Awards season is finally winding down with the 2010 World Car of the Year and World Performance Car of the Year being handed out this morning at the 2010 New York Auto Show. After whittling the fields down to three finalists in each category, the panel of 59 international journalists voted one last time to crown the World Car of the Year.
While the Toyota Prius, Volkswagen Polo and Mercedes-Benz E-Class were nominated, it was the Polo that took home the gold for 2010 World Car of the Year.
On the performance vehicle front, the nominees were the Audi R8 V10, Porsche 911 GT3 and Ferrari California, with the Audi winning top honors.
They also handed out a Design award for a group of finalists including the Citroen C3 Picasso, Kia Soul and Chevrolet Camaro. That honor went to the Camaro. (U-S-A! U-S-A!)
The Green category saw Volkswagen's line of diesel-powered BlueMotion vehicles beat out the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight hybrids
Mouse over the clock in the lower right-hand corner of your PC. Alternatively, if you're a Mac user, look at the little iCal widget down at the bottom of your screen. Whoa, look at that! It's 2010. January 6th, to be exact. And that means the final sales tallies of all automakers for the year-that-was are in. As you may have noticed yesterday, none but Subaru, Kia and Hyundai are likely to be entirely pleased with their YTD performances, falling as they did compared to sales in 2008.
Wouldn't you know, though, that not one of those three upwardly trending automakers earned a single spot on the Top 10 Best Selling Vehicles chart? To see a Korean automobile on the list, you need to expand the search to the Top 17. This fact reminds us yet again that by and large the American population tends to be a rather predictable bunch.
Think you can guess what the best-selling vehicle of 2009 was? We won't lie... you probably can. In fact, it's been the same vehicle for the past 28 years straight
[Source: Examiner.com]
Top 20 Best-Selling Vehicles of 2009
First, let's get numbers 20–11 out of the way. There are a couple of interesting highlights, such as the Chevrolet Impala, which drops four spots from 2008 down to number 12 as its Bowtie sedan stablemate, the Malibu, jumps in at number 13. We also see the Toyota Prius at number 16, falling just shy of 150,000 units sold in 2009. Finally, note the GMC Sierra at number 18. Interestingly, when the Sierra's 111,842 sales are added to its Silverado sibling from Chevrolet, that platform outsells the Ford F-150 rather handily. As you'll soon see, though, Ford does indeed have the last laugh once all full-size truck sales are counted.
For the past 30 years, Japan has declared a car of the year, an award given to newly released or redesigned vehicles released from November 1st of the previous year to October 1st of the current year. More than 60 jurors composed of Japanese journalists receive an allocation of votes, and the car with the most votes comes away with the crown.
This year the Toyota Prius narrowly edged out the Honda Insight, continuing the recent trend of environmentally-friendly winners. Other notable winners included the new Volkswagen Golf, which was named the Import Car of the Year, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, which was declared to have the Most Advanced Technology. The Nissan Fairlady Z won the category of Most Fun, and finally the Subaru Legacy took top honors for Best Value.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the award, the Tokyo Motor Show also organized a display of past winners, starting with the Mazda Familia 3-door Hatch Back in 1980-1981 and finishing with last year's winner, the Toyota IQ.
There's a lot of competition to be seen as the world's greenest automaker – just look at the branding efforts surrounding the Toyota Prius or the Chevrolet Volt for examples – but if you look at the way an automaker designs, builds and recycles its products, then BMW is the top dog.
At least that's the case if you're consulting the Dow Jones Sustainability Index World, which has declared BMW Group to be the "most sustainable automobile company worldwide." If this sounds familiar to you, well, perhaps you were reading the site last year – or perhaps it's because BMW has won the title for five years in a row now. In fact, BMW reminds us it is the only automaker that has been listed on the Index since it was created in 1999. Guess the DJSI likes BMW's responsibility – the Germans call it Verantwortung – a lot.
[Source: BMW]
PRESS RELEASE:
BMW Group named most sustainable automobile company worldwide for fifth consecutive year. The latest Dow Jones Sustainability Index World once again ranks the BMW Group as super sector leader. * 04.09.2009
Munich. The SAM Group today published its latest evaluation for the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI). For the fifth consecutive year, it rated the BMW Group as the leader in its industry, making it the world's most sustainable automobile manufacturer. The BMW Group is the only company in the automobile industry to have been listed in this important sustainability index family every year since it was established in 1999.
"We are delighted that the BMW Group is super sector leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index World for the fifth consecutive year.This proves once again that we are well on our way to establishing sustainability as the guiding principle for all our processes. We refined our sustainability strategy in the first half of 2009 – this was the next logical step and another important milestone," said Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG.
