2010
Concept Vehicle Nominees
Award Jury
South
East Automotive Media Organization Announces
2009 Concept Vehicle of the Year Award Winners
Dearborn, MI, June 23 - The eighth annual North American
Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards were announced this
evening during a ceremony at the Automotive Hall of Fame.
Organized by the South East Automotive Media Organization,
the awards recognize those vehicles most likely to shape
the future of the automobile industry.
A jury of more
than two dozen North American automotive journalists selected
the winners from 23 Concept Vehicles and 11 Production
Preview Vehicles that made a North American debut during
the 2009 Auto Show season.
The Production
Preview category is for those vehicles based on a model
that has already been announced or planned for production.
A bellwether
for the auto industry's second century, Fisker Automotive
takes the honor of 2009 Production Preview Vehicle of
the Year with its Karma S Concept. According to juror
Michael Bettencourt, "A company started and run by
a designer should have beautiful cars, concepts and prototypes.
Henrik Fisker's firm certainly does – the Fisker
Karma S is just drop dead gorgeous."
Out of the
8 competitors in the Concept Car category, Volkswagen
made its debut at the awards podium with the open-air
Concept BlueSport Roadster, winning the 2009 Concept Car
of the Year award. Said juror Ashly Knapp, "Who'd
have thought a diesel could be fast, economical and clean
while powering the fun, little roust-about Volkswagen
BlueSport."
Showing that
small can still be fun and capable in a personal-use truck,
Kia Motors makes its first trip to the podium, with the
beach-ready Soul'ster taking the 2009 award for Concept
Truck of the Year. "The Kia Soul'ster shows the playfulness
of the designers from the initial design of the Soul,"
said juror Lou Ann Hammond.
More than ever
this year, the Specialty Concept category recognizes those
vehicles where the technology, not necessarily the exterior
package, is the key story. Bringing GM's Advanced Powertrain
Studio its fifth win in this category, the honor of being
named the 2009 Specialty Concept Vehicle of the Year goes
to the Cadillac Converj. "Cadillac capitalizes on
the growing popularity of coupe styling, but steps up
several notches with electric propulsion technology, 2+2
seating, and profile enhancing wheels on the Converj,"
said juror Bob Kroupa.
From amongst
the category winners, the Cadillac Converj was the top-scoring
vehicle with a huge lead, earning the accolade as the
"Most Significant Concept Vehicle of 2009."
No stranger to the winners' podium, this marks the fifth
time in the award program's eight years that a GM concept
has earned the top spot, backed up with an equally impressive
field of 28 category finalists, and 11 category winners.
Additional
information and details regarding the nominees, the selection
jury and the award winners can be found by visiting www.northamericanconceptawards.org
on the web.
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