Where do you spend most of your time

Here at LotPro.com, we’re, we’re as much of a sucker as the next person when it comes to beautiful automobile designs. But while a vehicle’s exterior usually generates the most excitement, it’s actually the interior of those same cars where most of us spend our time – which is precisely why Wards AutoWorld created these awards.

“There are certain aspects we look at closely in the Interior of the Year competition, and value is just as important to us as fit-and-finish, styling, comfort and safety,” says Drew Winter, editor-in-chief of Ward’s AutoWorld magazine.

“An interior doesn’t have to be expensive to be good,” Winter says. “But it does have to convey a sense of high-quality craftsmanship and have pleasing textures and low-gloss surfaces. Electronic systems have to be intuitive and easy to use and not just focus on offering a high number of features and functions. Consumers are becoming a lot savvier about what they want inside their vehicles.”

Eleven categories

This year, 35 vehicles were nominated for the four car categories (economy-priced, popular-priced, premium-priced and sports car) and two truck categories (popular-priced and premium-priced) as well as special-achievement awards in five other areas (grooviest interior, best redesign, best graphic display, design harmony and best brand expression).

And the winners are…

Honda Fit Sport (Economy-priced car)

According to the judges, “With its ingenious second-row flexibility, ample headroom and premium materials, Honda proves an inexpensive car need not feel cheap.”

Volkswagen CC (Popular-priced car)

The judges had this to say about the CC, “In the popular-priced car category, the Volkswagen CC springs from the well-regarded Passat architecture and adds a beautifully executed interior that puts this $28,225 4-door coupe in serious competition with more expensive luxury cars.”

Acura TL (Premium-priced car)

“The all-new Acura TL, at $42, 995,” according to Wards, “delivers creamy caramel-tone leather and sporty luxury in a breathtaking combination that instantly raises Acura’s stature among upscale buyers.

Nissan 370Z Touring (Sports car)

Nissan received kudos for designing an interior that is both modern and retro: “If price is an object, the 2-seat Nissan 370Z Touring pairs a potent 332 hp with a purposeful passenger compartment that manages to be both spacious and sporty, while paying homage to famous Z cars of the past, all for $36,865.“

Dodge Ram (Popular-priced truck)

Wards felt that the new Dodge Ram was a great value for the money and that it “trumps its rival, the new Ford F-150, with a spacious, well-conceived interior that fits as well on the job site as at the soccer field.”

Ford Flex (Premium-priced truck)

“The Flex demonstrates marvelous flexibility (their pun, not ours) in a 6-passenger seating configuration that employs high-quality materials and a supremely nifty power folding function for second-row seats, allowing easy access to the third row.”

Kia Soul (Grooviest Interior)

The judges really liked the Soul’s red interior. “Priced at $18,345, the 5-passenger Soul Sport reaches out to youthful buyers with an ideal mix of comfort, quality and funkiness, with lighted door speakers that flash to the beat of the music.”

Audi A4 (Best Redesign)

Reflecting on the A4’s relationship with the rest of the Audi lineup, the panel of experts had this to say, “The all-new Audi A4 secures the German auto maker’s sterling reputation for benchmark interiors. Priced at $40,825, the new A4 exudes understated but unmistakable elegance.”

Ford Fusion Hybrid (Best Graphic Display)

The editors of the magazine “marveled at the amount of information Ford engineers managed to fit into the Fusion Hybrid’s relatively small instrument cluster above the steering wheel, all the while encouraging fuel-efficient driving with a digitally projected vine that sprouts leaves as mileage grows.”

Lexus RX 450h (Design Harmony)

According to Wards, “The RX, with its riveting asymmetrical center stack, tasteful wood steering wheel and luscious color palette, is recognized with a special-achievement award for Design Harmony.”

Cadillac CTS-V (Best Brand Expression)

Finally, the Cadillac CTS-V, “with its intoxicating styling and angular instrument panel, wins a special-achievement award for Brand Expression. Priced at $68,135 with a dizzying array of electronic gadgets, the 556-hp CTS-V is for the serious driver who craves equal amounts of performance and style.”

Even if you’re into the whole winter sports thing – skiing, snowmobiling, et al – living in Michigan between November and April (May?) is not much fun day-to-day. Commuting through snow, ice, sleet and freezing rain is bad enough, but to top it all off, the sky often remains grey and overcast for weeks on end with no sight of the sun.

