2010 North American Car and Truck of the Year Finalists Announced

Finalists for the coveted "2010 North American Car and Truck of the Year" award have been announced, and the list includes a variety of automobiles starting with: Buick LaCrosse, Ford Fusion Hybrid and Volkswagen Golf/GTI in the North American Car of the Year category and the Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Transit Connect and Subaru Outback as finalists for North American Truck of the Year. The winner will be announced in January 2010 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Press release after the jump.

Press release

A jury of 49 veteran automotive journalists has selected the Buick LaCrosse, Ford Fusion Hybrid and Volkswagen Golf/GTI as finalists for North American Car of the Year and the Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Transit Connect and Subaru Outback as finalists for North American Truck of the Year.

The awards are unique in the United States because -- instead of being given by a single media outlet -- they are given by automotive journalists from the United States and Canada who represent magazines, television, radio, newspapers and web sites.

The awards are designed to recognize the most outstanding vehicles of the year based on factors that include innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.

To be eligible, vehicles must be "all-new" or "substantially changed" from the previous model. This year the jury considered more than 50 vehicles and finally focused on 16 cars and 10 trucks.

Michelle Collins, Vice Chairman Automotive at Deloitte LLP, was responsible for counting the ballots, which jurors sent directly to the accounting firm.

The finalists were kept secret until today when Ms. Collins disclosed their identities during an Automotive Press Association luncheon in Detroit.

Ms. Collins is still the only person who knows the winners, which will be announced January 11th at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Although the winners are disclosed at a news conference at the auto show it does not give the awards.

Last year the North American Car of the Year was the Hyundai Genesis and the North American Truck of the Year was the Ford F-150.

This is the 17th year of the awards, which are funded exclusively by the jurors. During that time:

Hybrids have been honored three times. The Toyota Prius was the 2004 North American Car of the Year and the Ford Escape Hybrid was the 2005 North American Truck of the Year. The Honda Civic Hybrid was included when the Civic was named the 2006 North American Car of the Year.
Chevrolet's vehicles have been named the North American Truck of the Year three times. Most recently the Silverado was the 2007 North American Truck of the Year.
While Ford has been a finalist in the car category many times, it won only once. The Ford Focus was the 2000 North American Car of the Year.
Ford has dominated the truck category with five wins, followed by Chevrolet with three. Most recently, the F-150 was the 2009 North American Truck of the Year.
General Motors won North American Car of the Year three times. Most recently, the Chevrolet Malibu was the 2008 North American Car of the Year and the Saturn Aura was the 2007 North American Car of the Year.
Volkswagen's Jetta TDI was a finalist last year. Volkswagen's New Beetle was the 1999 North American Car of the Year.
Domestic automakers have won North American Car of the Year eight times. Japanese automakers have won three times. European automakers have won four times. A Korean automaker has won once.
Domestic automakers have won North American Truck of the Year 10 times. Japanese automakers have won four times. European automakers have won twice.

Here are the vehicles on which the jurors voted:

2010 North American Car of the Year nominees