- Motor Trend Car of the Year
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The Motor Trend Car of the Year is an award given by Motor Trend magazine, an American monthly that is published since 1949.
Trophy awarded to the winners of the Motor Trend Car of the Year. Shown the 2010 trophy won by the Ford Fusion.
Contents
Background
Motor Trend magazine, an automobile enthusiast publication that debuted in 1949, was the first to name a Car of the Year in its inaugural year.[1] Since then, the designation has been used to distinguish a variety of vehicles as evaluated by numerous other groups and organizations.[1]
Motor Trend's first award went to Cadillac in 1949 for its V8 engine models[2] (the earliest awards were given to the manufacturer, not to a specific vehicle). It has since expanded the award category to include the pickup truck and sport utility vehicle (SUV) of the year, awarding these separately from the Car of the Year. Until 1999, the award was only eligible to American-made cars; imports had their own category, the Import of the Year. The rationale for the combination was explained by editor Angus Mackenzie as "because it's so hard to say that, for example, a Toyota Camry, built in Kentucky and designed in California, is less American than a Ford that may have been built in Canada or Mexico and designed in Europe."[citation needed] Since the combination of the awards, American cars have won the award seven times, and imports have won five times.
Motor Trend's Car of the Year is "one of the most prestigious honors bestowed in the auto industry."[3] The trophy for the winner, a depiction of calipers, is often used in the winning automaker's marketing and advertising.[4][5] Most cars that win the award report a spike in sales.[6][7] However, receiving the Motor Trend magazine's recognition is no guarantee of success. This was the case of the nostalgic 2002 Ford Thunderbird, which did not meet expectations and was pulled from the market three years later.[8]
To be eligible for the award, a car must be an "all-new" or "substantially upgraded" vehicle that has been on sale within 12 months from the previous November, vehicles that have been on sale for over five years are ineligible for the award).[9] In recent years, each contender is ranked in the following three areas: superiority, significance, and value.[9] It is not a comparison test.[9]
Vehicles are subjected a battery of tests: standard car tests such as skid-pad ratings, acceleration and quarter-mile times, and evaluations of the interiors are combined with a track run conducted by SCCA-licensed testers and taking the cars out on normal roads to test their drivability under normal conditions, and fuel economy. Trucks and SUVs add towing capacity and speed, plus an off-road course, to the normal regimen.
Car of the Year
- 2012 Volkswagen Passat
- 2011 Chevrolet Volt[10]
- 2010 Ford Fusion[11]
- 2009 Nissan GT-R
- 2008 Cadillac CTS
- 2007 Toyota Camry
- 2006 Honda Civic
- 2005 Chrysler 300
- 2004 Toyota Prius
- 2003 Infiniti G35
- 2002 Ford Thunderbird
- 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
- 2000 Lincoln LS
- 1999 Chrysler 300M
- 1998 Chevrolet Corvette
- 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
- 1996 Dodge Caravan
- 1995 Chrysler Cirrus
- 1994 Ford Mustang
- 1993 Ford Probe GT
- 1992 Cadillac Seville Touring Sedan
- 1991 Chevrolet Caprice Classic LTZ
- 1990 Lincoln Town Car
- 1989 Ford Thunderbird SC
- 1988 Pontiac Grand Prix
- 1987 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
- 1986 Ford Taurus LX
- 1985 Volkswagen GTI (eligible due to it being built in VW's now-defunct Pennsylvania plant)
- 1984 Chevrolet Corvette
- 1983 AMC / Renault Alliance
- 1982 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
- 1981 Chrysler K Cars, Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant
- 1980 Chevrolet Citation
- 1979 Buick Riviera S
- 1978 Chrysler, Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon
- 1977 Chevrolet Caprice
- 1976 Chrysler, Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volare
- 1975 Chevrolet Monza 2+2
- 1974 Ford Mustang II
- 1973 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
- 1972 Citroën SM (an imported vehicle that was selected overall "Car of the Year")
- 1971 Chevrolet Vega
- 1970 Ford Torino
- 1969 Plymouth Road Runner
- 1968 Pontiac GTO
- 1967 Mercury Cougar
- 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado
- 1965 Pontiac Motor Division
- 1964 Ford Motor Company (not for the Mustang)
- 1963 American Motors (AMC) Rambler (all models: American, Classic, and Ambassador)
- 1962 Buick Special
- 1961 Pontiac Tempest
- 1960 Chevrolet Corvair
- 1959 Pontiac Motor Division
- 1958 Ford Thunderbird
- 1957 Chrysler Corporation (all makes: Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, Chrysler, and Imperial)
- 1956 Ford Motor Company
- 1955 Chevrolet Motor Division
- 1954 No award
- 1953 No award
- 1952 Cadillac Motor Division
- 1951 Chrysler Corporation
- 1950 No award
- 1949 Cadillac Motor Division
Import Car of the Year
Introduced in 1970 for one year and then brought back in 1976 due to distinguishing differences between imports and American cars, was discontinued after the 1999 model year when the line between what is truly American and what isn't became very blurry.
