Autoblog

Motor Trend debates 2013 Car of The Year, winner coming Monday

George Kennedy — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 18:01:00 EST

So just how do the automobile magazines select their Car of the Year awards? Pointing at the cars blindfolded? Divining rod? Tossing lawn darts? No, it's a little more complicated than that.
To shed light on how Motor Trend selects its COTY, Jessi Lang gives us a glimpse into the process, describing it as "carefully organized madness."

It begins with the Motor Trend staff hammering it out over minutiae, like a windshield wiper. Next, they get down to the fun part; wringing the candidates out on the track, followed by open-road testing. Motor Trend created six criteria upon which judges are able to compare cars that span different vehicle segments, price points, and purposes.

These include value, safety, efficiency, advancement in design, engineering excellence and performance of intended function. There are eleven judges, including our friend Jonny Lieberman, who doesn't disappoint with his commentary, calling the Chevrolet Malibu "less of a car, and more of a collection of everything I don't like." Oh, Jonny.

There was much deliberating, and passionate debate, the result of which was the selection of a single car that rose above all others. And the winner is....? Well, they kind of leave you hanging, but the video is worth watching to see how the champion is crowned. The winner will be announced this Monday, November 12 and stand alongside the magazine's already announced 2013 SUV of the Year, the Mercedes-Benz GL. What car do you think will claim the golden calipers? Have your say in Comments.

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Motor Trend debates 2013 Car of The Year, winner coming Monday originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 10 Nov 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan Leaf nabs 2011 European Car of the Year award

Autoblog Staff — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:01:00 EST

2011 Nissan Leaf - Click above for high-res image gallery

At the start of November, the 41 contenders for the 2011 European Car of the Year award were trimmed down to seven finalists. Today, for the first time ever, Europe's most coveted automotive award went to vehicle that that relies upon electrical juice flowing from its lithium-ion battery pack as its sole source of motivation. That battery-powered vehicle, the Nissan Leaf, marks the automaker's first win since the Micra took home the award way back in 1993. Head juror Hakan Matson proclaims that the Leaf is "a breakthrough for electric cars" and that it "is the first electric vehicle that can match conventional cars in many respects." Nissan chief executive officer Carlos Ghosn accepted the honor and responded with:

This award recognises the pioneering zero-emission Nissan Leaf as competitive to conventional cars in terms of safety, performance, spaciousness and handling. It also reflects Nissan's standing as an innovative and exciting brand with a clear vision of the future of transportation, which we call sustainable mobility.

The Leaf faced strong competition from the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Citroën C3/DS3, Dacia Duster, Ford C-Max, Opel/Vauxhall Meriva and Volvo S60/V60. Early predictions by some of the motoring press suggested that the pair of models from Citroën or perhaps even the lone Alfa Romeo vehicle would capture the award, but that's not how the jury of 57 automotive journalists ended up seeing it, and the electric Nissan Leaf grabbed the top spot. Last year, the Volkswagen Polo snatched the Car of the Year title away from second-place finisher, the Toyota iQ. In 2009, the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia just beat out the Ford Fiesta for the honor.

The Leaf also recently won the Green Car of the Year title from the UK's TheGreenCarWebsite and was named the 2011 "Best Car to Buy" by Green Car Reports. Hat tip to Matt!

Gallery: 2011 Nissan Leaf: First Drive

Photos copyright (C)2010 Damon Lavrinc / AOL

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan Leaf nabs 2011 European Car of the Year award

Nissan Leaf nabs 2011 European Car of the Year award originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motor Trend Car of the Year? The 2011 Chevrolet Volt [w/video]

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 09:57:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Etc., Videos, Chevrolet, GM, Electric

2011 Chevrolet Volt - Click above for high-res image gallery

Motor Trend loves giving out awards, but its most coveted piece of hardware is undoubtedly its Car of the Year trophy. This year, the golden calipers have been bestowed upon the 2011 Chevrolet Volt.

General Motors' joins a long line of Motor Trend COTY winners that date all the way back to 1949. Last year, the Ford Fusion took home the prize and prior to that, the Nissan GT-R claimed the magazines coveted spot. The Chevrolet Volt is a hard hitter in each of MT's six categories: Advancement in Design, Engineering Excellence, Efficiency, Safety, Value and Performance of Intended Function.

