Hyundai has proven to be a major contender amongst brands that have previously dominated the automotive market on American soil. It has been rather evident in many of our previous test drive reviews of Hyundai vehicles that their cars stand out from the traditional crowd in a good way which is why the Hyundai Elantra has been named the 2012 North American Car of the Year.

The Hyundai Elantra, in its 5^th generation, receives premium treatment rivaling that of midsized sedans wrapped up in a 40 mpg package at an excellent price point. Up against the other two finalists, the Volkswagen Passat and Ford Focus, the Hyundai Elantra takes home the win this year praised for its high-class interior, innovative styling and class-leading fuel consumption for both the manual and automatic transmission choices.

Last year’s winning choice for North American Car of the Year was the Chevrolet Volt.

The process of selection is from a panel made up of 50 accredited automotive journalists from around the United States and Canada.

Do you have any thoughts on the selection of the new Hyundai Elantra as the North American Car of the Year?

The 2012 Ford Focus, North American Car of the Year finalist. Image: Ford Motor Comapny

Each year, a panel of automotive journalists picks the one car (and one truck) that stands out above the rest of the herd in North America. Unlike awards given by individual media outlets, the NACTOY award is significant because it’s based on the consensus of 50 different viewpoints. To be considered, a vehicle must be all-new or substantially revised from a former model, must go on sale shortly after the announcement of the award and must have projected annual sales of 5,000 units for cars or 2,000 units for trucks.

From a list of 17 candidate automobiles, this year’s jury has selected the Ford Focus, the Hyundai Elantra and Volkswagen Passat as finalists for the North American Car of the Year. In the Truck category, finalists are the BMW X3, the Honda CR-V and the Range Rover Evoque. Final selections will be announced during the Detroit Auto Show, where the awards will be presented.

This year’s car list contained some interesting choices. Why the judges picked the Hyundai Elantra over the far-less-conventional Hyundai Veloster is beyond us, and we also have no idea why the new Passat beat out the new Beetle. In the truck category, pickings were somewhat slim, and we’re still scratching our heads over how the Mini Countryman made the truck list.

In retrospect, a glance at the eligible candidates shows that 2012 wasn’t a great year for new cars or new trucks. Let’s hope that 2013 brings a bit more innovation in terms of automotive design and engineering.

North American Car of the Year Finalists:
Audi A6
Audi A7
Buick Verano
Chevrolet Sonic
Chrysler 300/SRT-8
Fiat 500
Ford Focus
Hyundai Accent
Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai Veloster
Kia Rio/Rio 5
Scion iQ
Subaru Impreza
Toyota Camry
Toyota Prius V
VW Beetle
VW Passat

North American Truck of the Year Finalists:
BMW X3
Honda CR-V
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Mini Countryman
Nissan Quest
Saab 9-4X

Ever have one of those “WTF” kinda days? Well, that would be me today after I get the announcement for one of the winners of 2010 North American Car & Truck of the Year. Enough about me, the winners are the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and the 2010 Ford Transit Connect.

Last year I was cool with the decision to crown the Hyundai Genesis and Ford F-150 as I was in previous years. Okay, great, excellent vehicles. My only gripe this year would be the Ford Transit Connect. Maybe I am a bit biased about the “common” cars that I see on the road in the United States of America. I am just a little shocked, that’s all.

2010 North American Car of the Year finalists:

• Buick LaCrosse
• Ford Fusion Hybrid
• Volkswagen Golf

2010 North American Truck of the Year finalists:

• Chevrolet Equinox
• Ford Transit Connect
• Subaru Outback

The winner for the North American car of the Year is great in my opinion. I am all for the new Fusion and not to mention the new Ford Sync system you can get in the new Fusion, it is just awesome. But you are probably not too concerned about what I think. I want to know what YOU think. Post your comments below!