The Board of Management of the BMW Group declared sustainability one of the company's core strategic principles back in 2000. At the BMW Group corporate sustainability is firmly entrenched throughout the entire value chain: from the development of fuel-saving and alternative vehicle concepts through clean production processes to green recycling practices. The BMW Group also accepts responsibility for its roughly 100,000 employees and is involved in social projects outside of its plants.
In recent months the BMW Group has taken further important steps towards further improving sustainability. Each and every proposal today is measured against the corporate goal of sustainability. At the highest management level a Sustainability Board was established in summer 2009. This board, which comprises the entire Board of Management, determines the strategic alignment for sustainability issues. Twice a year it meets to discuss and adopt the strategies and activities proposed at operational level.
Further information on BMW Group's sustainability activities are available at: www.bmwgroup.com/responsibility
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The SAM Group analyses the economic, environmental and social performance of approximately 2,500 companies and selects the best in each industry for the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes. General sustainability criteria are considered as well as industry-specific challenges such as climate change. The Dow Jones Sustainability Index was the first global sustainability index to be created, in 1999, and has since been published each year by the SAM Group, based in Zurich, in cooperation with Dow Jones Indexes and STOXX Limited. More information is available at www.sustainability-indexes.com
When the Hyundai Genesis Sedan hit the scene, it was hard to know exactly what to think of the handsome-if-anonymous looking luxury intender. After all, Hyundai hadn't ever had a presence in our luxury car market, and attributes like rear-wheel drive and V8 engines weren't exactly a Hyundai staple. Over the past year, however, the Genesis' well-judged appointments and recession-friendly pricing Genesis Sedan won us over, and our contemporaries in the motoring press seem to feel the same way.
Hyundai says that the Genesis Sedan's considerable trophy case makes it the most awarded car of 2009 – and since we have no methodology by which to cross-checking such a high-falutin' claim (scientific or otherwise) we're going to give the Korean automaker the benefit of the doubt. The Hyundai Genesis Sedan began 2009 as the North American Car Of The Year and the well-heeled sedan has continued to build momentum with an impressive 21 awards. Among the Genesis Sedan's many honors are nods from Motor Trend (America's Top 40 New Cars), Cars.com, J.D. Power, NADAGuides, and AutoPacific.
Heck, the Genesis' 375 horsepower Tau 4.6-liter V8 also made Wards Automotive's 10 Best Engines list, and after putting down nearly 2,000 miles in just such a beast earlier this month, AB executive editor Paukert concurs, praising the eight's smooth power delivery and impressive mileage. Despite a packed cabin and trunk and plenty of mountain driving and high-speed cruising, our man averaged 26.1 MPG on a circuitous route from Michigan to North Carolina – fully 1.1 MPG better than the EPA says to expect on the freeway. He also praised the car's acheless seats and pleasing Lexicon audio system as excellent long-distance travel partners.
Hit the jump to read the press release listing the Genny's awards cache. What follows is a proud parent brag-fest, but when you get it right like Hyundai appears to have done with its Genesis Sedan, perhaps a little self-promoting is merited. Maybe now they'll see fit to finally take credit for it by putting a "Hyundai" badge somewhere on the car
[Source: Hyundai]
PRESS RELEASE:
Hyundai Genesis is class of the 2009 model year with most top-car honors
Headlined by the 2009 North American Car of the Year Award, Hyundai's New Flagship Earns More Top Recognition than Any Other 2009 Introduction
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., August 27, 2009 – Hyundai's all-new flagship, the Genesis sedan, launched to significant anticipation culminating with its coronation as the 2009 North American Car of the Year – the first time a Korean brand has ever achieved the honor. But Genesis didn't stop there, accumulating honor after prestigious honor to become the most decorated new car launch of the 2009 model year. At last count, Genesis tallied more than 20 top honors from the most prominent media outlets and automotive organizations in North America.
Genesis' trophy case includes awards and accolades from the likes of J.D. Power and Associates, Motor Trend, AutoPacific, Cars.com and leading consumer publications. Genesis is built on Hyundai's all-new, performance-driven rear-wheel-drive architecture. It offers two powertrains, the Lambda 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 290 hp, and Hyundai's all-new Tau 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 375 hp. With technology rivaling more expensive luxury sedans, convenience features like push-button start and navigation system, and five-star safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), it's clear that Genesis is among the best new cars of 2009. But at a starting MSRP of just $32,250 and max price of just $42,000 for a fully loaded Genesis, it's no surprise the competition was left in Hyundai's rear-view mirror.