Motor Trend has been a strong champion of the range-extended electric sedan in recent months. The buff book looked past the is-it-just-a-hybrid hoopla and even wrote about how they achieved 127 miles per gallon while putting the car through real world driving conditions. Learn more about why the publication chose the Volt with a video narrated by MT Editor-in-Chief Angus MacKenzie that's located after the jump (warning: auto-play). When you're done checking out the video and the press release, you can learn more about MT's Car of the Year process and finalists here.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt: First Drive

Photos copyright (C)2010 Chris Paukert / AOL

[Source: Motor Trend]

Continue reading Motor Trend Car of the Year? The 2011 Chevrolet Volt [w/video]

Motor Trend Car of the Year? The 2011 Chevrolet Volt [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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European jurists announce seven finalists for 2011 Car of the Year

Noah Joseph — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Ford, Nissan, Volvo, Renault, Opel, Citroën, Vauxhall, Alfa Romeo

While it may seem like every magazine worth its bar-code is clamoring to select its own Car of the Year, over in Europe things are a bit more civilized. Seven publications from seven different countries get together each year to nominate their collective Car of the Year, speaking in one united voice.

The process takes place over the course of months. First comes the nominees, then the finalists and ultimately the solitary winner. The super best-friends have just arrived at that middle step, announcing the finalists for 2011, and as in years past, it's heavily loaded with European vehicles, but the list is not without its novelty.

The finalists came down to the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Citroën C3/DS3, Renault/Dacia Duster, Ford C-Max/Grand C-Max, Nissan Leaf, Opel/Vauxhall Meriva and Volvo S60/V60. The Alfa's nomination comes exactly a decade after its predecessor, the 147, took the award upon its launch. The Leaf represents the first time an electric vehicle has made it this far in the selection process. And the budget Dacia's selection is of course highly symbolic of the economic climate from which most of the world is only beginning to recuperate. The winner will be announced on November 29, so stay tuned.

[Source: Car of the Year]

European jurists announce seven finalists for 2011 Car of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi S4 named Esquire Car of the Year [w/video]

Jeff Glucker — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 18:27:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Esquire's 2010 COTY is the 2010 Audi S4 - Click above to watch video after the jump

Esquire, the purveyor of printed pages packed with ads and male-centric eye-candy, has released its list of 2010 automotive award winners. The top award is the Car of the Year and the magazine is handing that title to the 2010 Audi S4. Esquire makes a strong statement behind its reasoning, and it's hard to argue with its logic.

Numbers and stats are starting points, but we believe that the Esquire Car of the Year should make you feel something deep in your gut. You should lust for it and dream about it, but it shouldn't be an impossible goal. It must be attainable for the average man. It should sit in front of your house or office without drawing attention to itself and tackle four seasons of day-to-day transportation with ease. Yet crucially, sometimes, without warning, it must make you snatch the keys off the wall, haul off to the country and just drive.

After putting our own butts in the driver's seat, we felt the B8 S4 was a wonderful leap forward over the past B6 and B7 iterations, particularly with the new supercharged V6 and trick torque vectoring sport differential.

Esquire hands out more than just a COTY award as well. The magazine scoured the current crop of automotive excellence and handed out check pluses for: Domestic Car of the Year, Hybrid of the Year, Most Awe-Inspiring Car Built This Year, Compact Car of the Year, Most Beautiful Car of the Year, Truck of the Year, Diesel Car of the Year, Best Foreign Comeback, Best Domestic Comeback and Best Expression of Automotive Passion. Who wins? You're going to have to make the jump to find out. And there's a nice little video of the Audi S4 happily accepting its award.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Audi S4

Photos copyright (C)2009 Damon Lavrinc / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Esquire]

Continue reading Audi S4 named Esquire Car of the Year [w/video]

Audi S4 named Esquire Car of the Year [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Frank Filipponio — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Coupe, Budget, Sedan, Etc., Kia

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.

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Volkswagen Polo named 2010 European Car of the Year

Noah Joseph — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Volkswagen

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.

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Ford Fusion wins Motor Trend Car of the Year award

John Neff — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Ford

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

[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.

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2010 European Car of the Year nominees announced

Noah Joseph — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:20:00 EST

Filed under: Europe

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.

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

Chris Shunk — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:30:00 EST

Filed under: Misc. Auto Shows, Canada

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.

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European jurists announce candidates for 2010 Car of the Year

Noah Joseph — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Europe

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.

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Car and Driver tallies 10 most embarrassing auto award winners

Chris Shunk — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:59:00 EST

Each and every year, the major auto buff mags roll out their "best of" lists. Car of the Year, 10 Best, All-Stars - each publication has a different formula for picking the best of the best, and while we don't like every choice, most are spot-on. There are, however, times when we see a pick and wonder what the editors were drinking when they made their decision. Car and Driver, which has admittedly made its fair share of mistakes, has come up with a list of the 10 worst auto award winners of all time, and we thought it would be fun to share.

