International Car of the Year
#1
01-26-2006, 07:29 PM
International Car of the Year
There are no Academy Awards for cars, but the International Car of the Year (ICOTY) awards are the next best thing. Now in its 10th year, this event brings a bit of Hollywood to chilly Detroit every January.
This year’s winner of Car of the Year is the Dodge Charger. Built on the same platform as the Chrysler 300 (last year’s Car of the Year winner), the Charger features styling of a two-door coupe in a versatile 4-door sedan. Of course, the Charger is available with a powerful HEMI V8 engine.
Meanwhile, Truck of the Year for 2006 is the Hummer H3. Although the smallest of the Hummer lineup, the H3 is easily recognizable as a Hummer, with the trademark grille and bold fender flares. The H3 is fully capable off-road with an electronically controlled four-wheel-drive system combined with features such as a fully locking rear differential, traction control, underbody shielding and GM's StabiliTrak vehicle stability enhancement system.
Unlike other car awards, the ICOTY event is almost as important as the awards themselves. Hosted by Road & Travel Magazine, the awards ceremony is attended by 600 industry leaders and media on the evening before Press Days at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).
Like a Hollywood awards show, each presentation was scripted with witty banter, sometimes in rhyming couplets. A live band with vocals provided the soundtrack between presentations, and the entire affair was recorded for rebroadcast on CBS Detroit on Saturday, January 14, the opening weekend of the NAIAS.
Also unique to the ICOTY awards are the required qualities a vehicle must possess to win. “The ICOTY awards focus on the emotional connection between car and consumer; how vehicles reflect our lifestyles and self image, an attitude the average consumer can identify with,” said Road & Travel Magazine Editor-In-Chief Courtney Caldwell.
Winners are chosen by a jury of 12 nationally renowned automotive journalists with ballots tabulated by J.D. Power and Associates. MSN Autos Editor Perry Stern and contributor Ann Job are members of the ICOTY jury.
For the second year running, a special award is given to the best automobile commercial. Called the Heart Sting award, the commercial that evoked the best emotional response was an ad for the Nissan 350Z.
Road & Travel Magazine also recognized veteran automotive journalist David E. Davis, Jr. with its third annual Lifetime Achievement Award. Described as "the dean of America's automotive critics" by Time Magazine, Davis is widely recognized as the guru of the automobile industry. A touching retrospective of Davis’s life was shown, and Davis himself provided a very entertaining look at his own life.
Here are all of the winners from this year’s IOCTY awards ceremony:
Car of the Year
Dodge Charger
Truck of the Year
Hummer H3
Pickup of the Year – “Most Athletic”
Honda Ridgeline
Sports Car of the Year – “Most Sex Appeal”
Pontiac Solstice
Sedan of the Year – “Most Dependable”
Hyundai Sonata
Luxury Car of the Year – “Most Respected”
Mercedes-Benz CLS500
Minivan of the Year – “Most Compatible”
Honda Odyssey
Entry-Level Car of the Year – “Most Spirited”
Audi A3
Crossover of the Year – “Most Versatile”
Dodge Magnum SRT8
SUV of the Year – “Most Resourceful”
Ford Explorer (tie)
Land Rover Range Rover Sport (tie)
This year’s winner of Car of the Year is the Dodge Charger. Built on the same platform as the Chrysler 300 (last year’s Car of the Year winner), the Charger features styling of a two-door coupe in a versatile 4-door sedan. Of course, the Charger is available with a powerful HEMI V8 engine.
Meanwhile, Truck of the Year for 2006 is the Hummer H3. Although the smallest of the Hummer lineup, the H3 is easily recognizable as a Hummer, with the trademark grille and bold fender flares. The H3 is fully capable off-road with an electronically controlled four-wheel-drive system combined with features such as a fully locking rear differential, traction control, underbody shielding and GM's StabiliTrak vehicle stability enhancement system.
Unlike other car awards, the ICOTY event is almost as important as the awards themselves. Hosted by Road & Travel Magazine, the awards ceremony is attended by 600 industry leaders and media on the evening before Press Days at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).
Like a Hollywood awards show, each presentation was scripted with witty banter, sometimes in rhyming couplets. A live band with vocals provided the soundtrack between presentations, and the entire affair was recorded for rebroadcast on CBS Detroit on Saturday, January 14, the opening weekend of the NAIAS.
