2009
Concept Vehicle Nominees
Award Jury
South
East Automotive Media Organization Announces
2008 Concept Vehicle of the Year Award Winners
Detroit, MI, June 24 - The seventh 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 professional automotive journalists from
throughout North America selected the winners from 40
Concept Vehicles and 12 Production Preview Vehicles that
made a North American debut during the 2008 Auto Show
season. The Concept Award jury panel is assembled by peer
selection, and the jurors do not pay or get paid to participate.
The Production
Preview category is for those vehicles based on a model
that has already been announced or planned for production.
As a "reality check" between the design and
production stages of development, Production Preview Concepts
continue to grow in importance.
Breaking new
ground, Hyundai made its debut at the awards program to
take the honor of 2008 Production Preview Vehicle of the
Year with its Genesis Coupe Concept. According to juror
Arv Voss, "The Hyundai Genesis Coupe is a stunning
rear-wheel drive performance coupe with a pleasingly slippery
shape."
The Concept
Car category was contested by a total of 21 nominees that
made their North American debut in 2008. Responding to
the "boomer" generation's growing demand for
luxury coupe designs, Cadillac's CTS Coupe Concept is
the winner of the 2008 Concept Car of the Year award.
"Anyone
who classifies this car as a two-door version of the sedan
has a vision problem," said jury member Kevin Kelly.
"The unique roofline and aggressive stance make the
CTS coupe stand out from the crowd and the rest of the
Cadillac lineup."
The Truck &
SUV category continues to showcase the evolving definition
of personal-use trucks. Marking the brand's first trip
to the podium, Land Rover's LRX Concept takes the 2008
award for Concept Truck of the Year. According to juror
Thom Cannell, "Land Rover's LRX proves lust can have
a practical side."
The Specialty
Concept category was established to recognize those vehicles
outside the mainstream purpose or definition of a car
or truck, as well as those vehicles where the technology,
not the package, is the key story.
Bringing GM's
Advanced Powertrain Studio its fourth win in this category,
the Saab 9-X BioHybrid was named the 2008 Specialty Concept
Vehicle of the Year.
Emphasizing
this concept's focus on a "green" future, jury
member Jim Jackson said, "The Saab 9-X BioHybrid
Concept not only faces the future with forward design,
but addresses the need for cleaner fuel alternatives for
tomorrow's generation of drivers."
From amongst
these four category winners, the Cadillac CTS Coupe was
the top-scoring vehicle by a wide margin, earning the
top spot as "Most Significant Concept Vehicle of
2008."
Additional
information and details regarding the nominees, the selection
jury and the award winners can be found by visiting http://www.northamericanconceptawards.org
on the web.
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