DETROIT--January 16, 2013: While crowds ogled the new 2014 Corvette Stingray, Autoweek editors made it the unanimous choice to receive Best in Show honors. Other standouts pushed the limits of automotive design, passion and creativity to earn the editors' votes for Most Significant, Best Concept and Most Fun vehicles at the 2013 North American International Auto Show.
“When the Atlas arrives as the 2015 Ford F-150 pickup, it will be a game-changer in terms of fuel economy in the segment”
"Sometimes choosing a favorite is difficult, other times it's easy. When Autoweek's editors gathered to pick a winner from the North American International Auto Show, it was easy," said Editor Wes Raynal. "A new Corvette comes but once every eight years. This was that year and the new Corvette was a stunner. The car was the talk of Detroit and the talk of car passionate people around the world. It was the cover boy of media and, easily, by unanimous vote, took our Best in Show honors."
The Autoweek Editors' Choice Award winners from the 2013 North American International Auto Show are:
Best in Show: Chevrolet
Corvette Stingray
"On rare occasions, at least one
car
premieres at an auto show that absorbs all the light and air in the
building, that takes our breath away, and it takes every one of our
editors' votes without debate," said Raynal.
"The 2014 Chevrolet
Corvette Stingray is that car."
Others considered:
None
Best Concept: Hyundai
HCD-14
The HCD-14, the latest in Hyundai's long
line of concept
cars, could eventually become the next Genesis sedan in production
guise--and that would take the Korean automaker to
another level of
sophistication in styling as well as technological prowess.
"You look at this elegant sedan and say,
'That's a Hyundai?' This is a
gorgeous concept car," said Davey G. Johnson, senior online
editor.
"It's
big, comfortable and luxurious," said Mark Vaughn, senior
editor. "It's
old money."
Others considered: BMW 4, Ford Atlas
Most Significant: Ford
Atlas concept
Look past the Atlas concept's obvious
truck
styling for the real story of aerodynamic improvements and
weight-saving
high-strength steel parts.
"When the Atlas arrives as the 2015 Ford F-150 pickup,
it will be a
game-changer in terms of fuel economy in the segment," said
Bob
Gritzinger, executive editor. "And if aluminum replaces
steel as is
rumored, the significance of the Atlas grows
astronomically."
Others
considered: Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel, Lincoln MKC concept
Most Fun: Audi
RS7 Sportback
Superior performance and styling usually catch
our attention when it comes to contenders for our Most Fun award.
While
the unusual Corvette LS9-powered Destino collaboration from Henrik
Fisker and Bob Lutz turned our heads, and the Mercedes E63
AMG's
3.5-second 0-60-mph time will snap them back, ultimately it was the
Audi
RS7's combination of panache and power that earned our
nod.
"Twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8, 560 hp, quattro
all-wheel drive, and a
3.7-second 0-60-mph time," said Germany correspondent Greg
Kable. "And
it looks great."
Others considered: Mercedes-Benz
E63 AMG, VL
Destino
For more information on the Editors' Choice Awards, and extensive Detroit auto show coverage, visit autoweek.com/section/detroit.