DETROIT -- The Detroit auto show got off to a great start for Ford, which swept the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards with its awesome Fusion Hybrid and the big ol' box it calls the Transit Connect delivery van.
A panel of 49 automotive journalists from throughout the United States and Canada named the two vehicles the best on the continent, praising their innovation, design, safety, performance and value. Unlike many other awards, the North American Car and Truck awards are financed entirely by the jurors.
"We are really, really excited," said Mark Fields, Ford president of the Americas. That's him in the pic with the Fusion Hybrid. "There's no doubt about it. We feel so honored by this award."
We can't speak for the Transit Connect, but we've driven the Fusion Hybrid and agree wholeheartedly with jurors who praised the car for its styling, comfort and fuel economy.
"Though not the first hybrid on the market, or even the second or third, the Fusion Hybrid is simply the best one ever built," said juror Csaba Csere, a freelance journalist and former editor-in-chief of Car & Driver. "In addition to deliver terrific mileage, it looks and drives like a regular car -- and a very good one indeed."
Jurors started with a list of more than 50 vehicles that were all new or "substantially changed" in 2009. The Fusion faced stiff competition from the Volkswagen Golf -- which included the sweet GTi and the TDI diesel models -- and the Buick LaCrosse, but it walked away with 241 points out of 490. The Transit Connect took top honors in the truck category, handily beating the Chevrolet Equinox and the Subaru Outback.
Yeah, we wondered why the Outback was in the truck category too.
Photo: Chuck Squatriglia / Wired.com
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