They're going to need a bigger trophy shelf at General Motors because the Chevrolet Volt has won yet another "car of the year" award. It's a much-deserved award for a fantastic vehicle and still more validation that GM has built a solid car.
The innovative car was named the 2011 North American Car of the Year this morning at the Detroit auto show, beating out the Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Sonata. The award, presented by Automotive Press Association, is decided by a panel of 49 automotive journalists from throughout North America.
“It’s a great honor to be recognized as the North American Car of the Year,” General Motors CEO Dan Akerson said. “Since development began, we believed the Volt had the potential to transform the automotive industry. Today, the Volt is the first electric vehicle to win the prestigious North American Car of the Year award, and the first vehicle ever to receive the industry’s highest automotive, technology, and environmental recognitions.”
We're not going to split hairs here and go into a long explanation of why the Volt is actually a plug-in hybrid. Suffice to say the Volt is an impressive car that effectively bridges internal combustion and battery electric power. The EPA says it has an all-electric range of 35 miles; beyond that an internal combustion drives a generator to keep the electricity flowing.
Ford's all-new Explorer won North American Truck of the Year.
For those of you keeping score at home, this is the seventh major award the Volt has won. It won Motor Trend and Automobile magazine's car of the year. Green Car Journal named it Green Car of the Year, and Ward's AutoWorld named it one of the 10 best drivetrains of the year. Car & Driver named it one of the 10 best cars of the year, and Popular Mechanics awarded it a "breakthrough technology" award.
All you haters bashing on this car? Today's award is still more evidence that you're wrong. The Volt is an excellent vehicle, period, end of story. GM deserves tremendous credit for building it.
Photo: Jeffrey Sauger / Chevrolet. GM Vice Chairman Tom Stephens hoists the 2011 North American Car of the Year trophy in celebration at the Detroit Auto Show.