"Genesis was developed to rival the world's best luxury sedans so we knew it would be a great car, but we didn't know how it would be received by the automotive community," said Scott Margason, director of Product & Strategic Planning for Hyundai. "As the awards accumulated, we realized not only how well designed the Genesis was, but how far the Hyundai brand had come. Consumers and automotive industry influencers really embraced the idea of Hyundai producing a luxury product." Genesis Sedan Awards
1. 2009 North America Car of the Year 2. Motor Trend – America's Top 40 New Cars 3. J.D. Power and Associates – Automotive, Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) - Most appealing midsize premium car 4. J.D. Power and Associates – Vehicle Launch Index (VLI) - Highest ranked 2009 all-new or redesigned vehicle 5. The Car Book 2009 – Best Bet (intermediate category) 6. About.com – Best New Car 7. Kiplinger's Personal Finance – Best New Model (sedans $30,000-$45,000) 8. NADAguides.com – Car of the Month (April) 9. NADAguides.com – Top 5 Luxury Cars 10. NADAguides.com – Best Car Buy - Top luxury cars under $35,000 11. Autotropolis.com – Car of the Year 12. Cars.com – Car of the Year 13. On Wheels – Car of the Year 14. AutoPacific – Ideal Vehicle Awards - Aspirational Luxury Category 15. AutoPacific –Vehicle Satisfaction Awards - Aspirational Luxury Category 16. Consumer Reports – Top-Rated Vehicle (upscale sedan category) 17. Consumer Digest – Best Buy (luxury segment) 18. MyRide/Autobytel – Car of the Year 19. Ward's Auto World – 10 Best Engines (4.6 liter Tau V8) 20. Automobile Journalists Association of Canada – Canadian Car of the Year 21. Automobile Journalists Association of Canada – Best New Luxury Vehicle Under $50,000
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 780 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by The Hyundai Advantage, America's Best Warranty. In addition, Hyundai Assurance is now offered on all new vehicles leased or purchased from a certified Hyundai dealer. The program is available to any consumer, regardless of age, health, employment record or financed amount of the vehicle. The program is complimentary for the first 12 months.
The Ford Taurus hasn't even hit the market yet, but it's already beginning to win props from the press. Esquire has entered the award fray by picking the new Taurus SHO as its inaugural 2010 Car of the Year. The long-running men's magazine has three criteria for its award: terrific ride and handling with plenty of speed; attractive sheetmetal that elicits stares; and an attainable price point. Editor-in-chief David Granger says that the SHO hits all the marks, as the twin-turbocharged Ford was the unanimous winner amongst Esquire editors.
Esquire correspondent (and Automobile Magazine columnist) Ezra Dyer added that the SHO was a good every day driver that "happens to have a secret under the hood." We're pretty sure 365 horsepower is enough juice to fall in the 'sleeper' category. Ford is, for obvious reasons, pleased with its latest piece of hardware, adding that "we trust that customers will be equally impressed."
Oh, and before you ask ('cause we did) – although the Taurus SHO hasn't hit the market and the official media drive hasn't happened yet, Esquire did manage to secure a drive of the car before they handed out the award, although it isn't immediately clear what other cars were considered for the award. Interestingly, the magazine's article apparently doesn't actually delve into the area of driving impressions, so Ford says it was copacetic with the pre-embargo coverage. Us? We'll finally get our chance to flog the SHO very soon,
[Source: Ford]
PRESS RELEASE:
2010 FORD TAURUS NAMED ESQUIRE'S INAUGURAL "CAR OF THE YEAR" FOR MEN TO DRIVE, EVERYDAY
DEARBORN, Mich., June 10, 2009 – Esquire magazine editors evaluated nearly a dozen significant new cars – using some unique subjective criteria – before naming the 2010 Taurus SHO as its inaugural Car of the Year. The article appears in the magazine's July issue, on newsstands today.
"We had three main criteria in selecting the Esquire Car of the Year," explained David Granger, editor-in-chief. "The vehicle needed to be a pleasure to drive and be capable of shortening your breath when you slam down the pedal. It needed to be gorgeous and aggressive, capable of eliciting stares and gawks. And it needed to be attainable – a vehicle that most men actually can buy and drive. The new Taurus SHO nailed all of these parameters."
Competing with some of the best luxury sedans in the industry, Taurus SHO was the editor's unanimous choice.
"The reason we care about the new Taurus can be boiled down to four words: Looks good, goes fast. With a 3.5-liter turbo V-6, dubbed EcoBoost™, you get V-8 power with V-6 fuel economy," said Esquire automotive correspondent, Ezra Dyer. "The SHO is a sleeper – a vehicle you can live with every day, that happens to have a secret under the hood."