Press Release

FORD SWEEPS N.A. CAR AND TRUCK OF THE YEAR AWARDS

* Ford swept the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards today at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), winning both prestigious awards for the
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and the 2010 Ford Transit Connect, respectively
* It is the third time in 17 years that one manufacturer has won both awards
* The Ford Fusion Hybrid is America’s most fuel-efficient midsize sedan with an EPA-estimated 41 mpg rating in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, topping the Toyota Camry hybrid by 8 mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway
* The Transit Connect is an industry-exclusive vehicle developed to be a smart new choice for small business owners; it offers double the fuel economy of full-size vans, generous and accessible cargo space, and the agility and maneuverability to operate in crowded urban areas

DETROIT, Jan. 11, 2010 – Ford Motor Company scored a historic doubleheader today, capturing both the North American Car of the Year and North American Truck of the Year awards for the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and 2010 Ford Transit Connect, respectively, at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). It is only the third time in 17 years that one manufacturer has won both titles.

“Winning both of these prestigious awards is confirmation that the ONE Ford plan is working, delivering industry-leading products for our customers,” said Mark Fields, president of
The Americas.

The North American Car and Truck of the Year awards recognize vehicles based on factors including innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar. A jury of 49 automotive journalists in the United States and Canada vote for the vehicles, which must be “all-new” or “substantially changed” from the previous model to qualify for the award.

The Fusion Hybrid edged out finalists including the Buick LaCrosse and Volkswagen Golf/GTI to win the North American Car of the Year award. It is the fourth hybrid vehicle in 17 years to win recognition as North American Car (or Truck) of the Year. It also is the second hybrid win for Ford – the most hybrid wins for any automaker. The Ford Escape Hybrid was named North American Truck of the Year in 2005.

The Transit Connect bested finalists including the Chevrolet Equinox and Subaru Outback to win the North American Truck of the Year award. It is the sixth Ford truck to win the award – the most wins of any automaker in the 17-year history of the awards program. It also is the second year in a row that Ford has captured the title. Last year, top honors went to the 2009 Ford F-150.

Fusion Hybrid a winner out of the gate
The North American Car of the Year award is the latest in an impressive string of awards and accolades for the Fusion Hybrid. Most recently, the vehicle was honored as CAR and DRIVER Magazine’s “10Best” Cars for 2010, one of AUTOMOBILE Magazine’s 2010 All-Stars, and the entire Fusion lineup captured the acclaimed MOTOR TREND Car of the Year® award.

The all-new Fusion Hybrid arrived in dealers in March, complete with a powertrain system that combines the best attributes of the gasoline engine and electric battery-driven motors to deliver the optimal experience for the customer in terms of driving performance and fuel economy.
The Fusion Hybrid also offers drivers a way to be more connected to the hybrid driving experience thanks to Ford’s SmartGauge™ with EcoGuide, a unique instrument cluster execution that helps coach them on how to optimize the performance of their hybrid.

Other class-exclusive technologies and features that set the Fusion Hybrid apart from the competition include Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®), Ford SYNC®, SIRIUS Travel Link™ and more total passenger and luggage capacity than the Toyota Camry.

Despite the slump in overall industry sales, 2009 was a record-breaking year for the Ford Fusion. Sales are at an all-time high, with the Fusion Hybrid accounting for almost 20 percent of total Fusion retail sales. Perhaps even more significant, more than 60 percent of Fusion Hybrid sales have been to customers coming from import brands – mostly Toyota and Honda.

Awards and accolades for the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid include:

* MOTOR TREND Car of the Year Award
* One of CAR and DRIVER Magazine’s “10Best” Cars for 2010
* One of AUTOMOBILE Magazine’s 2010 All-Stars
* 2009 “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
* 2009 Ward’s Interior of the Year Special Achievement Award for Best Graphic Display for SmartGauge with EcoGuide digital instrument cluster
* Great Car for the Long-haul Salesman by Kelley Blue Book kbb.com
* One of America’s Top 40 New Cars by MOTOR TREND magazine
* Rated the No. 1 Hybrid Family Sedan by CAR and DRIVER in a recent comparison test by the magazine
* 2009 and 2010 Editors Choice for Fuel Sipper by CAR and DRIVER Magazine
* Best Hybrid for the Money in the Midsize Car segment by cars.com
* One of 2009 Top 10 Green Cars by Kelley Blue Book kbb.com
* The Detroit News Readers’ Choice Award for “Best Value”
* 2010 Consumers Digest Best Buy
* Detroit Free Press 2010 Car of the Year
* 2010 Most Environmentally Progressive Car of the Year by Earth, Wind & Power
* 10 Best Engine by Ward’s Auto World

The 2010 Fusion Hybrid is built at Ford’s Hermosillo (Mexico) Stamping and Assembly Plant.

