1958 Thunderbird

COTY award

In 1949, Motor Trend became the first U.S. magazine to offer a Car of the Year award. For the next 50 years, it was handed out to domestic vehicles only (an Import Car of the Year category was established in 1970 and the two were combined for the 2000 award year).

As hindsight is inevitably 20/20, it’s easy to knock some of the past recipients, such as the 1971 Chevrolet Vega (with its engine block design that led to a history of head gasket failures), the 1980 Chevrolet Citation (that set a new standard in fwd-induced torque steer) and the 1983 AMC/Renault Alliance (which has been universally acknowledged to have been perhaps the magazine’s greatest faux pas).

But that being said, the Motor Trend Car of the Year award has also been bestowed on many of the most historically significant vehicles to grace our roads, including the 1958 Ford Thunderbird, the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado, the 1968 Pontiac GTO, the 1985 Volkswagen GTI, the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette and the 2005 Chrysler 300.

2010 nominees

For 2010, there were 23 contenders for the Motor Trend COTY award. As usual, vehicle eligibility is determined by a totally new or substantial redesign and all vehicles must have been available for sale between now and November 1st of the previous year. The list for 2010 was comprised of the following vehicles:

BMW 7 Series
BMW Z4
Buick LaCrosse
Chevrolet Camaro
Ford Mustang
Ford Fusion
Ford Taurus /SHO
Honda Insight
Hyundai Genesis Coupe
Kia Forte Koup
Kia Soul
Lexus HS 250h
Mazda3
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan
Nissan 370Z
Nissan Cube
Porsche Panamera
Subaru Legacy
Suzuki Kizashi
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Golf /GTI
Volkswagen Routan

2010 Ford Fusion

In a first-ever live webcast event, Motor Trend announced this afternoon that the entire 2010 Ford Fusion model line had taken the honors for the 2010 Motor Trend Car of the Year.

“Ford has proven its resilience in these tough times by delivering to market a car with broad appeal to a broad range of consumers,” said Angus MacKenzie, MOTOR TREND editor-in-chief. “The Fusion range has matured into a competitive roster of midsize sedans, able to compete with sales juggernauts such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. It is no surprise the Fusion now ranks in the top 10 best-selling cars in America.”

Mark Fields, Angus MacKenzie, Derrick Kuzak

There to receive the award for Ford Motor Company was a plethora of executives from the company, including Mark Fields, executive vice president of the company and president, The Americas.

“The MOTOR TREND Car of the Year award is another testament of our commitment to delivering a world-class car lineup,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Ford Global Product Development, who accepted the golden calipers on behalf of the Ford team. “Whether it is the best-in-class fuel economy or quality unsurpassed by Toyota or Honda, the Fusion and Fusion Hybrid are clear evidence that Ford is serious about our car lineup.”

Hyundai Genesis

NACOTY and NATOTY awards

At LotPro.com, we normally have to wait for the short list of candidates to be released by Automotive News. This year, Marty Padgett of The Car Connection (and also a juror) was kind enough to reveal the list just a bit early.

Patterned after the European “Car of the Year” award, the North American awards were first given in 1994. The jury is composed of no more than 50 journalists from the United States and Canada. In order to be eligible for consideration, a vehicle must be “substantially changed” from the previous model and be on sale shortly after the announcement of the award in early January. In addition:

•    Cars must have reasonably foreseeable annual sales in North America of 5,000 vehicles.
•    Trucks must have reasonably foreseeable annual sales in North America of 2,000 vehicles.

Ford F-150

From the short list of vehicles you see here, the three finalists in each category are announced in December and the winners are unveiled at a press conference at the beginning of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit (although the show does not sponsor the awards in any way).

Award trivia: During the sixteen years of the car award, hybrids have been honored 4 times. Domestic automakers have garnered eight awards, Japanese automakers have won the award three times and European automakers have received the award four times (for Car of the Year), while 2009 marked the first year a Korean automaker was honored (the Hyundai Genesis for Car of the Year). In the Truck of the Year competition, domestic automakers have taken the award home 10 times (including the 2009 winner, the Ford F-150), Japanese automakers have won 4 times, while European automakers have won twice.

