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The Motor Trend Car of the Year (COTY) is an annual award given by Motor Trend magazine to recognize the best new or significantly refreshed car in a given model year.
Contents
Background
Motor Trend, which debuted in 1949, was the first publication to name a Car of the Year. The inaugural Motor Trend Car of the Year award recognized Cadillac's V8 engine in 1949.
The earliest awards were given to the manufacturer or division, not for a specific vehicle. The 1958 Ford Thunderbird became the first single model to be selected. In 1970, the Ford Torino won the COTY while Motor Trend selected the Porsche 914 for its first Import COTY award.
In 1972, the low-volume imported Citroën SM won the overall COTY award. Between 1976 and 1999, the COTY award was split in two: Domestic COTY and Import COTY.
The trophy was recombined in 2000 because the distinctions between domestic and import cars became increasingly difficult. The award has expanded to include a pickup truck (starting in 1979) and a separate sport utility vehicle (starting in 1999), which are recognized separately from the Car of the Year.
Over time, other publications and organizations have selected various "Car of the Year" awards and COTY is a common abbreviation for numerous trophies. These COTY designations may focus on regional markets, vehicle types, specific market segments, or other criteria. Some examples include the European Car of the Year that began in 1964 by a collective of automobile magazines, the Green Car of the Year selected by a panel of automotive and environmental experts, the Tow Car of the Year chosen by selected sponsors in the industry, and the Fleet Car of the Year that is voted by professional fleet managers.
Impact
Motor Trend's Car of the Year is "one of the most prestigious honors bestowed in the auto industry."
The trophy for the winner, a depiction of calipers, is often used in the winning automaker's marketing and advertising. Most cars that win the award report a spike in sales.
However, receiving Motor Trend's recognition is no guarantee of success. This was the case of the nostalgic 2002 Ford Thunderbird, which did not meet expectations and was pulled from the market three years later.
Criteria
To be eligible for the award, a car must be an "all-new" or "substantially upgraded" vehicle that has been on sale within twelve months from the previous November, vehicles that have been on sale for over five years are ineligible for the award.
Between the contenders, it is not a comparison test. In 2014 as an example, the Motor Trend judges debated and evaluate each vehicle against six key criteria:
Motor Trend also only considers cars with base MSRPs less than $100,000 in order to avoid expensive luxury and super cars dominating the competition.
Vehicles are subjected a battery of tests: standard car tests such as skid-pad ratings, acceleration and quarter-mile times, and evaluations of the interiors are combined with a track run conducted by Sports Car Club of America-licensed testers and taking the cars out on normal roads to test their drivability under normal conditions, and fuel economy. Trucks and SUVs add towing capacity and speed, plus an off-road course, to the normal regimen.
Car of the Year listing
2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV 2016 Chevrolet Camaro 2015 Volkswagen Golf 2014 Cadillac CTS 2013 Tesla Model S 2012 Volkswagen Passat 2011 Chevrolet Volt 2010 Ford Fusion 2009 Nissan GT-R 2008 Cadillac CTS 2007 Toyota Camry 2006 Honda Civic 2005 Chrysler 300 2004 Toyota Prius 2003 Infiniti G35 2002 Ford Thunderbird 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser 2000 Lincoln LS 1999 Chrysler 300M 1998 Chevrolet Corvette 1997 Chevrolet Malibu 1996 Dodge Caravan 1995 Chrysler Cirrus 1994 Ford Mustang 1993 Ford Probe GT 1992 Cadillac Seville Touring Sedan 1991 Chevrolet Caprice Classic LTZ 1990 Lincoln Town Car 1989 Ford Thunderbird SC 1988 Pontiac Grand Prix 1987 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe 1986 Ford Taurus LX 1985 Volkswagen GTI (eligible due to it being built in VW's now-defunct Pennsylvania plant) 1984 Chevrolet Corvette 1983 AMC Alliance / Renault Alliance 1982 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 1981 Chrysler K Cars, Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant 1980 Chevrolet Citation 1979 Buick Riviera S 1978 Chrysler, Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon 1977 Chevrolet Caprice 1976 Chrysler, Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volare 1975 Chevrolet Monza 2+2 1974 Ford Mustang II 1973 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 1972 Citroën SM (an imported vehicle that was selected overall "Car of the Year") 1971 Chevrolet Vega 1970 Ford Torino 1969 Plymouth Road Runner 1968 Pontiac GTO 1967 Mercury Cougar 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado 1965 Pontiac Motor Division 1964 Ford Motor Company 1963 American Motors (AMC) Rambler (all models: American, Classic, and Ambassador) 1962 Buick Special 1961 Pontiac Tempest 1960 Chevrolet Corvair 1959 Pontiac Motor Division 1958 Ford Thunderbird 1957 Chrysler Corporation (all makes: Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, Chrysler, and Imperial) 1956 Ford Motor Company 1955 Chevrolet Motor Division 1954 No Award 1953 No Award 1952 Cadillac Motor Division 1951 Chrysler Corporation 1950 No Award 1949 Cadillac Motor DivisionImport Car of the Year listing
Introduced in 1970 for one year and then brought back in 1976 due to differences between imports and American cars. This was discontinued after the 1999 model year when the line between what is a domestic vehicle and what is not became problematic.
1999 Volkswagen New Beetle 1998 Lexus GS 1997 BMW 5-Series 1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 1995 Nissan Maxima 1994 Honda Accord 1993 Mazda RX-7 1992 Lexus SC 400 1991 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 1990 Nissan 300ZX Turbo 1989 Mitsubishi Galant GS 1988 Honda CR-X Si 1987 Acura Legend Coupe 1986 Mazda RX-7 1985 Toyota MR2 1984 Honda Civic CR-X 1983 Mazda 626 1982 Toyota Celica Supra 1981 Mercedes-Benz 300SD Turbodiesel 1980 Honda Civic 1979 Datsun 280ZX 1978 Toyota Celica 1977 Mercedes-Benz 280E 1976 Toyota Celica Liftback 1971-1975 No Awards 1970 Porsche 914Truck of the Year listing
2017 Ford Super Duty 2016 Chevrolet Colorado Duramax diesel 2015 Chevrolet Colorado 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel 2013 Ram 1500 2012 Ford F-150 2011 Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty 2009 Ford F-150 2008 Toyota Tundra 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 2006 Honda Ridgeline 2005 Toyota Tacoma 2004 Ford F-150 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche 2001 Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty 2000 Toyota Tundra 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class 1997 Ford F-150 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe 1995 Chevrolet Blazer 1994 Dodge Ram 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee 1992 Ford Van Chateau Club Wagon 1991 Mazda Navajo 1990 Ford Aerostar 1989 Toyota Truck Xtracab SR5 1980-1988 No Awards 1979 Chevrolet LUVSport/Utility of the Year listing
2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class 2016 Volvo XC90 2015 Honda CR-V 2014 Subaru Forester 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class 2012 Range Rover Evoque 2011 Porsche Cayenne 2010 Subaru Outback 2009 Subaru Forester 2008 Mazda CX-9 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class 2006 Nissan Xterra 2005 Land Rover LR3 2004 Volkswagen Touareg 2003 Volvo XC90 2002 GMC Envoy 2001 Acura MDX 2000 Nissan Xterra 1999 Lexus RX 300Car of the Year in China
Motor Trend magazine's China-market cousin, Auto Club-Motor Trend, also issues a "Car of the Year" award for that market.