Gojirra99

DETROIT, Dec. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- An international group of automotive
journalists has selected the Honda Fit, the Saturn Aura and the Toyota
Camry as finalists for the 2007 North American Car of the Year. The
Chevrolet Silverado, Ford Edge and Mazda CX-7 are finalists for the 2007
North American Truck of the Year.

The awards are unique in the United States because - instead of being
given by a single publication, radio or television station - they are given
by 49 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada.

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.

Steve Laughman, a partner at Deloitte & Touche, was responsible for
counting the ballots, which jurors sent directly to the accounting firm.
The results were announced today at a news conference during a luncheon
held by the Detroit Economic Club and the North American International Auto
Show.

However, Laughman remains the only person who knows the winners, which
will be announced January 7th at the North American International Auto
Show.

Although the winners are disclosed at a news conference at NAIAS, the
show does not give the awards.

The jurors represent outlets such as the Toronto Star, Car and Driver
magazine, AutoWeek, The Chicago Tribune, MotorWeek, USA Today, Autoline
Detroit, Edmunds.com, Road & Track magazine, the San Jose Mercury News,
Consumer Guide, the Boston Globe, Automotive News, Popular Mechanics and
Fortune.

Last year the 2006 North American Car of the Year was the Honda Civic,
and the 2006 North American Truck of the Year was the Honda Ridgeline.

Domestic automakers have been named "North American Car of the Year"
six times. Japanese cars have won three times. European cars have won four
times.

Domestic automakers won "North American Truck of the Year" eight times,
Japanese automakers have won three times (Honda and Acura took two of
those) and European automakers have won twice.

In the totals above, Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep are counted as domestic
automakers. Volvo and Mercedes-Benz are included in the European category,
even though Volvo is owned by Ford, and Mercedes is part of
DaimlerChrysler.

While more than 60 new vehicles were eligible, jurors finally voted on
11 cars and 15 trucks.

Nominees for the 2007 North American Car of the Year

Chrysler Sebring
Dodge Caliber
Honda Fit
Infiniti G35
Jaguar XK/XKR
Lexus LS 460
Mercedes S-Class
Nissan Altima
Nissan Versa
Saturn Aura
Toyota Camry

Nominees for the 2007 North American Truck of the Year

Acura MDX
Acura RDX
Audi Q7
BMW X5
Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban
Chevrolet Silverado
Dodge Nitro
Ford Edge
GMC Acadia
Honda CR-V
Hyundai Santa Fe
Jeep Wrangler
Mazda CX-7
Saturn Vue Green Line
Toyota FJ Cruiser


SOURCE North American Car of the Year Organizing Committee

Maximus91

lol I hate those categories. They are so broad. They need to make different categories for different style vehicles. How do you compare a camry with an LS or S class. How do compare a full size truck with an SUV? You can't Its just stupid to do so. Each one is better at one thing or another. They should at least have car of the year, luxury sedan of the year, truck of the year, SUV of the year, something like that. just my 2 cents

DakotaRX

I would agree that the categories are just too "broad". A lot of these should not be considered in the same breath. A Dodge Caliber verses an LS460. Yea Right! In fact why any Dodges at all, but then again I don't see quality being listed as a requirement. Don't the Dodge Caliber in the "Car" category and the Dodge Nitro in the "Truck" category share the same chasis? Looking at the truck listing, to me it looks like the Tahoe/Suburban and Silverado are the only trunks, but even then the Tahoe/Suburbans are SUV's. Motor Trend's January mag lists the Camry as the "Car of the Year" so I can see that on the "short" list. It's time to make subcategories.

2005 RX330 Thundercloud. Thundercloud Mist, Gray/Black interior with Black Birdseye Maple, NAV, ML, HID with AFS, Rain sensing wipers, Headlight washers, Tow Package with OEM Hitch, 18 in Thundercloud rims with Michelin MXV4's.
1998 GS300 (First Lexus) Previously owned and wish I still had it.

Hypnotik

I think the camry should win. Its a great car

dj.ctwatt

And of course the Tundra is too late to make the list. It would have been a good contender.

Lil4X

With the exception of the Camry and the Silverado, the finalists will probably be rarities on the road. Sales potential should be a factor here too. You have to wonder about an industry that congratulates itself for producing tiny little cars that NOBODY will buy, rather than trying to re-engineer the SUV's that everybody buys. Mazda, Honda-Acura, Chevy, Ford, and Dodge have made some remarkable progress in that area, and should be recognized for it.

Camry and the Altima will sell in volume - the other cars on the list are either priced out of real popularity, or bottom-feeders, unknowns that lie in a saturated market. Chrysler dropped the Neon in favor of the PT Cruiser, the Caliber, and its clones - any wonder why? Mid-America wants room, a good view of the road, safety, economy and a good price. DC has done an excellent job in answering those desires - now if they can only build reasonable quality into a lightly-optioned $18,000 vehicle . . .