobile's year-end awards include Audi's stunning A5 coupe, which takes the award for Design of the Year, though it seems it feels like the A5's already been around for more than a year. Man of the Year goes to Honda's CEO, Takeo Fuki, who's company is now reaping the rewards for staying true to its initial vision of rational, fuel efficient designs after all these years. It's pretty hard to take exception with these choices, though 2009, which is right around the corner, is shaping up to be the year of fuel efficiency. Follow the jump for Automobile Mag's official press release, which has a few extra award winners we didn't mention.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Nissan GT-R


[Source: Automobile]

Continue reading Nissan GT-R named Car of the Year by Automobile Mag

Nissan GT-R named Car of the Year by Automobile Mag originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Isn't it nice when everyone gets along? Every year, rather than naming their own selection, several of the largest automotive publications in Europe get together and pick their Car of the Year. A list is compiled of all eligible bachelors nominees, then the list is narrowed down to a handful (usually seven or eight) finalists before the single winner is announced.

The panel, which is composed of 59 judges from 23 different countries across Europe (including six representatives each from France, Great Britain, Italy and Spain), will announce the winner in Paris on November 17. Previous winners include the Fiat 500, Ford S-Max, Renault Clio and Toyota Prius. The organization has now releaved their list of 38 contenders; among those nominated are the Alfa MiTo, Audi Q5, Ford Fiesta, Honda Accord, Jaguar XF and Volkswagen Scirocco. Follow the jump for the full roster.

[Source: CarOfTheYear.org]

Continue reading Nominees announced for 2009 European COTY

Nominees announced for 2009 European COTY originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The 2008 Chevy Malibu has snatched up awards and media accolades, and JD Power data shows that customers are paying Chevy dealers handsomely to own one. The average transaction price of a Chevy Malibu is $22,358 -- $5,000 higher than the inherently uncool last-gen 'Bu. Twenty-one percent of buyers are also opting for the top-of-the-line LTZ vs. only 5% for the outgoing model.

The news isn't all rosy, however, as most of these customers are trading in other GM products to get themselves into the North American Car of the Year. Only 1.4% of buyers traded in a Toyota Camry, 1.3% swapped a Nissan Altima, and less than 1% turned in a Honda Accord. Those aren't exactly the kind of numbers GM will want to brag about, but at least the General is pulling in the equivalent of two Tata Nanos more per car than the last generation model did.

[Source: Detroit News]

Buyers dropping more coin on the 2008 Chevy Malibu originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Mar 2008 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Has Ernie Boch Jr. let the cat out of the bag? Autoblog reader Jason tipped us that he heard a fleeting mention of the 2008 Honda Accord being Motor Trend's Car Of The Year during a commercial for a seasonal promotion at the national sales champ dealership. Could it be that Jason's sharp ear has uncovered Motor Trend's announcement traditionally made in November? Boch Honda's website mirrors the statement that Jason heard, as well, offering a "newly redesigned 2008 Honda Accord LX, Motor Trend's Car Of The Year" for a $198/month lease. Motor Trend, on the other hand, remains mum so far on its pick. The press always blows the automaker's embargoes, how meta is it that a dealer appears to have deflated the COTY balloon? We'll be giving Ernie a ring on Monday, stay tuned.

Thanks for the tip, Jason!

Is the 2008 Honda Accord Motor Trend's COTY? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Oct 2007 09:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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click above to see more high-res pics of the new Ford Mondeo

We believe it's that time of year again when every automotive media outlet and its sister (publication) begin giving out its Car of the Year (COTY) award. Auto Express in the U.K. is kicking things off by awards its respective COTY statue to the new Ford Mondeo, as well as the honor for best family car and estate car. The editor's don't mince words when they say the Mondeo is "Ford's finest ever car". We'd like to agree, except we probably won't ever get a chance to drive the new Mondeo, at least not this generation of the car. Hopefully, Ford CEO Alan Mulally will have his way and the next-gen Mondeo will merge with our Fusion sold in the U.S. Perhaps then we can corroborate the opinion of Auto Express that the Mondeo is a COTY caliber sedan. Until then, however, we'll just congratulate the car from afar.

[Source: Newspress]

Gallery: 2008 Ford Mondeo

Ford Mondeo 5-DoorFord Mondeo WagonFord Mondeo Interior

Continue reading Ford Mondeo named Car of the Year by Auto Express

Ford Mondeo named Car of the Year by Auto Express originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jul 2007 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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