2012 North American Car and Truck of the Year Finalists Announced
 2012 North American Car and Truck of the |
By Bob Gordon and Marty Bernstein
Detroit MI December 15, 2011 (1:10 PM); The finalists for the 2012 North American Car and Truck of the Year were announced this morning at the Automotive Press Association meeting held at the Detroit Athletic Club in downtown Detroit.
2012 North American Car of the Year Finalists
2012 Ford Focus2012 Hyundai Elantra
2012 Volkswagen Passat
2012 North American Truck of the Year Finalists
2012 BMW X32012 Range Rover Evoque
2012 Honda CR-V
These finalists chosen by the 50-member NACTOY jury announced this morning, were culled from a short list first revealed this past October (see below).
As published October 2011, 2012 North American Car of the Year Short-List Candidates:
Audi A6
Audi A7
Buick Verano
Chevrolet Sonic
Chrysler 300/SRT-8
Fiat 500
Ford Focus
Hyundai Accent
Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai Veloster
Kia Rio/Rio 5
Scion iQ
Subaru Impreza
Toyota Camry
Toyota Prius V
VW Beetle
VW Passat
As published October 2011, 2012 North American Truck of the Year Short-List Candidates:
BMW X3
Honda CR-V
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Mini Countryman
Nissan Quest
Saab 9-4X
Last year the 2011 North American Car of the Year was the Chevrolet Volt and the 2011 North American Truck of the Year was the Ford Explorer.
This is the 19th year of the awards. During the past 18 years:
* Domestic automakers have won North American Car of the Year ten times. European automakers have won four times, Japanese automakers have won three times. A Korean automaker – Hyundai - has won once.
* Domestic automakers have won North American Truck of the Year 12 times. Japanese automakers have won four times. European automakers have won twice.
The awards are administered by a six-person organizing committee. This year its members are Karl Brauer (Total Car Score); Marc Lachapelle (MSN Autos US, Le Guide de l'auto); Tony Swan (Car and Driver); Lindsay Brooke (Automotive Engineering International); Mark Phelan (The Detroit Free Press) and Christopher Jensen (Freelance).
