2010 North American Car and Truck of the Year Finalists Announced
Given out exclusively by automotive journalists from the U.S. and Canada, there are 16 cars nominated for the North American Car of the Year and 10 trucks nominated for the North American Truck of the Year.
A jury of 49 veteran automotive journalists has selected the Buick LaCrosse, Ford Fusion Hybrid and Volkswagen Golf/GTI as finalists for North American Car of the Year and the Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Transit Connect and Subaru Outback as finalists for North American Truck of the Year.
The awards are unique in the United States because they are given by automotive journalists from the United States and Canada who represent magazines, television, radio, newspapers and Web sites, instead of being given by a single media outlet.
The awards are designed to recognize the most outstanding vehicles of the year based on factors that include innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.
To be eligible, vehicles must be "all-new" or "substantially changed" from the previous model. This year the jury considered more than 50 vehicles and finally focused on 16 cars and 10 trucks.
The 17th annual awards will take place Jan. 11 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The finalists include:
2010 North American Car of the Year nominees
BMW 335d
Buick LaCrosse
Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon
Chevrolet Camaro
Ford Fusion
Ford Fusion Hybrid
Ford Taurus/Taurus SHO
Honda Insight
Kia Soul
Mazda3/MazdaSpeed3
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Porsche Panamera
Subaru Legacy
Suzuki Kizashi
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Golf/GTI/TDI
2010 North American Truck of the Year nominees:
Acura ZDX
Audi Q5
Cadillac SRX
Chevrolet Equinox
Ford Transit Connect
Honda Accord Crosstour
Land Rover LR4
Lincoln MKT
Subaru Outback
Volvo XC60
More information on the awards is available at www.northamericancaroftheyear.org.
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