12-20-2008, 12:44 PM
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Scooby Guru
Member#: 73805
Join Date: Nov 2004
Vehicle:24 TypeS ZO6 White
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Finalists for the 2009 North American Car of the Year and Truck of the Year awards an
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A couple of European car manufacturers, a couple of domestics and, for the first time, a Korean car manufacturer compose the six final contenders for the North American Car of the Year and the North American Truck of the Year awards, it was made public today.
Two of the six cars are fresh, clean diesels that can be vended in all 50 states. This is the first time in 16 years that a diesel-propelled vehicle has been a finalist. A group of 50 car reporters selected the Ford Flex, Hyundai Genesis and Volkswagen Jetta TDI as finalists for the 2009 North American Car of the Year.
And for the 2009 North American Truck of the Year, the finalists are the Dodge Ram, Ford F-150 and Mercedes-Benz ML320 BlueTEC. The awards are special in the US because, rather than being given by a single publication, they are given by 50 automotive journalists from the US and Canada who represent magazines, television, radio, newspapers and internet sites.
The awards are intended to distinguish the most exceptional cars of the year according to factors that include innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and dollar value.
To be qualified, cars must be “all-new” or “substantially changed” from the preceding version. This year the panel of judges considered in excess of 50 vehicles and concluded with 14 cars and 11 trucks that is worthy to be on the ballot. Michelle Collins, Vice Chairman Automotive at Deloitte & Touche, was responsible for counting the ballots, which judges sent directly to the accounting firm.
The final contenders were announced today at a news conference during a banquet held by the Detroit Economic Club and the North American International Auto Show. Now the judges start a second series of voting. In this second instance they will vote on the final three cars and three trucks. Like the first round of voting, those ballots go straight to Ms. Collins at Deloitte.
Ms. Collins will be the sole person who knows the winners, which will be made public on January 11th at the North American International Auto Show next year. Even though the winners are revealed at a news conference at the North American International Auto Show, the show itself does not give the awards. Chevrolet Malibu won the North American Car of the Year award and the Mazda CX-9 got the North American Truck of the Year award.
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