2020 Car, Truck and Utility Vehicles of the Year
With this year’s North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) moving to a warmer summer show in June, things looked quite a bit different today for the North American Car, Utility, and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) awards, which was traditionally held on during NAIAS preview week at the beginning of January.
I have my former boss, Glenn Stevens to thank for this paparazzi photo from today’s event!
NACTOY, one of my clients at Lambert, still hosted their yearly awards ceremony at TCF Center today. This event welcomes hundreds of the automotive media community together in Detroit for the big announcements. And this year’s 26th annual event featured several other big automotive and mobility announcements. There are journalists from around the world plus live broadcasts taking place. It’s very exciting.
This was my first client event since joining Lambert, and it felt good to get back in the saddle. Also as the Agency of Record for NAIAS, who had a big role in the event, we handled all of the media interviews for executives as well as the live news broadcasts coming from TFC Center.
In addition to the NACTOY announcement, NAIAS unveiled a new part of the June 2020 show called Motor Bella. This Italian and British supercar festival is an outdoor event that kicks off the international gathering in Detroit that is the North American International Auto Show. Motor Bella will feature well over 100 Italian and British supercars representing 12 brands, such as Ferrari and Rolls Royce. The vehicles will be provided by a mixture of British and Italian auto brands, local dealers and car clubs.
Finally the Lt. Governor of Michigan, Garlin Gilchrist joined the stage to provide an update on the Michigan Mobility Challenge, an initiatve that will transport NAIAS attendees from the airport to downtown Detroit and around the city in autonomous vehicles during the show.
The following winners are the 2020 North American Car, Utility, and Truck of the Year:
2020 Car of the Year
Overall U.S. car sales might be declining, but there was no shortage of compelling, innovative contenders this year. When the ballots were counted, jurors selected Chevrolet Corvette Stingwray as the car that stood out among its competition.
“A mid-engine Corvette was a huge risk for Chevy’s muscle-car icon. They nailed it. Stunning styling, interior, and performance for one-third of the cost of comparable European exotics,” said Henry Payne, auto critic for The Detroit News.
2020 Utility Vehicle of the Year
In the increasingly popular utility segment, automakers must look for that magical combination of design, features and functionality. This year, jurors decided the Kia Telluride deserved top honors.
“The Telluride’s interior layout and design would meet luxury SUV standards, while its refined drivetrain, confident driving dynamics and advanced technology maintain the premium experience,” said Karl Brauer, Executive Publisher at Cox Automotive. “Traditional SUV brands take note: there’s a new star player on the field.”
2020 Truck of the Year
The truck category reflected the growing popularity of mid-size trucks as the Ford Ranger and Jeep Gladiator squared off against the Ram Heavy Duty. Ultimately, jurors selected the Jeep Gladiator as the winner.
“What’s not to like about a pickup truck with not only a soft-top removable roof but even removable doors? If you want massive cargo-hauling capability or the ability to tow 10,000 pounds, buy something else,” said longtime automotive journalist John Voelcker. “The eagerly awaited Gladiator is a one-of-a-kind truck, every bit the Jeep its Wrangler sibling is … but with a pickup bed. How could you possibly get more American than that?”
