A Clean Sweep for Chevrolet

By Bill McLauchlan

Today started off a great day for GM’s bowtie division. The all-new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and Silverado 1500 have just been named the 2014 North American Car and Truck of the Year. They received their accolades this morning at a news conference at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
   
It is the first time Chevrolet has won both awards in the same year. The Silverado was last named Truck of the Year in 2007 and the Corvette was last named Car of the Year in 1998.

It was the fourth truck win for General Motors. Domestic automakers have won North American Car of the Year 12 times. Japanese car makers have won three times, European manufacturers four times and a Korean car maker (Hyundai) has won twice.

The Corvette received 211 points topping the Mazda3 with 185 points and the Cadillac CTS with 94 points. The Silverado received 219 points to the Jeep Cherokee with 174 points and the Acura MDX with 97 points.

Chevrolet sweeps the North American Car and Truck of the Year voting as the Silverado pickup (left) and the Corvette Stingray are voted the 2014 North American Truck and Car of the Year Monday, January 13, 2014 at the start of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. New General Motors CEO Mary Barra is pictured with the vehicles Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at the GM Renaissance Center Global Headquarters in Detroit. (Photo by John F. Martin for Chevrolet)

Presentation of the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards – now in their 21st year – open media days each year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Forty-nine automotive journalists from the United States and Canada, who represent magazines, TV, radio, newspapers and web sites,  vote to recognize the most outstanding vehicles of the year based on factors including innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.

The new Corvette Stingray is the most powerful standard model ever, with 455 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque from a 6.2L V8 engine – and 460 horsepower /465 lb-ft with the available performance exhaust system – enabling models with the optional Z51 Performance Package to sprint from 0 to 60 100 km/h (60 mph) in 3.8 seconds.

The Silverado’s available 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine generates 355 horsepower for confident towing and hauling, yet seamlessly switches to four cylinders to save fuel during light-load driving. With an EPA estimated highway fuel economy of up to 23 mpg, Silverado offers the best fuel economy of any V8 pickup.

“It is a distinct honour for the entire Chevrolet team to have both the Corvette and Silverado recognized with the prestigious North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards,” said Alan Batey, General Motors’ senior vice-president, global for Chevrolet.

To be eligible, a vehicle must be all new or substantially changed. The jurors considered dozens of new vehicles before sending their ballots to Michelle Collins, a partner at Deloitte & Touche early in December.

On December 10th the three car and truck finalists were announced. But only Ms. Collins knew the winners until she handed over envelopes today to Tony Swan, a freelance journalist and member of the organizing committee, who made the announcements. The awards, inspired by the “Car of the Year” approach in Europe, are administered by an organizing committee and are funded with dues paid by the jurors. There are no paid positions. Automakers do not pay to have their vehicles considered or to mention the awards in ads.