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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 EV2016 Chevrolet Camaro2015 Volkswagen Golf2014 Cadillac CTS2013 Tesla Model S2012 Volkswagen Passat2011 Chevrolet Volt2010 Ford Fusion2009 Nissan GT-R2008 Cadillac CTS2007 Toyota Camry2006 Honda Civic2005 Chrysler 3002004 Toyota Prius2003 Infiniti G352002 Ford Thunderbird2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser2000 Lincoln LS1999 Chrysler 300M1998 Chevrolet Corvette1997 Chevrolet Malibu1996 Dodge Caravan1995 Chrysler Cirrus1994 Ford Mustang1993 Ford Probe GT1992 Cadillac Seville Touring Sedan1991 Chevrolet Caprice Classic LTZ1990 Lincoln Town Car1989 Ford Thunderbird SC1988 Pontiac Grand Prix1987 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe1986 Ford Taurus LX1985 Volkswagen GTI (eligible due to it being built in VW's now-defunct Pennsylvania plant)1984 Chevrolet Corvette1983 AMC Alliance / Renault Alliance1982 Chevrolet Camaro Z281981 Chrysler K Cars, Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant1980 Chevrolet Citation1979 Buick Riviera S1978 Chrysler, Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon1977 Chevrolet Caprice1976 Chrysler, Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volare1975 Chevrolet Monza 2+21974 Ford Mustang II1973 Chevrolet Monte Carlo1972 Citroën SM (an imported vehicle that was selected overall "Car of the Year")1971 Chevrolet Vega1970 Ford Torino1969 Plymouth Road Runner1968 Pontiac GTO1967 Mercury Cougar1966 Oldsmobile Toronado1965 Pontiac Motor Division1964 Ford Motor Company1963 American Motors (AMC) Rambler (all models: American, Classic, and Ambassador)1962 Buick Special1961 Pontiac Tempest1960 Chevrolet Corvair1959 Pontiac Motor Division1958 Ford Thunderbird1957 Chrysler Corporation (all makes: Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, Chrysler, and Imperial)1956 Ford Motor Company1955 Chevrolet Motor Division1954 No Award1953 No Award1952 Cadillac Motor Division1951 Chrysler Corporation1950 No Award1949 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 Beetle1998 Lexus GS1997 BMW 5-Series1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class1995 Nissan Maxima1994 Honda Accord1993 Mazda RX-71992 Lexus SC 4001991 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-41990 Nissan 300ZX Turbo1989 Mitsubishi Galant GS1988 Honda CR-X Si1987 Acura Legend Coupe1986 Mazda RX-71985 Toyota MR21984 Honda Civic CR-X1983 Mazda 6261982 Toyota Celica Supra1981 Mercedes-Benz 300SD Turbodiesel1980 Honda Civic1979 Datsun 280ZX1978 Toyota Celica1977 Mercedes-Benz 280E1976 Toyota Celica Liftback1971-1975 No Awards1970 Porsche 914Truck of the Year listing
2017 Ford Super Duty2016 Chevrolet Colorado Duramax diesel2015 Chevrolet Colorado2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel2013 Ram 15002012 Ford F-1502011 Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty2009 Ford F-1502008 Toyota Tundra2007 Chevrolet Silverado2006 Honda Ridgeline2005 Toyota Tacoma2004 Ford F-1502003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty2002 Chevrolet Avalanche2001 Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty2000 Toyota Tundra1999 Chevrolet Silverado1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class1997 Ford F-1501996 Chevrolet Tahoe1995 Chevrolet Blazer1994 Dodge Ram1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee1992 Ford Van Chateau Club Wagon1991 Mazda Navajo1990 Ford Aerostar1989 Toyota Truck Xtracab SR51980-1988 No Awards1979 Chevrolet LUVSport/Utility of the Year listing
2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class2016 Volvo XC902015 Honda CR-V2014 Subaru Forester2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class2012 Range Rover Evoque2011 Porsche Cayenne2010 Subaru Outback2009 Subaru Forester2008 Mazda CX-92007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class2006 Nissan Xterra2005 Land Rover LR32004 Volkswagen Touareg2003 Volvo XC902002 GMC Envoy2001 Acura MDX2000 Nissan Xterra1999 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.