Transit Connect fills unmet needs of small businesses and fleets
The Transit Connect was brought to the U.S. to fulfill the unmet needs of small business owners and entrepreneurs, offering them a new vehicle choice with significantly improved fuel economy, generous and accessible cargo space, and the agility and maneuverability to operate in crowded urban areas.

Powered by a 2.0-liter I-4 engine with a four-speed automatic overdrive transmission, the
Transit Connect offers double the fuel economy of full-size vans, delivering an EPA-estimated 22 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.

The Transit Connect also has more than double the cargo-carrying capacity of the Chevrolet HHR Panel, making it suitable for a broader range of commercial-use applications. And it offers commercial users a cargo payload of up to 1,600 pounds – a larger payload than the full-size Dodge Ram 1500 standard-cab short-box pickup truck.

The Transit Connect also is available with the industry-exclusive Ford Work Solutions™, a suite of affordable technologies that provides customers with connectivity, flexibility, visibility and security to better run key aspects of their business.

On Transit Connect, Ford Work Solutions delivers three innovative features:

* A wireless in-dash computer that provides full high-speed Internet access, Bluetooth-enabled hands-free calling and navigation. The system also allows customers to print invoices, check inventories and access documents stored on their home or office computer networks right on the job site.
* Tool Link™, a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) asset tracking system that enables customers to maintain detailed real-time inventory of the tools or equipment.
* Crew Chief™, a fleet tracking, telematics and diagnostics system that provides dynamic location and performance data fleet owners need to more efficiently manage their vehicles, quickly dispatch workers to job sites, monitor driver performance for safety and economy, and keep detailed vehicle maintenance records.

Awards and accolades for the 2010 Ford Transit Connect include:

* 2010 Editors Choice for Vans by CAR and DRIVER Magazine
* Detroit Free Press 2010 Truck of the Year
* The Detroit News 2010 Truck of the Year
* 2010 Popular Mechanics Automotive Excellence Award for Best Workhorse Vehicle
* A Great Car for the Small Business Delivery/Utility Worker by Kelley Blue Book kbb.com

The 2010 Ford Transit Connect is built at the Ford Otosan Kocaeli Plant in Kocaeli, Turkey.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 200,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

It is about time dealerships roll out all new 2010 models onto their lots. The new 2010 models are here and the battle is on for the pick of the 2010 North American Car Of The Year. Hyundai was able to win the crown in 2009 for its Hyundai Genesis’ new design sweeping the competition. Now, it is someone else’s turn. Who will it be?

Below is a short list of potential 2010 North American Car Of The Year winner including those that didn’t make the short list at all.

The 2010 North American Car of the Year Short List:

• BMW 335d
• Buick LaCrosse
• Cadillac CTS
• Chevrolet Camaro
• Ford Fusion/Fusion Hybrid
• Ford Taurus
• Honda Insight
• Kia Soul
• Mazda3/MazdaSpeed3
• Mercedes-Benz E-Class
• Porsche Panamera
• Subaru Legacy
• Suzuki Kizashi
• Toyota Prius
• Volkswagen Golf/GTI

The 2010 North American Truck of the Year Short List:

• Acura ZDX
• Audi Q5
• Cadillac SRX
• Chevrolet Equinox
• Ford Transit Connect
• Honda Crosstour
• Land Rover LR4
• Lincoln MKT
• Subaru Outback
• Volvo XC60

Cars that didn’t make the short list:

• Audi S4
• BMW Z4
• BMW 5-series GT
• Ford Mustang/GT500
• Hyundai Genesis Coupe
• Hyundai Elantra Touring
• Jaguar XFR
• Kia Forte
• Lexus HS 250h
• Lexus IS 250/350 C
• Nissan Cube
• Nissan 370Z

Trucks that didn’t make the short list:

• BMW X5 xDrive35d
• Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid
• GMC Terrain
• GMC Sierra Hybrid
• Lexus RX350/450h
• Toyota 4Runner
• Volkswagen Touareg V-6 TDI

Make your selection now and post it in the comments below.