Fortunately, just as many of us at LotPro.com are ready to reach for the kitchen drawer containing the sharp utensils, the second week of January rolls around and, with it, the Detroit Auto Show.

Industry Preview

This year, press days began on Sunday, January 11th and will continue through the end of today. And while clawing your way through thousands of journalists might seem like fun, it really isn’t. So this year we decided to wait until all the parades, press conferences and theatrics were over and trudge on down to Cobo Hall on Thursday of this week. Wading through all the hoopla, we came up with today’s story:

EyesOn Design

While much is made of the North American Car of the Year (won this year by the Hyundai Genesis) and the North American Truck of the Year (garnered by the new Ford F-150), there is another award based solely on vehicle design excellence.

Founded by former Chrysler design chief Thomas Gale, EyesOn Design supports the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology. The purpose is to honor the most outstanding designs for both production vehicles as well as concept cars. This year, Chief Judges Chris Bangle of BMW, Willie G. Davidson of Harley-Davidson and Larry Erickson of the College for Creative Studies were joined by 16 other designers as they narrowed down a 13 car field of production and concept cars to pick 2 winners in each category.

The finalists were as follows:

Audi R8 V10
Audi SportBack Concept
BMW Z4
Cadillac ConverJ Concept
Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon
Chrysler 200C Concept
Fisker Karma
Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
Ford Taurus
Lincoln C Concept
Mazda3 5 Door
Volkswagen Concept BlueSport Diesel
Volvo S60 Concept

And the winners are:

Concept Vehicles

Audi SportBack

A 4-door sedan with a coupe-like roofline similar to its Volkswagen Group cousin the Passat CC and the Mercedes-Benz CLS, this design study may very well come to market in some form as the 2010 Audi A7.

Cadillac Converj

An electric concept vehicle based on the same Voltec platform used by the Chevrolet Volt, the Converj is backed up by the same range-extending engine that allows it to cover up to 40 miles without consuming any fuel other than the energy stored in its lithium-ion battery pack.

Production Vehicles

Audi R8 V10

The newest R8 iteration is equipped with a 5.2-liter ten-cylinder engine that produces 100.9 hp per liter, for a total of 525 – 105 more than the V-8. Thanks to a difference of only 68 pounds, the V10 launches it occupants to 62 mph from a standstill in a mere 3.9 seconds and to a top speed of 196 mph. Maximum torque of 390.91 lb.-ft. is reached at 6,500 rpm, while redline is a lofty 8,000 revolutions per 60 ticks.

BMW Z4

With styling that’s more evolutionary that revolutionary, the latest Z4 does sport a new two-piece retractable hardtop fashioned from aluminum that retracts and deploys in a mere 20 seconds per. Available with either a naturally aspirated or twin-turbocharged 3.0 liter inline 6-cylinder engine, the second-gen Z4 is 5.8 inches longer (necessitated by a much-needed increase in trunk space) and slightly wider and taller than the previous model.

Why are we still writing about trucks?

Here at LotPro.com, it has always been about cars and more cars. The advent of high gas prices last summer was cause for celebration. With any luck, pickup trucks would revert to their proper place as a means of transport for farmers and construction workers, while gas-guzzling SUV’s would die a quick death. Unfortunately, the credit mess caused the entire automotive world to come crashing down on itself and at the end of the year, the Ford F-150 was still the best-selling nameplate in the U.S.

That being said, it seems like we have spent an inordinate amount of time writing about the new F-150, while the Dodge Ram has languished in the shadows. So when the new pick-em-up from Auburn Hills received Truckin’ Magazine’s TOTY award, we figured “what the heck”.

So here, in all its glory, is the news release from Chrysler:

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 6 / – The game-changing all-new 2009 Dodge Ram continues to win praise by consumers and media. The all-new Dodge Ram was named 2009 Truck of the Year in the current issue of Truckin’ magazine.

“It’s an honor to have Truckin’ magazine recognize our all-new 2009 Dodge Ram with this significant award,” said Scott Kunselman, Vice-President Jeep(R)/Truck Product Team, Chrysler LLC. “This award speaks loudly about the design and capability of our Dodge Ram along with its benchmark interior and unmatched ride and handling.”

