DCX, Ford, GM and Honda Take Top Honors in 8th Annual Ward's ''Interior of the Year''

[doh]

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070607/20070607005674.html?.v=1

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Penton Media's Ward's AutoWorld® magazine announced the winners in the annual "Ward's Interior of the Year" awards program, including models from DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors and Honda. The program was part of the Ward's Auto Interiors Show, being held June 6-7 at Detroit's Cobo Center.
Winners were chosen from 34 finalist vehicles from 11 manufacturers. The editorial staff of Ward's conducted a two-month review and analysis of nominated vehicles and selected winners based on eight evaluation categories, including comfort, safety and design harmony. In addition, members of the auto industry at-large were encouraged to participate in an online popular vote.

The winners are as follows:

Award Category Ward's Editorial Staff Industry At-Large Vote
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Economy-Priced Car Honda Fit Dodge Caliber
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Popular-Priced Car Saturn Aura Saturn Aura
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Premium-Priced Car Volvo S80 Lincoln MKZ
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Popular-Priced CUV Honda CRV Saturn Outlook
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Premium-Priced CUV Cadillac SRX Cadillac SRX
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Popular-Priced
Truck Chevy Silverado Chevy Silverado
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Premium-Priced
Truck Lincoln Navigator Cadillac Escalade
------------------- -------------------------- -----------------------

In addition to the vehicle awards recognizing overall interiors, Ward's editors designated four special achievement award winners: Jeep Wrangler (Best Brand Expression); Infiniti G35 (Best Interior Trim); Chrysler Sebring (Best Cup Holder); and Lexus LS 460L (Best Overall Comfort).

With automotive interiors taking a leading role in brand differentiation and consumer appeal, automakers are placing an increased emphasis on interiors. OEM spending on interior materials alone is projected to reach $10 billion by 2009, according to CSM Worldwide. A J.D. Power study showed interior comfort is the second most important factor in choosing a vehicle, ranking ahead of exterior styling and just behind reliability and durability.

Ward's Automotive Group is a world-leading provider of auto industry news, data and analysis, having served the industry's information needs for nearly 80 years. Ward's AutoWorld is a monthly magazine serving more than 68,000 automotive professionals globally. The twice-monthly newsletter Ward's Engine & Vehicle Technology Update provides analysis of engineering advancements and technical issues. WardsAuto.com is an online subscription service delivering virtually all the industry news, data and analysis compiled by Ward's Automotive Group, the world's leader in automotive industry information. A Southfield, MI-based division of Penton Media, Inc., Ward's Automotive Group also publishes the weekly industry newsletter Ward's Automotive Reports, the monthly magazine Ward's Dealer Business(TM), and offers a wealth of other automotive information services including reference annuals, online databases, and customized data reports.

[minnfang]

VERY good showing for GM. I guess this confirms how well the new SRX interior turned out.

[princecharmless]

best cup holder? sounds like a pity award...

[Bravada]

Please do not post in this thread!

[roteague]

Originally Posted by Bravada

Please do not post in this thread!

I think I will.

[TORRED1]

Wait where is toyota, I thought that domestics were supposed to be crap interiors

[fp115]

So much for American cars having crap interiors huh? I see mostly domestics in this list. Wonder what the media will be saying about this.

[appman]

Originally Posted by fp115

So much for American cars having crap interiors huh? I see mostly domestics in this list. Wonder what the media will be saying about this.

nothing will be said, it will be swept under the rug. Toyota is still the best ever!

[fp115]

Originally Posted by appman

nothing will be said, it will be swept under the rug. Toyota is still the best ever!

Or they will find a way to make Toyota, Honda look good. They always try. I remember reading a Quality report and the journalist only talked about Toyota, where GM had the same amount of "top cars" and more cars in the top 3.

[mrbig]

If only GM had given a crap about nice interiors when they made the last Riviera, they'd still be in production.

[chakis24]

now if only gm would take information such as this and use these things called advertisements. those things that try to get the attention of the consumer and try to get a [erson to choose your product over everyone elses. its just another bit of ammo, but when youre not loading the gun properly you cant take out your opponent.

[Wolfman01]

Ford does with the MKZ. I know I REALLY like that car.

[E. Haskell]

The following nominees were selected from vehicles or interiors introduced in the 2007 model year:

ECONOMY-PRICED CARS (Under $17,000)

Dodge Caliber
Honda Fit
Hyundai Elantra
Suzuki SX4
VW Rabbit

POPULAR-PRICED CARS ($17,000-$30,000)

Chrysler Sebring
Mini Cooper
Nissan Maxima
Saturn Aura
Toyota Camry

PREMIUM-PRICED CARS (More than $30,000)

Infiniti G35
Jaguar XK
Lexus LS 460
Lincoln MKZ
Volvo S80

POPULAR-PRICED CUVS (Under $30,000)

Ford Edge
Saturn Outlook
Honda CR-V
Hyundai Veracruz
Mazda CX-7

PREMIUM-PRICED CUVS (More than $30,000)

Acura MDX
BMW X5
Cadillac SRX
Lincoln MKX
Mercedes GL-Class

POPULAR-PRICED TRUCKS (Under $30,000)

Chevy Silverado
Dodge Nitro
Jeep Wrangler
Toyota Tundra

PREMIUM-PRICED TRUCKS (More than $30,000)

Cadillac Escalade
Chrysler Aspen
Lincoln Navigator
Land Rover LR3
Nissan Quest

The slate of 34 nominees was determined by the editorial staff of Ward's. The industry at-large is invited to vote for the winners at www.autointeriors.com through May 5, and attendees may vote for the "Best in Show" winner during the event, June 6 and 7. A special awards ceremony will take place on June 6 at 4:30 p.m. Many of the nominated vehicles will be on display on the show floor.

.......

[redimpss5]

Times are a changin.

[powervette]

I don't care much about such contests no matter who wins. But I am happy SRX is on the list. I sat in it and everything about it's new redesigned interior is near-excellent. Some idiotic comments about it have already been written as the most popular one "it still lags behind...", but I didn't find areas where that sentence made any sense. But maybe because I am a naive GM boy