2013 North American Car and Truck of the Year contenders revealed
BMW 3-Series, Tesla Model S and Ram 1500 among 45 vehicles named as candidates for the 20th anniversary North American Car and Truck of the Year awards, with winners to be announced at Detroit in January 2013.
Organisers of the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards have released the full list of 45 vehicles in contention for the 2013 titles, ahead of the final announcement at the Detroit Motor Show in January. The 20th anniversary edition of the awards features 30 cars and 15 trucks and utility vehicles, reflecting a broad field of new and updated models entering the US and Canadian markets for the 2013 model year.
The car category includes several high-profile launches such as the BMW 3-Series sedan, Cadillac ATS, Dodge Dart and Tesla Model S. The list also recognises the growing presence of electric vehicles, with the Ford Focus Electric, Honda Fit EV and Toyota Prius C all nominated. Sports and performance models are represented by the Scion FR-S, Subaru BRZ, Porsche 911 and SRT Viper, the latter remaining exclusive to North America for 2013. Luxury contenders include the Lexus GS, Mercedes-Benz SL-Class and Porsche Boxster.
In the truck and utility category, the Ram 1500 pickup joins crossovers and SUVs such as the Ford Escape, Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX-5 and Mercedes-Benz GL-Class. The Audi Allroad and BMW X1 add European interest to a segment increasingly dominated by car-based utilities. Electric and hybrid models are also present, with the Ford C-Max and Toyota RAV4 EV making the list.
Full list of 2013 nominees
- Acura ILX
- BMW 3-Series Sedan
- BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe
- Cadillac ATS
- Cadillac XTS
- Chevrolet Malibu
- Chevrolet Spark
- Dodge Dart
- Ford Fusion
- Ford Focus Electric
- Honda Accord
- Honda Fit EV
- Hyundai Azera
- Hyundai Elantra GT
- Kia Cadenza
- Lexus ES
- Lexus GS
- Lincoln MKZ
- Mazda 6
- Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
- Nissan Altima
- Nissan Sentra
- Porsche 911
- Porsche Boxster
- Scion FR-S
- SRT Viper
- Subaru BRZ
- Tesla Model S
- Toyota Avalon
- Toyota Yaris
- Toyota Prius C
- Acura RDX
- Audi Allroad
- BMW X1
- Ford Escape
- Ford C-Max
- Hyundai Santa Fe
- Infiniti JX 35
- Mazda CX-5
- Mercedes-Benz GL
- Mercedes-Benz GLK
- Mercedes-Benz G-Class
- Nissan Pathfinder
- Ram 1500
- Subaru SV Crosstrek
- Toyota RAV4 EV
How the awards process works
A jury of 50 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada will evaluate the nominees, narrowing the field to a shortlist of finalists in late 2012. The winners in each category will be announced during the opening of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2013. Last year’s awards went to the Hyundai Elantra and Range Rover Evoque.
The North American Car and Truck of the Year awards are regarded as independent of manufacturer sponsorship, with jurors considering factors such as innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for money. The process aims to reflect the views of professional journalists rather than industry insiders or advertising interests.
Notable contenders and market context