This year’s short list is comprised of the following vehicles:

Ford Taurus SHO

Car of the Year

BMW 335d
Buick LaCrosse
Cadillac CTS
Chevrolet Camaro
Ford Fusion/Fusion Hybrid
Ford Taurus
Honda Insight
Kia Soul
Mazda3/MazdaSpeed3
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Porsche Panamera
Subaru Legacy
Suzuki Kizashi
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Golf/GTI

Cadillac SRX

Truck of the Year

Acura ZDX
Audi Q5
Cadillac SRX
Chevrolet Equinox
Ford Transit Connect
Honda Crosstour
Land Rover LR4
Lincoln MKT
Subaru Outback
Volvo XC60

America’s second-oldest motor sports race

While practically everyone has heard of the Indianapolis 500, not nearly as many folks (unless they are die-hard race fans) have heard of the Pikes Peak hill climb or the mountain on which it is held.

Named after Lieutenant Zebulon Montgomery Pike who first attempted to ascend it in November of 1806 and first documented it as part of then-President Thomas Jefferson’s orders to determine the borders of the Louisiana Purchase, the peak which dominates the western horizon behind Colorado Springs, Colorado was not successfully summitted by a European until the spring of 1820.

A carriage road to the summit was built in 1888. Once the first automobile reached the top on August 12 of 1901, it took less than 15 years for the first organized race to the summit – an event that was held between August 10th and August 12th, 1916. The rest, as they say, is history.

The hill climb

Covering a distance of 12.42 miles, the course of the annual “Race to the Clouds” begins at Mile 7 on Pikes Peak Highway (9,390 ft) with an average grade of 7% and winds its way (there are 156 turns on the course) up 4,721 vertical feet to the finish at the summit.

The current overall record is held by none other than Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima of Japan who blew through the course in 10:01.408 on July 21st of 2007 at the wheel of a 1,000 hp purpose-built Suzuki XL7 “Hill Climb Special” (ya think?).

Ford Fiesta Rallycross

This year, Ford’s new Fiesta, although not due in showrooms until 2010, will make its U.S. racing debut on July 19th, as the Olsberg Motor Sport Evolution team from Sweden brings over two new Fiesta Rallycross cars to compete in this year’s event.

“The new Fiesta is an engaging, fun to drive car that is off to a very successful start in Europe and Asia,” said Jim Farley, Group Vice President, Ford Global Marketing and Communications. “Thanks to Andreas Eriksson, we’re able to introduce the Fiesta to racing fans in the U.S. ahead of its launch in 2010.”

Both cars will be competing in the Unlimited Class in an attempt to break Tajima’s record as well as the 10-minute mark and will be driven by Eriksson and legendary rally driver Marcus Grönholm.

Although Ford Racing North America will not be directly involved, it will assist the team with logistical support.

“We’re pleased to have a top independent team like Olsbergs MSE coming to the U.S. with their Fiesta Rallycross cars to take on the challenge of Pike’s Peak,” said Brian Wolfe, director, Ford North America Motorsports. “This will be a great chance for enthusiasts here to see in this unique setting what a lot of the rest of the world is already talking about – that the Fiesta is a great road car and a great race car.”

Photos courtesy of Ford Motor Company and Subaru of America

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.

2009 Nissan Cube

Even Detroit’s auto show can’t catch a break

Things are tough in Detroit – no question about it. Just ask the organizers of the North American International Auto Show. Porsche, a brand that wasn’t there last year, made the decision to skip the show again this year. Land Rover, Rolls-Royce and Ferrari felt the Detroit market was too small for their brands and backed out and both Mitsubishi and Suzuki took a pass as well. Then just last week, Nissan (along with premium brand Infiniti) announced that it was pulling the plug on both Detroit and Chicago.

At least with Nissan, the NAIAS had the consolation of knowing that it was not alone. But just as quickly, it now appears that Nissan will return to the Windy City.

2009 Nissan 370Z

Back in the game

Nissan Vice President of Corporate Communications, Alan Buddendeck, explained Nissan’s original position by stating that the company had already reached its intended audience at the unveiling of the 370Z roadster and the new Cube at the L.A. Auto Show in November.

So what caused the company to change its mind? According to Buddendeck:” Given the extraordinary economic and industry climate, all well-managed companies have a fiduciary responsibility to review strategies and tactics for going to market. As everyone knows, the automotive industry is facing severe and prolonged headwinds in North America and around the world. It’s a climate that demands decisions that are often difficult and even controversial.”