Also unique to the ICOTY awards are the required qualities a vehicle must possess to win. “The ICOTY awards focus on the emotional connection between car and consumer; how vehicles reflect our lifestyles and self image, an attitude the average consumer can identify with,” said Road & Travel Magazine Editor-In-Chief Courtney Caldwell.
Winners are chosen by a jury of 12 nationally renowned automotive journalists with ballots tabulated by J.D. Power and Associates. MSN Autos Editor Perry Stern and contributor Ann Job are members of the ICOTY jury.
For the second year running, a special award is given to the best automobile commercial. Called the Heart Sting award, the commercial that evoked the best emotional response was an ad for the Nissan 350Z.
Road & Travel Magazine also recognized veteran automotive journalist David E. Davis, Jr. with its third annual Lifetime Achievement Award. Described as "the dean of America's automotive critics" by Time Magazine, Davis is widely recognized as the guru of the automobile industry. A touching retrospective of Davis’s life was shown, and Davis himself provided a very entertaining look at his own life.
Here are all of the winners from this year’s IOCTY awards ceremony:
Car of the Year
Dodge Charger
Truck of the Year
Hummer H3
Pickup of the Year – “Most Athletic”
Honda Ridgeline
Sports Car of the Year – “Most Sex Appeal”
Pontiac Solstice
Sedan of the Year – “Most Dependable”
Hyundai Sonata
Luxury Car of the Year – “Most Respected”
Mercedes-Benz CLS500
Minivan of the Year – “Most Compatible”
Honda Odyssey
Entry-Level Car of the Year – “Most Spirited”
Audi A3
Crossover of the Year – “Most Versatile”
Dodge Magnum SRT8
SUV of the Year – “Most Resourceful”
Ford Explorer (tie)
Land Rover Range Rover Sport (tie)
#2
01-26-2006, 08:14 PM
RE: International Car of the Year
wow..what a load of crap...
im fine with the charger...but the rest?
i like the magnum, alot, but its not really a crossover...
the SLOWstice has sex appeal? maybe if by sex appeal, they mean that women belong in them, and guys want to have sex with women..then yes...
a hyundai, reliable? find someone who owns a hyundai and ask them about it...id say 50% will argue with that
and when is an audi an entry level car? its still like 35 grand...i believe...
im fine with the charger...but the rest?
i like the magnum, alot, but its not really a crossover...
the SLOWstice has sex appeal? maybe if by sex appeal, they mean that women belong in them, and guys want to have sex with women..then yes...
a hyundai, reliable? find someone who owns a hyundai and ask them about it...id say 50% will argue with that
and when is an audi an entry level car? its still like 35 grand...i believe...
#3
01-26-2006, 09:13 PM
#4
01-26-2006, 09:24 PM
#5
01-26-2006, 09:24 PM
#6
01-26-2006, 09:27 PM
#7
01-26-2006, 09:29 PM
Record Breaker
RE: International Car of the Year
Honda Ridgeline "Athletic?" B.S. That should go to the SRT-10. The Ridgeline was able to do 0-60 in 8.5 sec with no load but when loaded down in MT's test, it did 0-60 in 11.5 secs. That is not what I call athletic, that is what I call a sugar high and/or caffiene buzz. The HEMI powered Ram only slowed down by 1.2 secs. That is true athletic behavior.
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#8
01-27-2006, 08:15 PM
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RE: International Car of the Year
ORIGINAL: 97 3.5 Intrepid
Honda Ridgeline "Athletic?" B.S. That should go to the SRT-10. The Ridgeline was able to do 0-60 in 8.5 sec with no load but when loaded down in MT's test, it did 0-60 in 11.5 secs. That is not what I call athletic, that is what I call a sugar high and/or caffiene buzz. The HEMI powered Ram only slowed down by 1.2 secs. That is true athletic behavior.
Honda Ridgeline "Athletic?" B.S. That should go to the SRT-10. The Ridgeline was able to do 0-60 in 8.5 sec with no load but when loaded down in MT's test, it did 0-60 in 11.5 secs. That is not what I call athletic, that is what I call a sugar high and/or caffiene buzz. The HEMI powered Ram only slowed down by 1.2 secs. That is true athletic behavior.
#9
01-27-2006, 08:28 PM
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#10
01-27-2006, 08:38 PM
Record Breaker