The jury for the North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards have just announced their short list of top 2015 vehicles at the annual Detroit Auto Show.
The awards have been around since 1994, with the jury being composed of about 50 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada. The awards recognize the best car and truck or SUV available for the latest model year, with the results for 2015 to be announced this January.
For 2015, the competition is as tough as ever, but there is opportunity for General Motors, Ford or Toyota to take home both of these awards.
There are 10 new cars competing for the North American Car of the Year award. The contenders include Ford Mustang, Honda Fit and several other notable vehicles.
The 10 trucks or SUVs competing for the award include three from GM – the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Tahoe – as well as vehicles from Ford, Audi, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz and others.
To be eligible, a vehicle must have been substantially changed from the previous model year and go on sale in the U.S. and Canada shortly after the announcement of the award. The vehicles must also be a popular seller, which means that niche products such as those from exotic brands are ruled out.
Last year, GM took all the awards, with Chevrolet vehicles taking prizes in both the best car and best truck or SUV categories. The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray was named the best North American Car, while the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 was deemed the best North American Truck.
Below are the complete short lists for the 2015 awards.
2015 North American Car of the Year Short List
Acura TLX
Audi A3
Chrysler 200
Ford Mustang
Honda Fit
Hyundai Genesis sedan
Hyundai Sonata
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Toyota Camry
Volkswagen Golf/GTI
2015 North American Truck/Utility of the Year Short List
Audi Q3
Chevrolet Colorado
Chevrolet Tahoe
Ford F-150
Ford Edge
GMC Canyon
Lexus NX
Lincoln MKC
Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
Nissan Murano
Porsche Macan
Subaru Outback
Toyota Highlander