“At the national level, Nissan North America decided to withdraw from both the Chicago and Detroit shows. After a careful review of this decision with our North Central Region management and our Chicago dealers, we have found a way to maintain a presence at the Chicago show through our dealers, while still demonstrating the fiscal responsibility required by these challenging times. The decision outlined for Chicago does not affect our decision to withdraw from the 2009 North American International Auto Show.”

Chicago Auto Show Co-Chairman John Phelan put it this way, “To be sure, talking about our current economic conditions isn’t going to turn our industry around. But showing and talking about great new products, technology and breaking automotive news will help turn it around—and we want to help.”

BYD F3R

Chinese go upstairs and join the party

Meanwhile, back in Motown, all that extra floor space means it has to be filled by someone. So after two years spent in the basement as the red-headed stepchild, the Chinese automakers (so far, BYD and Brilliant) finally get their chance to join in the big dance on the main floor. Who knows, if anyone else drops out, even the boys from DUB magazine may get their big break. This could get interesting.

How about a DUB Rolls-Royce?

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.

Mazda Mazda3

New study reflects quality, value and “green” issues

In the ever-expanding portfolio of consumer-based automotive studies, you can add yet another: Strategic Vision’s “SmartGreen Index.” This latest study is said to meld consumer attitudes towards the perceived quality of a vehicle into a mix that includes such eco-friendly issues such as fuel economy and environmental “friendliness” (a rather broad term, to say the least).

In any case, for your edification, here is the complete press release:

San Diego – Strategic Vision unveils the new SmartGreen Index℠ (SGI℠) which reflects the relationships between perceived quality plus overall value (Smart) and “green” issues such as fuel economy and environmental friendliness (Green). SGI℠ is based on actual customer experiences and is weighted according to those aspects which best predict customer advocacy, overall satisfaction, future brand choices and loyalty, which ultimately result in increased model and brand sales.

Being a hybrid vehicle alone is not enough to guarantee top SmartGreen℠ marks. Industry-wide, some hybrids place at or below segment average in SGI℠ when factors such as interior quality cues or overall perceived value are rated below their competition. While the Toyota Prius may be the obvious SmartGreen℠ leader because of its fuel economy, it is easy to forget that the Prius also offers innovative interior styling which adds to making the Prius the SmartGreen℠ choice and among hybrid models, highest in sales. “Even when fuel prices are highest, people will want more than a little box with good fuel economy,” says Chris Chaney, V.P. of Special Projects at Strategic Vision. “For example, the Mazda3 leads in its segment ahead of the hybrids, offering superior styling, innovation, performance and affordability coupled with good fuel economy, offering more than competitive hybrids.”

Kia Amanti

Chevrolet had the most segment leaders among the domestic corporations with the Tahoe, Avalanche (tie) and Corvette Convertible leading their respective segments. The Tahoe scored high in perceived quality, as did its competition; however, the Tahoe was rated exceptionally higher than the competition in environmentally friendliness and fuel efficiency. “Even SUV buyers are sensitive to Green issues. Flex-fuel and hybrid options provide Green choices to Tahoe owners which increase customer advocacy, retention and bring new buyers into the brand, even if the vehicle they finally purchase is not always the greenest option,” states Alexander Edwards.

The MINI Cooper Clubman and Convertible were leaders in their segments due to terrific performance, overall value and Green-related issues. The MINI Cooper Hatchback scored just below the MINI Cooper Clubman, with both vehicles taking the top places in Specialty Coupes. The BMW 3-Series Coupe was also a leader in its segment.

MINI

Other best in class SGI℠ leaders were the Kia Amanti, Nissan Murano (tie), Audi Q7 and Mercedes S-Class for their excellence in quality, styling, performance and greenness. Buyers rated the following vehicles tops in their segments:

According to Dr. Edwards, in addition to the SGI℠ segment leaders, many manufacturers are “getting it right” with their model lineup. Included in Strategic Vision’s SmartGreen℠ Report are vehicle Five and Four Star SmartGreen℠ ratings, that are provided to manufacturers to better understand which of today’s vehicles are paving the way to help make their brand and their lineup the leaders of tomorrow.

For example, Five and Four Star vehicles are those like the Suzuki SX4 Sedan which offer fun and excitement through strong vehicle performance and styling in a fuel efficient package. These attributes and vehicle imagery are what can lead to increased awareness and potential consideration of the SX4 and other Suzuki models.

Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid

In addition to its segment-leading Amanti, Kia also has five other vehicles that scored highly in their respective segments: Spectra4, Rondo, Sedona, Sorrento and Sportage. Hyundai also placed well with four of their models — Azera, Entourage, Elantra and Santa Fe — demonstrating that thoughtfulness, value and overall economics all work together toward Hyundai’s future success.

The dork factor and some history

Let’s be honest. For most Americans, nothing in your automotive wardrobe says “nerd” more than a hatchback. For those of us at LotPro.com that are boomers, any car equipped with a tailgate reminds us of those tinny little econoboxes from the 1970’s – smaller, cheaper versions of the station wagons we were forced to ride in (and drive) when we were growing up. The American automobile market reflects this aversion: the number of performance cars that are available as a hatchback – such as the GTI, R32, Mazdaspeed3 and Audi A3 – constitute a small percentage of the overall sport sedan market.

The original hatchback dates back to 1938, with the introduction of the Citroen Traction Avant. While there were a number of successful designs after the Second World War, none is more famous than the MINI, first introduced in 1959. Not only was it the best selling vehicle in history in England, it set the standard for the classic hatchback: front wheel drive, front and back seats with seating for at least 4, plus a roofline that extended to the rear window and a rear hatch that, when lifted, allowed access to a storage area behind the rear seats.

While Americans flocked to dealerships in the 70’s to buy hatchbacks, most sales were a result of the oil crisis. Once gas became readily available and prices dropped, the only people who drove hatchbacks were those that were unable to afford the more traditional Detroit iron.

That, as they say, was then.

With gas prices headed back to the stratosphere, Americans are changing their buying patterns much more rapidly than any CAFE legislation could possibly accomplish. Fortunately, there are a number of high-quality, fun-to-drive hatchbacks in today’s market. You can even find a number of them with base prices under $15,000.

Honda Fit

Every time we put together a list of highly entertaining, fuel efficient vehicles, the Fit immediately comes to mind. With its “magic seat” configurations, the Fit offers 5 different seating and cargo combinations. Passenger volume, at 90 cubic feet, is only slightly less than the previous generation Accord Coupe. Six airbags, ABS and electronic brake distribution are all standard, as is air conditioning, power windows, locks and mirrors.

Kia Rio5

Choosing the hatchback version of the Rio will give you an upgrade in the wheel/tire department to 15” alloys, along with a better tire package. It’s also better looking than its sedan sibling and a better handling vehicle than its cousin, the Hyundai Accent. Passenger volume is an impressive 92 cubic feet, while cargo volume offers an additional 16 cubic feet (this is, after all, why we’re looking at hatchbacks).Nissan Versa

Okay, the styling does take some time to get used to. But the lack of style is more than made up by the Versa’s utility. Passenger volume is 94.7 cubic feet and cargo volume brings an additional 17.8 cubic feet to the party – 4 more than its sedan counterpart. An AM/FM/CD sound system is standard, along with full instrumentation that includes a tachometer. All Versas (Versai?) come equipped with front, side as well as front and rear side curtain airbags.

Suzuki Reno

Our Canadian friends will recognize the Suzuki Reno as the recently deceased Chevrolet Optra. Both are/were built by GM’s Korean subsidiary Daewoo. Unlike the Versa, the Reno was styled by Italdesign, making it much easier on the eyes. What this Suzuki lacks in cargo volume (8.8 cubic feet) it more than makes up for in passenger volume – a generous 103.6 cubic feet. Power windows, power locks and air conditioning are all standard, as are power, heated, outside rearview mirrors and 4 wheel disc brakes.

RMZ-4, Quad, Quay

Based on their upcoming truck the Equator and originating in Smyrna, Tennessee as a version of the Nissan Frontier, Suzuki used the Chicago Auto Show to showcase three different interpretations of their new compact pickup due out later this year.

To differentiate itself from its Nissan sibling, the Equator will feature a unique hood, grille, front fascia and tailgate, as well as bumpers and front fenders. The three concept trucks, RMZ-4, Quay and Quad represent the three non-automotive areas of Suzuki expertise – performance-oriented motocross, recreational boating and the Suzuki QuadRunner ATV experience, respectively.

Suzuki’s reasoning behind offering a truck such as the Equator is that their motocrossing, boating and ATV customers need to haul their Suzukis in something, and that something might as well be another Suzuki. Sounds logical to us.