1994 Ram

“Overall, the sleek design represented the most dramatic change in Ram design since the ’94’s love-it-or-leave-it big-rig look, and we think it’s a hit,” said Bob Ryder, Senior Tech Editor, Truckin’. “The Dodge Boys have really done their homework on this one. The quality of materials, including wood trim, chrome accents, and leather, is miles ahead of the previous generation, and really makes the Dodge look luxurious.”

Ram Box

The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram includes the first-in-segment RamBox(TM) cargo management system that includes versatile, weatherproof, lockable, illuminated, drainable storage bins, pickup bed dividers, a 2-foot bed extender, and a cargo rail system with sliding adjustable cleats. The 2009 Ram also includes the first-in-segment coil-spring, five-link rear suspension fitted to a solid rear axle providing ride and handling not found on any other pickup truck. A new 5.7-liter HEMI(R) V-8 engine with fuel-saving MDS technology provides more horsepower (390 hp) and torque (407 lb.-ft.) and its best-in-class aerodynamics — .387 Cd — helps improve fuel economy and performance.

In addition, the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram includes first-in-segment, factory-installed 4-inch dual exhaust styled dramatically into the rear bumper, first-in-segment store-in-the-floor storage bins with nearly twice as many bins (42) than the previous model (26) and 35 safety and security technologies. Standard features include side-curtain air bags and Electronic Stability Program (ESP) which includes all-speed traction control, trailer sway control, hill-start assist and anti-lock brake system (ABS). Significantly upgraded interiors with segment-first surround-sound audio system and live SIRIUS Backseat TV(TM) round out the interior.

Recently, the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab earned 5-star ratings for driver- and front-passenger protection in a frontal crash, the highest ratings in the U.S. government’s safety crash test program.

In addition to winning Truckin’ magazine’s Truck of the Year, the all-new Dodge Ram has picked up several key awards since its introduction:

  — Ward’s AutoWorld - Ward’s 10 Best Engines of 2009 (2009 Dodge Ram 5.7
HEMI engine)

– Texas Auto Writer’s Association (TAWA) - 2009 Full-Size Pickup Truck of
Texas

– Edmunds.com - Inside Line Editors Most Wanted 2009

– Autobytel.com – 2009 MyRide/Autobytel Editor’s Choice Awards - Truck of
the Year

– Maxim - Achievement in Party-Enabling Technology (RamBox)

– Automotive Journalist Association of Canada - Best New Pickup

– Sobre Ruedas - Sobre Ruedas Best Pickup Truck for ‘08

Not bad for a truck

Here at LotPro.com, it has to be said that most of us are not big fans of the pickup truck. Perhaps it’s because, for at least the past ten years, most buyers never really purchased them for their intended use. Commuting to work and schlepping the kids to school does not require a pickup truck. It was almost as if the proliferation of extended-cab, leather-lined luxo-trucks was suburbia’s answer to the equally obnoxious chrome-clad DUB-wheeled urban SUV.

Thankfully, last summer’s spike in gasoline prices may finally return the pickup truck to its rightful place – the proper mode of conveyance for cowboys and construction workers as well as an automotive denizen of rental fleets for those of us who need one for the occasional weekend hauling requirements.

The New F-150

Ford, it seems, could not have picked a worse time to introduce its new full-size pickup truck. Due to the aforementioned state of gasoline prices this past summer, the guys in Dearborn were forced to push back the launch of their new truck by two months to clear the glut of current models sitting on dealer lots.

But that was then and this is now. With a drop in gas prices, there has been a mild resurgence in truck sales. After losing its crown earlier this year, the F-series is once again America’s top-selling vehicle, albeit with sales numbers far below its 2004 pinnacle of 939,463 copies.

Motor Trend TOTY

Today, however, was a day to put all that aside at least long enough for the designers, engineers and marketing people at Ford to enjoy their moment in the sun. The new F-150 was one of four trucks that were eligible for the award this year, the others being the Dodge Ram 1500, Suzuki Equator and the Hummer H3T and it won the honor in the closest vote in the history of Truck of the Year™.

The award also marks the third consecutive time that an all-new F-150 has garnered the prize, having received it twice in the past for the 2004 and 1997 iterations.

