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The
Votes have been cast, acceptance speeches are being written, the
media is being rounded up and the anticipation continues to grow.
Is it a replay of the 2004 Presidential Elections? The Academy
Awards? No, it's ROAD & TRAVEL Magazine's 9th Annual International
Car of the Year Awards.
Set
to kick off the festivities of 2005 North American International
Auto Show (NAIAS), the ICOTY awards will take the stage at the
Marriott Detroit Renaissance Hotel to honor the top 2005 models
across ten categories. Ranging from Most Sex Appeal (sports car)
to Most Athletic (pickup truck) to Most Respected (luxury) to
Most Compatible (minivan), this year's ICOTY awards are expected
to once again raise the bar.
The
ICOTY Awards were the first awards to judge new vehicles based
on how they reflect lifestyle and the experience consumers have
during car buying and ownership. "The emotionally compelling
theme on which we present our awards represents the relationship
consumers have with their cars," says RTM editor-in-chief
Courtney Caldwell. "It's about how cars reflect our lifestyles
and self-image, an attitude most consumers can identify with."
Along
with the Top 10 vehicle awards, RTM will present its second Lifetime
Achievement Award honoring veteran automotive journalist Jerry
Flint. This award will be sponsored by General Motors Corporation
and Bridgestone/Firestone. RTM will also be awarding their first
HEART STRING Award to the vehicle manufacturer and their advertising
agency for creating the most emotionally compelling vehicle commercial
for 2004. Shell Oil Products US and Dolby Laboratories are the
sponsors this presentation.
For
2005 there are more vehicles, more awards and more lights, glitz
and glamour.
Who
do you think will be the winners?
Car
of the Year - Cadillac STS, Chrysler 300C, Ford Mustang
Truck
of the Year - Hummer H2 SUT, Land Rover LR3, Nissan
Pathfinder
Luxury
: Most Respected - Acura RL, Jaguar XJ LWB, Cadillac
STS
Sedan
: Most Dependable - Chrysler
300C, Subaru Legacy 2.5i, Honda Accord Hybrid
Entry
Level : Most Spirited -
Ford Focus, Scion tC, MINI Cooper Convertible
Sports
Car : Most Sex Appeal - Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Corvette,
Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6 Roadster
Pickup
Truck : Most Athletic - Dodge Dakota, Ford F-Series
Super Duty FX4, Toyota Tacoma
SUV
: Most Resourceful - Ford Escape Hybrid, Nissan Pathfinder,
Land Rover LR3
Minivan/Life
Stage : Most Compatible -
Chrysler Town & Country w/ Stow 'n' Go, Chevrolet Uplander,
Honda Odyssey
Crossover/Sport
Wagon o Most Versatile - Dodge Magnum, Ford Freestar,
Subaru Forester 2.5XS
2005
ICOTY Sponsors include Shell Oil Products US, Bridgestone/Firestone
Tires, Dolby Laboratories, Ford Motor Company, General Motors
Corporation, Detroit Marriott Renaissance Hotel, Hyundai Motor
America, GM's OnStar, American Honda Motor Company, BMW North
America, Bose Corporation, DaimlerChrysler Corporation, GMAC Financial
Services, U-Haul Corporation, Google, Tower Automotive, and ArvinMeritor
Inc. CBS Detroit will be providing full media coverage of the
awards. Other media partners include MSN AUTOS and AAA NATIONAL,
both of which will provide post event coverage of the winners.
For
more information on the awards, visit the ICOTY
Awards page.
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