GM could sweep the award potentially, just not both awards with one brand.

I predicted in a previous blog that the winners would be the Honda Fit and Ford Edge. So far, so good. ;-)

The CX-7? Are they serious? Wow...

I say the Honda Fit and Chevy Silverado will win.

I'm rooting for the Aura and Silverado. By the way, I am a GM fan.

Aura, Silverado.
 
The Edge is a half assed product, while the CX-7 has run into reliability/quality issues... typical Ford and Mazda.

billt,
 
You have to consider the voters: automotive journalists. Most of them don't care about reliability.
 
BTW Karl, you do plan on telling us which way you vote, right? (After the winners are announced, of course)

Last year Honda won with the Civic and Ridgeline, and swept a double victory. This year I hope GM does that with the Silverado and Aura. Both truly deserve to win. I don't want the Honda Fit to win, because again it's a Honda, and the Toyota Camry already won with Motor Trend. For TOTY, I'd be happy with the Edge and CX-7 too, but I'm leaning towards the Silverado.

I'd have to give the car award to the Fit. I can't see the Aura as particularly groundbreaking in and of itself (though it is arguably a groundbraking car for GM). The Camry is an evolutionary step from the previous Camry, but lumpier. The Fit is a leader in its class, head and sholders above the rest; and its a fairly new class for the US market.
 
The truck side is a harder choice. The CX-7 could be Marisa Tomei of the award -- winning as the result of a split between the Edge and the Silverado. The Edge isn't particularly groundbreaking in and of itself (do I sound like a broken record yet?) but certainly is for Ford (excluding the Mustang IMHO). The CX-7 is an interesting take on the SUV, perhaps a poor man's BMW X5, but its just another SUV. That leaves the Silverado. Styling is decent, interior is nice, and it seems no less deserving than any other large pickup. And large pickups are still the industry's bread and butter.
 
So, in the end, the winning Silverado will be able to haul the winning Fit in its bed, and you 'll have two winners in one!

I will let people know how I voted after the winners are announced. I still haven't voted yet, so I couldn't tell anyone right now even if I wanted to.

Wow, only car of that group I'd even touch is the CX-7. Maybe the Fit. The rest are utterly worthless. Camry? Gag. Silverado that's a good laugh.

How they choose vehicles for award?

Why is the Fit even a finalist? Give me a break. It's a four dour hatch with good mileage. What is so groundbreaking about that? This car landed on C&D's 10Best list when C&D is supposed to be an enthusiast magazine. While the fit seems practical I dont see anything attractive or exciting about it, it's the epitome of an automotive appliance.
 
The Aura should win but probably won't. The CX-7 definitetly shouldn't win because it has a four cylinder and yet gets slightly better mileage than some V8 SUVs. Plus the interior is cheap.

I'm going to bet on the Camry (although that is not what I would pick) because since 2004 the Motor Trend Car of the Year winner was the North American car of the year as well. Id personally pick the Fit and the Silverado.

Have you driven the Fit? Apparently it feels great to drive. I don't actually know.
 
But like I've said before, it's incredible (and a real testament to Honda) that a 5-year old design could make it onto this list.

For those out there rooting for the Aura (1487, this means you), I'll repeat what I said earlier: you have to consider the voters (automotive journalists). I'll bet a lot of them are going to use similar criteria to how they choose their own awards, which often means they'll take the entire model line into account when voting. While the XR is competitive against other V6 optioned mids, the XE has a total lump for a drivetrain. 64hp/litre pushrod? Half the number of gears of an 8speed Lexus? 20/29mpg when your competitors' lower trim lines are in the 24/34 range? Let's face it, those who care about power will opt for the XR. Those who don't will opt for any number of competitor 4cyls. And that's why I think the XE will sway the vote.
 
It's not necessarily the way I would vote, but that's what I predict.

I think the Fit really deserves to win the most, in hopes of starting a new trend in vehicles in America that you don't have to be big to be good.
Also, if the Camry wins, (I really hope it does not) please don't let it win just because it has a badge on the back reading "Camry". Personally, i believe the Hyundai Sonata and Nissan Altima are both more deserving than the Camry.

How I'd vote: Fit and Silverado
 
How I think the jury will vote: Camry and Silverado
 
carlisimo made the correct assessment of the Fit. Honda has had this thing in Japan for 5 years. They bring it over here and it stimulates an entire segment. What's that say about Honda design and American appeal?
 
The Camry will win, however, because no one can outshine the hype it's received this year. Unfortunate...
 
In my opinion, the Silverado is the only true "truck" out of the 3. My definition of "truck" is different than that of the people who design these award categories though. Maybe a new category called "miscellaneous" or something needs to be developed. Nevertheless, the Silverado will win simply because the others haven't generated relatively outstanding reviews compared to the Chevy.

I don't think the Fit is really anything special. There is no reason why it should win, besides it's overall good reviews. To me its just another unimportant subcompact. The Silverado and Aura definitly deserve to win. The Silverado sounds like its the new class leader from the reviews. The Aura is one of the most important new GM products on the market. Also the Aura is a very good car. Don't believe me? Test drive one. The CX-7 shouldnt even be one of the finalists. The Edge is a Ford, enough said. The Camry is definitly not one of the publics favorites finalists. Thats my opinion on all of the finalists.

Latest word is they left off the new Jeep Wrangler by mistake. As a result there will be a truck re-vote.

You are correct sir!
 