“The new F-150 is a thorough, thoughtful upgrade of a highly successful formula,” said Angus MacKenzie, editor-in-chief, Motor Trend. “The 2009 model improves on the core attributes that have made the F-150 a best seller for decades, ensuring it will remain a strong player in the segment despite the challenging economic environment.”

New Features

There are two items, in particular, on the F-150’s equipment list that should expand its appeal to a broader segment of buyers. Inside, the Microsoft-developed SYNC technology will allow it to appeal to younger, more tech-savvy buyers, while, in back, the Box Side Step and Tailgate Step should help with the, ahem, more “mature” customer (a census aggregation that includes yours, truly).

The Bottom Line

Despite the fact that Ford’s newest hauler is not on our short list of vehicles we’d like to own before we pass on, it’s certainly the well-deserved leader in its segment and carries on Ford’s fine tradition of building class-leading pickups.

One for the money

On Wednesday of this week, Kelley Blue Book announced that the 2009 Ford F-150 pickup truck was named by the company as the Best Redesigned Vehicle for 2009. Five years ago, the F-150 won the first award given out by Kelley and this year marks the first time, ever, for a repeat winner.

In taking the award, the F-150 beat out 9 other re-designs: the Acura TL and TSX, Audi A4, Dodge Ram, Honda Fit, Mazda6, Nissan Maxima and Murano as well as the Subaru Forester.

According to Jack Nerad, executive editorial director for Kelley, “”We were so impressed with the 2009 Ford F-150, we’d go so far as to say it isn’t just a great truck, it’s a step forward for what a vehicle can be. Imagine a truck that can help you keep track of your tools and keep you aware of where your employees are, and you can see that the new F-150 brings with it world-class innovation.”

Two for the show

While Kelley was bestowing its honors in the U.S., two other events across the pond bestowed honors on the Transit Connect, a vehicle Ford unveiled at this year’s Chicago Auto Show and one we’ll see here in the middle of 2009.

On December 8th, the U.K.’s Association of Car Fleet Operators gave their top commercial vehicle award to the Transit Connect van. This marks the sixth consecutive year it has won this award.

Two days later, Britain’s leading van magazine, What Van? honored the Transit Connect with its security award for a light van, the seventh time the Ford van has received the award.

The Bottom Line

Here at LotPro.com, we know that trucks aren’t sexy. But there are two things that need to be remembered about these vehicles: historically, the F-150 has contributed greatly to Ford’s bottom line. Even in a depressed economy, sales of the new model look to keep the company afloat even as Nissan stops building trucks and Toyota struggles to break into the market.

Secondly, the Transit Connect represents Ford’s next great step: bringing the goodness of driving dynamics and space efficiency over from Europe and introducing both to the U.S. market.

Truck Sales in the Land of $4 Gas

It’s no secret that many of us here at LotPro.com find the idea of the average family riding around in a heavily-optioned, leather-lined, gas-guzzling extended cab four-by-four pickup truck to be a special form of lunacy. The closest thing many of these “air haulers” will come to off-roading is accidentally jumping a curb and riding over the well-manicured lawn of the local shopping mall. For evidence of how far the pickup has strayed from its original intent, one has only to look at the precipitous decline in sales this summer that was the direct result of skyrocketing fuel prices. With gas prices nudging $4 per gallon, the wannabees fled the market – leaving only those who really needed a truck as the customers that were driving them off dealer lots in the second half of the year.

And while the market has rebounded somewhat from this summer’s truck sales debacle, it appears as though the sales numbers for these vehicles will never reach the same heights again. But lost in the roller coaster ride of sales in the past year are two simple facts; Fact number one: there still are, and will continue to be, legitimate markets for pickups in the U.S. Fact number two: The biggest market for pickups in America is Texas.

2008 Truck of Texas

Texas is big. No doubt about it. If you’re traveling from Beaumont in the east to El Paso in the west, you’ll cover almost 840 miles. That’s further than Salt Lake City to Los Angeles and only 50 miles less than driving from Rome, Italy to Paris, France. And the whole time you’re driving in the same state!

