DETROIT
-- ROAD & TRAVEL Magazine (RTM) announced its 11th 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:
--International Car of the Year: Lexus LS 460
--International Truck of the Year: Chevrolet Silverado
Crew Cab
--Pick Up Truck of the Year: "Most Athletic" Chevrolet
Silverado
--Sports Car of the Year: "Most Sex Appeal" Jaguar
XK
--Sedan of the Year: "Most Dependable" Toyota Camry
--Luxury Car of the Year: "Most Respected" Lexus
LS 460
--Minivan of the Year: "Most Compatible" Hyundai
Entourage
--Entry Level Car of the Year: "Most Spirited" Mazda
Speed 3
--Crossover of the Year: "Most Versatile" Mazda
CX-7
--SUV of the Year: "Most Resourceful" GMC Yukon
"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 recognized
veteran automotive journalist and photographer Jim Dunne with
its 4th annual Lifetime Achievement Award. RTM also presented
its 3rd annual HEART STRING Award for best car commercial
in 2006 for Ford Mustang's "Father & Son" by
JWT.
Sponsors for the
2007 ICOTY Awards include DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Bridgestone
Firestone Tires, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation,
OnStar, American Suzuki Motor Corporation, Intrapromote, Bose
Corporation, Subaru of America, American Honda, Automotive
Women's Alliance, BMW North America, Hyundai Motor America,
Mazda North American Operations, Mercedes-Benz USA, Nissan
NA, AutoTrader.com, Car Crazy Central, JWT, NAWBO Detroit
Chapter, The Women's Automotive Association International
and U-Haul International. Media partners for the event include
AutoTrader.com, Car Crazy Central, Edmunds.com, MSN Autos
and Popular Mechanics. CBS Detroit will be televising ICOTY
2007 as a TV special to air on opening weekend of the North
American International Auto Show: Sunday, January 14th at
12:00 p.m.
Source: ROAD
& TRAVEL Magazine

PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / AMERICAJR.com
The
Toyota Camry won the award for Sedan of the Year due to its
dependability. This photo was taken at the 2006 NAIAS.