The launch of the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit starts off with the announcement of the North American Car and Truck of the Year. Making it to the finish line, the Hyundai Genesis and Ford F-150 were just named as the North American Car and Truck of the Year for 2009.

The awards were selected in part of being “the most outstanding vehicles of the year based on factors that include innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.” For a shot at the title, eligible vehicles must be “all-new” or “substantially changed”.

Ford must be very happy to hear this in being one of America’s Big 3 that has been in the news for the past several months in talks about THE BAILOUT. Hyundai has to be very proud of the major accomplishments over the past few years in jumping over hurdles that were owned by foreign car makers such as Toyota and Honda. With the new accomplishments we can look forward to everyone else catching their breath in the ultimate automotive race as we embark on a new technologies to carry us into the fuel efficient future.

Press Release on the Hyundai Genesis and Ford F-150 Winning North American Car and Truck of the Year below after the jump…

News Release Issued: January 11, 2009 10:33 AM EST

2009 North American Car and Truck of the Year Winners Announced

DETROIT, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ — A jury of 50 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada has selected the Hyundai Genesis as the 2009 North American Car of the Year and the Ford F-150 as the 2009 North American Truck of the Year.

The awards are designed to recognize the most outstanding new vehicles in their segments.

The awards are based on factors that include innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar. Because the vehicles are new, reliability is not a factor.

The awards are unique in the United States because they are given by automotive journalists who represent magazines, television, radio, newspapers and web sites instead of a single publication. Also, unlike some other awards, the awards are financed entirely by the jurors.

The winners were announced today at a news conference at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, however, the show does not give the awards and the voting does not take place there.

In December the top three cars and trucks were announced. The car finalists were the Ford Flex, Hyundai Genesis and the Volkswagen Jetta TDI.
The truck finalists were the Dodge Ram, the Ford F-150 and the Mercedes-Benz ML320 BlueTEC.

The Genesis received 189 points, the Flex received 180 and the Jetta TDI received 131.

The F-150 received 259 points, the Ram received 167 points and the Mercedes received 74 points.

The awards were first given in 1994.

Today was the first time a Korean automaker has won.

Today was the fifth time Ford has won the North American Truck of the Year and the third win for the F-150. The other winners were the Expedition and Escape Hybrid.

To be eligible, vehicles must be “all-new” or “substantially changed”
from the previous model. This year the jury considered more than fifty 2009 vehicles and settled on 14 cars and 11 trucks that deserved to be on the ballot.

Michelle Collins, Vice Chairman Automotive at Deloitte & Touche, was responsible for counting the ballots, which jurors sent directly to the accounting firm. Until the news conference Ms. Collins was the only person who knew the winners.

Last year the North American Car of the Year was the Chevrolet Malibu and the North American Truck of the Year was the Mazda CX-9.

Excluding today:

* Hybrids have been honored twice.

* Domestic automakers have won North American Car of the Year eight times.
Japanese automakers have won three times. European automakers have won
four times. A Korean automaker has never won.

* Domestic automakers have won North American Truck of the Year nine
times. Japanese automakers have won four times. European automakers have
won twice. A Korean automaker has never won.

Here are the vehicles on which the jurors voted:

2009 North American Car of the Year nominees

Audi A4

BMW 1 Series

Cadillac CTS-V

Dodge Challenger

Ford Flex

Honda Fit

Hyundai Genesis

Jaguar XF

Lincoln MKS

Mazda 6

Nissan GT-R

Pontiac G8

Toyota Venza

Volkswagen Jetta TDI

2009 North American Truck of the Year nominees

BMW X6

Chevrolet Traverse

Dodge Ram

Ford F-150

Honda Pilot

Infiniti FX35/50

Kia Borrego

Mercedes-Benz ML320 BlueTEC

Nissan Murano

Subaru Forester

Volkswagen Tiguan

More information on the awards — including the names of jurors as well as previous finalists and winners — is available at:
www.northamericancaroftheyear.org.

SOURCE: North American Car and Truck of the Year Organizing Committee

Web site: http://www.northamericancaroftheyear.org/