Finalists for North American Car of the Year announced at L.A. Auto Show's Automobility

Finalists for 2017 North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) were announced Tuesday at Automobility L.A., the conference that precedes the Los Angeles auto show.

The finalists are:

Car of the Year

• Chevrolet Bolt
• Genesis G90
• Volvo S90

Truck of the Year

• Ford F-series Super Duty
• Honda Ridgeline
• Nissan Titan

Utility Vehicle of the Year

• Chrysler Pacifica
• Jaguar F-Pace
• Mazda CX-9

The North American Car and Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards honor excellence in innovation, design, safety, performance, technology, driver satisfaction and value.  Initiated in 1994, they are judged about 60 professional automotive journalists from the United States and Canada who work for magazines, television, radio, newspapers and web sites. They are the longest-running award not associated with a specific publication, a structure that produces a diverse base of jurors.

Jurors evaluated dozens of new vehicles that went on sale this year to determine the finalists.

The award for Utility Vehicle of the Year is new for 2017, in recognition of the growing popularity of SUV-style vehicles. Passenger-oriented minivans are also eligible for Utility of the Year. Vehicles eligible for Truck of the Year include pickups of all sizes and light- and medium-duty commercial vans.

The 2017 Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the year will be announced Jan. 9 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The process of selecting the Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the year starts in June by identifying vehicles eligible for the awards. It includes three rounds of voting.

The voting for finalists and winners is tallied by Deloitte & Touche.

The finalists were announced at Automobility L.A., the conference that precedes the Los Angeles Auto show. It continues with vehicle unveilings and press conferences Wednesday and Thursday. The Los Angeles auto show is open to the public Nov. 18-27 at the Convention Center in downtown Los Angeles.

For more information, go to: www.northamericancaroftheyear.org

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161115/439366LOGO

SOURCE North American Car of the Year

For further information: Mark Phelan, mmphelan@freepress.com

Honda Civic named North American Car of the Year

Torrance based Honda won North American Car of the Year at this mornings press conference kicking off the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Yes I was there and it's a well deserved award 

Complete photos from my time at NAIAS courtesy Ford Motor Company can be found in a flickr album. 

North American Car of the Year and Truck of the Year announced

North American Auto Show kicks off its Press Days with this Award

Yes, its a big deal.  The Automotive Press as a group vote on the candidates and that is how this award is given  North American Car of the Year, North American Truck of the Year awards carry much more weight than those awards given by individual media outlets.  Its collaborative, it doesn't involve just one outlets views or voice.

Volkswagen's GTI was the Winner of the North American Car of the Year.  No surprise, contrary to the popular belief 'muricans don't like hatchbacks.  We do, especially hot hatches that act and perform as leaders of the pack on the freeway or carving up a canyon, not some slouch poor excuse of a station wagon.  GTI does that, and does it very well at a price we can afford.  Nice job VW.  More pics of the GTI at the end of the article.

Truck of the Year was no surprise to me.  I recently reviewed it and was amazed on its refinement, almost luxury car build and feel than a truck.  Yes, its the Ford F-150.  Congrats Ford, you earned this one.  Innovation that works always is a winner.

Special thanks to my friend and CEO of 8 Asians, Joz, who provided me with the video clip of the F-150 being named North American Truck of the Year.  She was able to attend that ceremony as I was occupied elsewhere with my hosts for the event.

More pics of the NAIAS can be found in my flickr album.