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Winners
of the
2020
North
American
Car,
Utility
and
Truck of
the Year
DETROIT
- After
hundreds
of hours
of test
drives,
research
and
evaluation
by
independent
jurors,
the
Chevrolet
Corvette
Stingray,
Kia
Telluride
and Jeep
Gladiator
were
revealed
as the
winners
of the
2020
North
American
Car,
Utility
and
Truck of
the Year
(NACTOY)
awards
at TCF
Center
in
Detroit.
These
awards
are
unique
and
among
the most
prestigious
in the
industry
because
they are
chosen
by a
panel of
50
respected
jurors
from
print,
online,
radio
and
broadcast
media
across
the U.S.
and
Canada –
rather
than by
a single
publication
or media
outlet.
Jurors
voted on
the
finalists
based on
segment
leadership,
innovation,
design,
safety,
handling,
driver
satisfaction
and
value
for the
dollar.
The
process
began in
June
2019
with
determination
of
vehicle
eligibility
and
included
three
rounds
of
voting.
Votes
were
tallied
confidentially
by
Deloitte
LLP and
remained
secret
until
envelopes
were
unsealed
on stage
by
NACTOY
President
Lauren
Fix,
Vice
President
Chris
Paukert
and
Secretary-Treasurer
Kirk
Bell.
“These
awards
would
not be
possible
without
the hard
work,
professionalism
and
insight
of all
of our
jurors
along
with the
cooperation
throughout
the year
from all
of the
automotive
companies,”
Fix
said.
“Now in
our 26th
year, we
are
proud
that
both
automakers
and
consumers
recognize
the
value
our
awards
provide
to new
car
buyers.”
Car
of the
Year
Overall
U.S. car
sales
might be
declining,
but
there
was no
shortage
of
compelling,
innovative
contenders
this
year.
When the
ballots
were
counted,
jurors
selected
Chevrolet
Corvette
Stingray
as the
car that
stood
out
among
its
competition.
“A
mid-engine
Corvette
was a
huge
risk for
Chevy’s
muscle-car
icon.
They
nailed
it.
Stunning
styling,
interior,
and
performance
for
one-third
of the
cost of
comparable
European
exotics,”
said
Henry
Payne,
auto
critic
for The
Detroit
News.
Utility
Vehicle
of the
Year
In the
increasingly
popular
utility
segment,
automakers
must
look for
that
magical
combination
of
design,
features
and
functionality.
This
year,
jurors
decided
the Kia
Telluride
deserved
top
honors.
“The
Telluride’s
interior
layout
and
design
would
meet
luxury
SUV
standards,
while
its
refined
drivetrain,
confident
driving
dynamics
and
advanced
technology
maintain
the
premium
experience,”
said
Karl
Brauer,
Executive
Publisher
at Cox
Automotive.
“Traditional
SUV
brands
take
note:
there’s
a new
star
player
on the
field.”
Truck of
the Year
The
truck
category
reflected
the
growing
popularity
of
mid-size
trucks
as the
Ford
Ranger
and Jeep
Gladiator
squared
off
against
the Ram
Heavy
Duty.
Ultimately,
jurors
selected
the Jeep
Gladiator
as the
winner.
“What’s
not to
like
about a
pickup
truck
with not
only a
soft-top
removable
roof but
even
removable
doors?
If you
want
massive
cargo-hauling
capability
or the
ability
to tow
10,000
pounds,
buy
something
else,”
said
longtime
automotive
journalist
John
Voelcker.
“The
eagerly
awaited
Gladiator
is a
one-of-a-kind
truck,
every
bit the
Jeep its
Wrangler
sibling
is … but
with a
pickup
bed. How
could
you
possibly
get more
American
than
that?”
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