The response from the Taurus team?
"We're thrilled and honored with this award," said Frank Davis, executive director, Ford North American Product Programs. "Taurus – and the SHO model honored here – are Ford's flagship sedans. We trust that customers will be equally impressed."
For the first time in the modern incarnation of One Lap of America, a Japanese car has claimed the top spot. After a grueling 3,400+ mile, nine racetrack odyssey around the United States, veteran "Lap Dog" Steve Rankins and "Lap Puppy" Will Taylor captured the overall trophy in their 2009 Nissan GT-R this weekend. The victory marks the first for a Nippon car since the event's 1986 running, when rallyist Karl Chevalier's Toyota Celica beat out fellow racer John Buffum's Audi 5000S wagon. OloA's timing and scoring procedures were markedly different at that point, however, as from 1985 to 1991, One Lap was essentially a time-speed-distance (TSD) rally.
With five-time defending champion Mark Davia and Drew Wikstrom taking the year off in their Porsche 911 Turbo, a new winner was assured, but for quite a while, it looked like another Stuttgart powerhouse would take the podium, as the 996 GT2 of Peter Lier and Ian Stewart held down the top position for much of the event. In the end, the consistency of the #3 Team Cannonball GT-R outlasted all comers – including the green #2 GT-R of Derek Whitis, Tom Long and Mark Pombo, which fell by the wayside when it was beset by gremlins (faulty boost controller pushing the ECU into limp mode, overheating, etc.). Along the way, the #3 GT-R was a consistent performer all week long, setting OloA's best-ever wet skidpad performance, a tidy 0.953g and winning events at Turfway Park, Talladega Grand Prix Raceway, Daytona International Raceway, Carolina Motorsports Park, and the BMW Performance Center. While stockpiling that many victories may make this year's race sound like a walk-off, tight competition from Lier and Stewart's 996 GT2 and the aforementioned #2 GT-R meant that the issue was in doubt almost until the very end.
Aston Martin finally took the wraps off the first completed One-77 this past weekend at the Concorso d'Eleganza on the shores of Lake Como and came away with the top design prize at the event. Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez was on hand to show off the car that we saw in skeletal form at the Geneva Motor Show in March. While the aesthetics of this new Aston have drawn decidedly mixed reviews, there is no doubt that it is a striking machine. The huge grille flanked by large air scoops is a departure from the classically beautiful Astons of the last 15 years and even goes well beyond the DBS. However, when considered in the context of its functionality, the appearance makes much more sense.
The Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 has a lot going for it. It's aggressive, attractive and an absolute hoot to drive. It's also the Robb Report Car of the Year, beating out a dozen other luxury automobiles ranging from track stars like the Nissan GT-R and Corvette ZR1 to the quirky little SMART fortwo. The LP560-4 is the 16th winner of the award, given to the best and brightest of the luxury field by editors who know a thing or two about the good life. Testing took place in California's Napa Valley, where Robb Report staffers joined 50 guest judges to put the 13 vehicles through their paces.
The Gallardo won the award based on its supercar looks, fit and finish, and a four-wheel-drive system that makes the LP560-4 just as capable in the twisties as it is in a straight line. While the LP560-4 didn't change much aesthetically for 2009, Lamborghini made significant changes beneath the Gallardo's skin.
Robb Report Editor-in-Chief Brett Anderson summed up why the Gallardo came home with the hardware: "No past iterations of the Gallardo have delivered the combination of power and precision you get from this engine and four-wheel-drive system."
How do you build the world's quickest car? Well, first you take one of the quickest cars already on the road, then you add more power and charge millions for each example.
In this case, chauffer Marlon Kirby and financier David McMahan took the Ultima GTR – which already claims the fastest quarter-mile, 0-100-0, Nürburgring (almost) and Top Gear (unofficial) track times – and dropped in an all-aluminum 7.0-liter Chevy small-block V8 with twin turbochargers to bring the power rating up to 1600 horses, calling the resultant monster the Maxximus G-Force. All those ponies drive through a three-speed sequential gearbox, while six-piston AP Racing calipers gripping 14.2-inch discs handle the stopping power.
Housed in a 2700-pound frame, that's apparently enough to get the G-Force up to 60 miles-per-hour in 2.1 seconds, to 100 mph in 4.5 seconds and run the 0-100-0 sprint in 8.8 seconds. Nine minutes of fuel is all it can carry at those rates, but considering that McMahan and Kirby are charging $3 million a pop, we doubt a big bill at the gas pump would be an owner's biggest concern.