Texas is also in the oil drilling business, the oil refining business, cattle ranching, farming and construction. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist (which Texas has plenty of) to see why most pickup owners in Texas are serious about their trucks. Texans are so big on trucks, in fact, that in 1992, the Texas Auto Writers Association™  (TAWA™) founded the “Texas Truck Rodeo. ™”

The Truck Rodeo is held the third weekend of October and, for three days, members of  TAWA drive trucks and SUV’s on on-road and off-road courses. Winners are honored in various categories, with the overall winner receiving a silver cup “traveling trophy” along with the honor of being named “Truck of Texas” and “SUV of Texas”.

According to TAWA president Harold Gunn, “’ Truck of Texas’ is really the most important award of its type in the industry. We love trucks down here, and we really use these vehicles everyday. And since we spend so much time in our vehicles, for us it’s not just about how the horse feels being towed, but how your butt feels sitting in the truck, too.”

2009 Ford F-150

Ford Sweeps Top Awards

For the sixth consecutive year, a Ford truck has won top honors – this year it went to the new 2009 F-150. Ford also won CUV and SUV of Texas, while Ford’s lineup of trucks also won Truck Line of Texas.

Here is a complete list of winners:

TRUCK OF TEXAS – 2009 FORD F-150

SUV OF TEXAS – 2008 FORD EXPEDITION KING RANCH

CUV OF TEXAS – 2009 FORD FLEX

TRUCK LINE OF TEXAS – FORD

OUTSTANDING FEATURE – DODGE RAM BOX

FULL-SIZE PICKUP TRUCK – 2009 DODGE RAM 1500, LARAMIE 4X4

MID-SIZE PICKUP TRUCK – 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA D-CAB 4X4

LUXURY PICKUP TRUCK – 2009 FORD F-150 KING RANCH

HEAVY DUTY PICKUP TRUCK -  FORD F-350 CABELA’S EDITION

FULL-SIZE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE – 2009 GMC 2WD YUKON HYBRID

MID-SIZE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE – 2008 FORD EXPLORER

COMPACT SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE – 2009 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XSPORT

FULL-SIZE LUXURY SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE HYBRID

MID-SIZE LUXURY SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE -2009 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 BlueTEC

LUXURY CROSSOVER UTILITY VEHICLE – 2008 LINCOLN MKX

COMPACT CROSSOVER UTILITY VEHICLE – 2009 SUBARU FORESTER 2.5X

MID-SIZE CROSSOVER UTILITY VEHICLE – 2009 MAZDA CX-9

FULL-SIZE CROSSOVER UTILITY VEHICLE – 2009 FORD FLEX

The Bottom Line

There are still markets out there where a pickup truck is more than a status symbol. So from LotPro.com, a tip of the Stetson to TAWA and to Ford for a job well done.

During the next few days, we’ll wrap up the show for you with pictures as well as commentary describing the good, the bad and the “what were they thinking”. So get ready, because we’re going to start our tour with Ford Motor Company.

Only the Beginning

We fully intended to get an early start to be one of the first into the show on Tuesday morning. Alas, Mother Nature had other ideas and turned a normal 40 minute commute into a 2 hour crawl down I-75 to Cobo Hall. Not auspicious beginning, but the day would get much better.

Ford Motor Company Trucks

Upon entering the hall, the Ford exhibit was just to the right. Just like the other domestic manufacturers, Ford has had a rough time in the marketplace lately. Fortunately, the auto show highlighted a number of bright spots in the company’s future.

F-150

The Ford F-150 was named Autoweek magazine’s “Most Significant” vehicle of the 2008 North American International Auto Show for good reason. This is Ford’s best selling vehicle by far, with over 700,000 sold in 2007. Still, this represented a 13% drop in sales from a year earlier. Originally intended for just a facelift, it was decided a year ago that in order to keep up with both GM and Dodge, a total re-design was needed.

The money was well spent. Taking design cues from the Super Duty, the new F series has a more upright, tougher look that the model it replaces. Stretching the SuperCrew cab by 6 inches improves both cargo capacity as well as rear seat legroom. With flip-up rear seats and a flat floor, cargo capacity is a cavernous (for a pickup truck) 57.6 cubic feet. All models are powered by a choice of three V8 engines, ranging from 4.6 to 5.4 liters.

In back, a new tailgate design that incorporates an optional tailgate step features a curve at the top that not only gives it character, but also aids in vehicle aerodynamics. The combination of cab styles, bed length and trim level means the new Ford F-150 can be ordered in any one of 35 different configurations.