by Finalists of Prestigious Automotive Awards
At the Los Angeles Auto Show, the finalists for the annual North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards were announced. This list has sparked controversy due to the jury’s unexpected decisions, where some worthy contenders did not make it to the finals, while questionable candidates did.
Car of the Year: Unexpected Nominees
In the “Car of the Year” category, the finalists are the Dodge Charger, Honda Prelude, and Nissan Sentra. They surpassed competitors such as the Audi A5, Kia K4 Hatchback, and Mercedes CLA. The inclusion of the Honda Prelude is particularly strange, as it is characterized by a high price, low power, and slowness compared to other participants.
In effect, it’s the Cadillac ELR of our time.
Truck of the Year: Unpredictable Results
The situation in the “Truck of the Year” category turned out to be no less interesting. The Ford Maverick Lobo and Ram 1500 Hemi made it to the finals, even though the powerful Rivian R1T Quad Motor with 1025 horsepower was among the nominees. The updated Ram 2500 with a new 430 hp Cummins engine is expected to be the winner.
Utility Vehicle of the Year: Surprises and Disappointments
The biggest surprises occurred in the “Utility Vehicle of the Year” category. The finalists were the Hyundai Palisade, Lucid Gravity, and Nissan Leaf. They outperformed new models like the Jeep Cherokee, Honda Passport, Toyota 4Runner, and Toyota RAV4. Cadillac was completely eliminated from the competition, despite having three contender models.
Competition Conclusion
The winners will be announced at the Detroit Auto Show in January of next year. These decisions have already sparked active discussions among experts and car enthusiasts, especially regarding the inclusion of less competitive models instead of technologically advanced newcomers.
The selection of finalists reflects not only technical characteristics but also changes in evaluation criteria, which may consider affordability, design innovations, or environmental aspects. For example, the appearance of electric models in the final indicates the growing role of alternative fuels, while the inclusion of less powerful cars may be an attempt to balance different market segments.