I have already re-voted for the trucks (this vote includes all initial short list vehicle, not the three finalists -- which I still need to vote on after this latest "re-vote" is recounted).

hmmm.... having the new Wrangler on the list changes things a little bit, but I still think the Silverado will win. The 4-door Wrangler is cool, and an almost practical blend of off road prowess and family/friends friendly (I actually just looked at one today just to see what they were about), but it still rides the same as a Wrangler, still looks the same and doesn't break any new boundries as far as small SUV's like the Exterra or FJ Cruiser or the H3. Although it is a 4 door Wrangler that you can drive completly open air - the only SUV you can do that in.. SO I guess in that sense it sort of breaks ground since it now has 4 doors.

Looking at the big picture, the long-term success of the Silverado is far more important to GM than is the success of the Wrangler to DC.
Also, I prefer the 2-door Wrangler over the 4-door model. I'm just not that impressed by the 4-door model. It's got the longest wheelbase, the worst breakover angle, and probably largest turning circle of any Jeep—not exactly the specs you want in an "off-roader." Besides that the rear seat room is not that impressive, and for a vehicle this large the rear doors are tiny. Finally it's still about as refined as an anvil. Jeep could have done far better with model I think.

saying the Aura shouldnt win because it has half as many gears as a car that cost nearly 3 times as much is the silliest thing I have read today. LEt's not forget, the Rav4 4 cylinder which costs about the same as the Aura XE has "half as many gears as a Lexus" and no one is complaining. So does the best selling compact car in the country, the Corolla.
 
"They bring it over here and it stimulates an entire segment. What's that say about Honda design and American appeal? "
 
The Echo and Aveo were out a few years ago and preceded the Fit in the "B" segment so I think its incorrect to say the Fit sparked a whole segment. The Fit arrived with several other major competitors in the same year. The car is 5 years old, but American journalists worship anything European so in their mind a 10 year old Euro design is better than anything brand new designed for American tastes. Again, the car is very practical, but hardly groundbreaking or stimulating. It's also funny looking.

"about as refined as an anvil." --> heh. :p

1487,
 
Now you are just being combative. I probably shouldn't respond, but I suppose I will anyway.
 
"saying the Aura shouldn't win" -- I never said that it shouldn't. I even alluded to the fact that I might have voted for it if I were eligible. And you are taking my comments about the gear count out of context. It is but one factor among several.
 
And for the record, I'm rather unimpressed with the Corolla and 4cyl RAV as well. I foresee the former losing out on many comparos.

7driver,
 
Your comments were overall accurate, except for the comment about the Lexus 8 speed. Why would you compare a $20,000 Aura 4-cylinder with a $70,000 Lexus V8. Its obvious that the Lexus would have more speeds. At least compare it with something in its price range. I hope nobody thought less of the Aura because of that comment

lemon-
 
The Aura does not offer a 4 cylinder. It does offer more standard HP than it's competitors.
 
Honda Fit and Chevrolet Silverado are who I think will win the votes.
 
I would vote for Toyota Camry and Chevrolet Silverado as the car and trucks of 2007 that are the most influential and best new designs. They are the standards by which other vehicles in their classes will be measured.
 
The Aura is an honorable mention for most improved GM car of 2007, however it is certainly not a car of the year.

Lemon,
 
I was trying to highlight the point, but I admit I may have been a bit overdramatic. However, the fact remains that Chrysler is the only other maker I can think of that has a sedan with a 4 speed automatic that starts at or above the Aura's price; everyone else either has a 5/6 speed or undercuts. And again, the gear count was not the point I was trying to make.

1487,
 
Last time I checked, Toyota doesn't make the Echo anymore. And they haven't for a couple years now.
 
The Aveo came out in, what?, 2001? So what? It did absolutely nothing its entire lifespan. I saw my first Aveo on the road like a year ago. That should tell you how much people cared about it before the Fit came here and revolutionized the segment. No one heard about the Aveo until Honda asserted itself in the segment with a 5yr old design which, consequentally, brought on the competitors from Nissan and Toyota.
 
Yet another example of stimulating power of Honda and its vehicles here in the good ol' US of A.

The Camry is a true and viable contender for this award. Car of the Year contests aren't solely based on sporty performance. The new Camry has made many leaps and bounds as far attractability.

flicmod,
 
The Aveo came out in 2004 not 2001.
 
crazyb02
 
Nobody said anything about sporty performance. None of the cars or trucks are sporty except for the CX-7.

I thought the Aveo was also the best seller in its class during its release year too (not sure if it was / is true any longer though). Not too shabby for a car that "did absolutely nothing its entire lifespan", eh?

flic,
 
Wrong again. I didnt say Toyota continued to make the Echo, I was saying they had a car in this segment long before HOnda had the Fit. The Aveo was the best selling small car in the US for at least two years and it may be for this year as well. Please do some research before you claim it did "absolutely nothing" in the market.
 
If you really think the presence of the Fit led to Toyota and Nissan bringing their cars here you are out of touch with reality. It takes YEARS to bring a car to market, even if you are selling the car in other markets already. Toyota/Nissan were planning to bring B segment cars here long before the Fit was for sale.
 
7 driver,
 
The crown vic has a 4 speed auto. No one makes moreo 4 speeds than GM but they also sell more cars than anyone else so changing over to 6 speeds is more expensive and time consuming than it is for competitors. GM only has 2 gears separating its lowest tranny from its highest but Toyota has 4 gears between their low end and high end products. The Pacifica just got a 6 speed for 2007 and I dont even know if its standard. The 300 had a 4 speed standard unti last year. The escape has one as well.

I'd vote for the Camry & Siverado just because of the size of their segments.
Small cars like the Fit are always going to be niche autos in America. We travel to fast on the highway for cars that have bad crash test ratings. Families are not going to trade in their Camrys to buy a Yaris. You give up too much to get an extra couple miles per gallon. Sub compacts are so low volume that every manufacturer imports them.

Chevy, you might want to check out my latest post (December 22nd) regarding the size of the small-car segment...