Jalopnik: Truck Of The Year

Chicago Auto Show: Motor Trend Has Wood For Tundra

Mark Arnold — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:00:00 EST

Here it is in all its glory: The winner of the highly-coveted Motor Trend Truck of the Year Award, the Toyota Tundra. Just look at all those steel girders! When Ray (who had been locked up in the press room for most of the day) saw this shrine to the golden calipers, he just couldn't help but get an up close look.

Thing is, it turns out the trendy payload was only skin-deep. We're thinking it was plywood, but you judge for yourself. All we know is — to hold aloft that prestigious award you don't need something as strong as steel girders. Nah, you only need it to look like it.

Motor Trend Names Toyota Tundra Truck Of The Year, Likes The Alliteration

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:00:00 EST

Motor Trend tapped the bulging Toyota Tundra as the 2008 Truck of the Year, besting GM's HDs and Ford's F-X50 Super Duty pickups. The trucks were pitted against each other at Chrysler's Yucca, Arizona testing facility, where the editors could have fun throwing them through various road conditions. They also hooked the trucks up to 7,500 and 10,000-pound trailers, just for kicks. The vehicles were judged in three categories: Superiority, Significance and Value. The Tundra just ended up being more significant, more valuable and more superior. [Motor Trend via PickUpTruck.com]

GM Dominates 2008 North American Car and Truck of the Year Finalists, Who Knew?

Ray Wert — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:15:00 EST

We don't know who the General paid off to get as many finalist slots for the 2008 edition of the North American Car and Truck Of the Year (NACTOY) award filled with their products, but they did pretty darn well. Conversely, maybe they've just got some really good product this year. We'll let you decide that for yourselves — or more accurately, we'll let the 50 "high-profile journalists" decide. All we know is Detroit's biggest automaker snagged themselves four of the six top spots, two in car of the year voting and two in truck of the year. Full list of finalists below the jump.

Car of the Year
Cadillac CTS
Chevrolet Malibu
Honda Accord

Truck of the Year
Buick Enclave
Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
Mazda CX-9

The winners will be determined during the Detroit Auto Show next month. Obviously, you know who'll be here to give you the scoop.

NACTOY Makes a List: North American Car/Truck of the Year Finalists

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 11:43:33 EDT

That shadow organization known as the jury for the North American Car of the Year and North American Truck of the Year awards (NAMBLA) has picked its finalists for 2007 — 11 cars and 15 trucks from the '07 model year. The final voting takes place in late December, when 50 automotive journalists (a couple of whom are neither white nor male) will decide the winners, which will be announced at the Detroit show in January. Click through for the finalists.

Car of the year finalists:
Chrysler Sebring
Dodge Caliber
Honda Fit
Infiniti G35
Jaguar XK/XKR
Lexus LS 460
Mercedes S class
Nissan Altima
Nissan Versa
Saturn Aura
Toyota Camry

Truck of the year finalists:
Acura MDX
Acura RDX
Audi Q7
BMW X5
Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban
Chevrolet Silverado
Dodge Nitro
Ford Edge
GMC Acadia
Honda CR-V
Hyundai Santa Fe
Jeep Wrangler
Mazda CX-7
Saturn Vue Green Line
Toyota FJ Cruiser

Honda Ridgeline Named Motor Trend's 2006 Truck of the Year

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 10:32:48 EST

It's a clean sweep for Honda over at Motor Trend. Earlier this month, the buff book named the Honda Civic its 2006 Car of the Year, now the Civic's truckish sibling, the Ridgeline, was named the magazine's 2006 Truck of the Year. The Ridgie, which hasn't been selling to Honda's satisfaction since its launch this year, beat out the Dodge Ram 1500, Dodge Ram Mega Cab, Honda Ridgeline, Isuzu i350, Lincoln Mark LT, and Mitsubishi Raider to claim the prize. MT editor-in-chief, Angus MacKenzie said the Ridgeline "is filled with innovation and clever solutions to everyday issues" and "encompasses all necessities a truck should have." (Except maybe a V8 and a full-length bed, but don't mind us.) The Ridgeline's independent rear suspension and novel lighting and storage solutions also helped win over the MT crowd, which considers value, class superiority and the level of "significant development on the new-truck scene" in their decision-making.

Motor Trend Names 2006 Truck of the Year [Motor Trend]