Road and Travel Magazine 2006 International Car of the Year Awards
ROAD & TRAVEL Magazine (RTM) announced its 10th Annual International Car of the Year Awards (ICOTY) winners at a black tie ceremony today. Held at the Detroit Marriott Hotel, RTM hosted more than 600 industry leaders and media on the eve of press week of the North American International Auto Show.
A jury of 12 nationally-renowned automotive journalists selected the Top 10 automobiles with ballots tabulated by J.D. Power and Associates. And the winners are:
* Car of the Year: Dodge Charger
* Truck of the Year: Hummer H3
* Pick Up Truck of the Year: "Most Athletic" Honda Ridgeline
* Sports Car of the Year: "Most Sex Appeal" Pontiac Solstice
* Sedan of the Year: "Most Dependable" Hyundai Sonata
* Luxury Car of the Year: "Most Respected" Mercedes-Benz CLS500
* Minivan of the Year: "Most Compatible" Honda Odyssey
* Entry Level Car of the Year: "Most Spirited" Audi A3
* Crossover of the Year: "Most Versatile" Dodge Magnum SRT8
* SUV of the Year: (Tie) "Most Resourceful" Ford Explorer and Range Rover Sport"The ICOTY awards focus on the emotional connection between car and consumer; how vehicles reflect our lifestyles and self image, an attitude the average consumer can identify with," says RTM Editor-In-Chief Courtney Caldwell.
RTM also recognized veteran automotive journalist David E. Davis, Jr. with its third annual Lifetime Achievement Award. Described as "the dean of America's automotive critics" by Time Magazine, Davis is widely recognized as the guru of the automobile industry. RTM also presented its second annual HEART STRING Award for best car commercial in 2005 for the Nissan 350Z.
ICOTY sponsors included DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Detroit Marriott Hotel, Shell Oil, Dolby Laboratories, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, OnStar, Hyundai Motor America, Subaru of America, American Suzuki, BMW NA, American Honda, Nissan NA, and U-Haul International. Media sponsors included MSN Autos, Edmunds.com and Vehix.com.
About ROAD & TRAVEL Magazine ROAD & TRAVEL Magazine, established in 1989, is a comprehensive online magazine specializing in automotive, travel and personal safety topics. RTM provides content and resources from which consumers can make informed and intelligent decisions regarding their automotive, travel and personal safety needs. For more information, visit http://www.roadandtravel.com/