- 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
- 1998 Lexus GS
- 1997 BMW 5-Series
- 1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
- 1995 Nissan Maxima
- 1994 Honda Accord
- 1993 Mazda RX-7
- 1992 Lexus SC 400
- 1991 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4
- 1990 Nissan 300ZX Turbo
- 1989 Mitsubishi Galant GS
- 1988 Honda CRX Si
- 1987 Acura Legend Coupe
- 1986 Mazda RX-7
- 1985 Toyota MR2
- 1984 Honda Civic CRX
- 1983 Mazda 626
- 1982 Toyota Celica Supra
- 1981 Mercedes-Benz 300SD
- 1980 Honda Civic
- 1979 Datsun 280ZX
- 1978 Toyota Celica
- 1977 Mercedes-Benz 280E
- 1976 Toyota Celica Liftback
- 1971-1975 no award
- 1970 Porsche 914
Truck of the Year
- 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD [12]
- 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty [13]
- 2009 Ford F-150
- 2008 Toyota Tundra
- 2007 Chevrolet Silverado
- 2006 Honda Ridgeline
- 2005 Toyota Tacoma
- 2004 Ford F-150
- 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty
- 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
- 2001 Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty
- 2000 Toyota Tundra
- 1999 Chevrolet Silverado
- 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
- 1997 Ford F-150
- 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe
- 1995 Chevrolet Blazer
- 1994 Dodge Ram
- 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee
- 1992 Ford Van Chateau Club Wagon
- 1991 Mazda Navajo
- 1990 Ford Aerostar
- 1989 Toyota Truck Xtracab SR5
- 1980-1988 No award
- 1979 Chevrolet LUV
Sport/Utility of the Year
- 2012 Range Rover Evoque
- 2011 Porsche Cayenne
- 2010 Subaru Outback
- 2009 Subaru Forester
- 2008 Mazda CX-9
- 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
- 2006 Nissan Xterra
- 2005 Land Rover LR3
- 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
- 2003 Volvo XC90
- 2002 GMC Envoy
- 2001 Acura MDX
- 2000 Nissan Xterra
- 1999 Lexus RX300
Car of the Year in China
Motor Trend magazine's China-market cousin, Auto Club-Motor Trend, also issues a "Car of the Year" award for that market.
Car of the Year
- 2011:Bmw-Brilliance 5 Series（Long wheel base)
- 2010:Shanghai-GM Buick Regal
- 2009:GAC-Honda Accord
- 2008:FAW-Volkswagen Magotan（Passat B6）
- 2007:GAC-Toyota Camry
- 2006:FAW-Toyota Crown
- 2005:Changan-Ford Mondeo
- 2004:FAW-Mazda 6
- 2003:Shanghai Volkswagen Polo
SUV of the Year
- 2011:FAW-Volkswagen Audi Q5
- 2010:GAC-Toyota Highlander
- 2009:Dongfeng-Nissan X-Trail
- 2008:[GAC-Honda] CRV
- 2007:countermand
- 2006:Shanghai GM SRX
- 2005:[GAC-Honda] CRV
- 2004:Changfeng Automobile Liebao Feiteng
References
- ^ a b "You Auto Know: Silver Arrows and backwards riding". National Post. 2010-02-05. http://www.nationalpost.com/related/links/story.html?id=2524027. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
- ^ Mueller, Mike (2006). American Horsepower: 100 Years of Great Car Engines. MotorBooks/MBI Publishing. p. 79. ISBN 9780760323274. http://books.google.com/books?id=69qYnoohrMYC&pg=PA79&dq=1949+Motor+trend+car+of+the+year+award. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
- ^ Fifty years of Motor Trend. MotorBooks/MBI Publishing. 1999. ISBN 9780760307816.
- ^ Fombrun, Charles J. (1996). Reputation: Realizing Value from the Corporate Image. Harvard Business Press. p. 172. ISBN 9780875846330. http://books.google.com/books?id=m_4Cbz5f5uUC&pg=PA172&dq=pay+close+attention+to+Motor+Trend+car+of+the+year+award. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
- ^ "Rambler wins 1963 Motor Trend "Car of the Year" award". Life 54 (10): 105. March 8, 1963. http://books.google.com/books?id=oU8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA105&dq=Motor+Trend+car+of+the+year+Rambler. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
- ^ Dudley, Kathryn Marie (1997). The End of the Line: Lost Jobs, New Lives in Postindustrial America. University of Chicago Press. p. 11. ISBN 9780226169101. http://books.google.com/books?id=1YVxDd3FHsQC&pg=PA11&dq=Motor+Trend+car+of+the+year+boost+sales. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
- ^ Hyde, Charles K. (2003). Riding the Roller Coaster: A History of the Chrysler Corporation. Wayne State University Press. p. 214. ISBN 9780814330913. http://books.google.com/books?id=aQhTq18vi7AC&pg=PA214&dq=Motor+Trend+car+of+the+year+boost+sales. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
- ^ Tast, Alan; Newhardt, David (2004). Thunderbird Fifty Years. MotorBooks/MBI Publishing. p. 183. ISBN 9780760319765. http://books.google.com/books?id=fvT4L6Kb78IC&pg=PA183&dq=Motor+Trend+car+of+the+year+Thunderbird+sales. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
- ^ a b c "2009 Motor Trend Car of the Year: The Contenders are revealed, what's your pick?". Motor Trend Blogs. 2008-09-25. http://blogs.motortrend.com/6301350/car-of-the-year/2009-motor-trend-car-of-the-year-the-contenders-are-revealed-whats-your-pick/index.html. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
- ^ Angus MacKenzie. "2011 Motor Trend Car of the Year: Chevrolet Volt". Motor Trend. http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/car/1101_2011_motor_trend_car_of_the_year_chevrolet_volt/index.html. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- ^ "Motor Trend Names Ford Fusion 2010 Car of the Year(R)". Marketwire.com. http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Motor-Trend-1078146.html. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
- ^ "2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD named Motor Trend Truck of the Year". CheersandGears.com. http://www.cheersandgears.com/topic/73824-2011-chevrolet-silverado-hd-named-motor-trend-truck-of-the-year/. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
- ^ "2010 Ram Heavy Duty - 2010 Motor Trend Truck of the Year". Motor Trend. 2007-02-26. http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/truck/112_1002_2010_motor_trend_truck_of_the_year_winner_ram_heavy_duty/index.html. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
Categories:- Automobile awards
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