A quick look through C&D's bottom 10 shows some serious stinkers. The 1997 Chevy Malibu? The 1983 Renault Alliance? Ouch. How about the 1981 Chevy Citation? Hit the read link below to check out Car and Driver's bottom 10. While you're over there, check out the discrepancy between 10 Best winners and Motor Trend CotY winners. MT made the list six times, while C&D entered the hall of shame with three entries. Then again, C&D were the ones who made the list. Interestingly, they somehow also managed to ignore entries like the 1989 Dodge Colt, the 1994 Eagle Vision, and the 1987 Pontiac Bonneville, but they did ding the Merkur XR4Ti, a pretty entertaining (if odd and poor selling) driver's coupe. Hmmm...

[Source: Car and Driver]

Car and Driver tallies 10 most embarrassing auto award winners originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Etc., Dodge, Ford, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Volkswagen

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

[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.

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Nissan GT-R crowned Motor Trend Car of the Year

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Performance, Etc., Supercars, Nissan

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.

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Opel/Vauxhall Insignia wins European Car of the Year by single point

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:35:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, Contests, Hatchback, Opel, Vauxhall

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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Jury announces finalists for European Car of the Year

Noah Joseph — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:32:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe

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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Motor Trend reveals COTY contenders

Chris Tutor — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising

Motor Trend says on its blog that they are busily putting 17 new or newly redesigned cars through an "exhaustive evaluation process" that will result in 10 finalists for their Car of the Year award. With cars like the BMW 1 Series, Nissan GT-R, Audi A4, Acura TSX and Pontiac G8, we'd have a hard time choosing five more. Wildcards are the Hyundai Genesis, the Mazda6, the Volkswagen CC and the Dodge Challenger.

They'll be competing with the Acura TL, Honda Fit, Jaguar XF, Lincoln MKS, Nissan Maxima, Pontiac Vibe, Toyota Corolla, and the Toyota Matrix.

As a member of the Armchair COTY Comittee, which ones are on your top ten? Is the GT-R a shoe-in or will the Challenger win on pure musclecar charisma? The magazine will announce the winner in its January issue.

[Source: Motor Trend Blog]

Motor Trend reveals COTY contenders originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nominees announced for 2009 European COTY

Noah Joseph — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Etc., Europe

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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Interest in Chevy Malibu sets record for domestic mid-sizer

Chris Shunk — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:56:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet, Honda

The 2008 Chevy Malibu has already taken home some prestigious hardware in the form of the 2008 North American Car of the Year award, and now it seems to be winning over midsize car buyers in an important metric. The Malibu has attracted so many vehicle prospects that, according to compete.com, it has been the most shopped midsize vehicle in the U.S. three months in a row. The Bu's accomplishment is the first time a domestic automaker has ever lead this metric in the hotly contested midsize segment, dusting domestic competition like the Ford Fusion by a 5 to 1 ratio.

Over 236,000 shopped the Malibu in December alone, which is a 247% increase over October, and more than twice the shopping rate than the all new 2008 Honda Accord. The Accord is still winning the actual sales battle at dealerships, and the data shows that nearly 80% of Malibu shoppers are just browsers, as opposed to just over 50% for the Accord. Consider the fact that Chevy's midsize sedan has twice the shopping traffic of the Accord, however, and the Malibu is still attracting a truck load of engaged shoppers. The 2008 Chevy Malibu may be somewhat of an unproven horse in this sales race, but the early data shows that GM has piqued the interest of buyers. Thanks for the tip, Mike!

Gallery: First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu

[Source: Seekingalpha]

Interest in Chevy Malibu sets record for domestic mid-sizer originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat 500 named 2008 European Car of the Year

Noah Joseph — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 15:55:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Fiat

Hot on the heels of the announced winner of EVO's Car of the Year award comes the revelation from the bigger European Car of the Year, which bestowed the citation for 2008 to the impossibly charming Fiat 500. While EVO's, like Motor Trend here, is awarded by one magazine, the European Car of the Year is named by a collection of several major European publications in several different languages from several European countries.

As we reported earlier, the 500 made the short-list of seven finalists from a pool of 33 nominees. Ultimately the retro Italian hatch beat out some stiff competition from Ford (Mondeo), Kia (cee'd), Mazda (2), Mercedes (C-Class), Nissan (Qashqai) and Peugeot (308).

Not only did the 500 take it by a wide margin - 385 points to the runner-up Mazda2's 325 - but the recognition pushes Fiat even further ahead in the annals of the award's history. Fiat itself has won the contest no less than nine times, while its subsidiaries Alfa Romeo and Lancia add another two and one, respectively. Now if they'll only start bring the 500 stateside, it can start racking up the awards here, too.

[Source: Autovisie via Italiaspeed]

Fiat 500 named 2008 European Car of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Nov 2007 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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