Sweeter the second time around for Volvo and Honda

JOHN Mendel with the award-winning Civic

VOLVO’S all-new XC90 won the prestigious North American Truck of the Year 2016 award at the Detroit Motor Show, officially known as the North American International Auto Show.

The jury was composed of 53 independent automotive journalists in North America and Canada, who chose the XC90, which together with the Honda Civic bagged the Car of the Year award. Both vehicles were chosen from a field of strong contenders.

After a few of years of American domination, two foreign automakers nabbed the 2016 North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year honors.

Detroit’s automakers won back-to-back in 2013 and 2014 for both the car and truck/utility awards: the Cadillac ATS and Ram 1500 in 2013, and the Corvette Stingray and Silverado (both Chevrolet brands) in 2014.

The Ford 150 took the 2015 truck award, with the VW Golf Mk7 bagging the car award in 2015. The last year that both awards went to foreign manufacturers was in 2012, with the Hyundai Elantra and Land Rover Evoque.

Reaping rewards

The prestigious awards program was launched in 1993, and patterned itself after the European Car of the Year. As a policy, its organizers do not accept advertising to avoid conflict of interest, but carmakers reap the rewards in terms of brand equity and prestige, capitalizing on the marketing value of the honors.

The winners were unveiled at the start of press previews for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The Civic bested the Chevrolet Malibu and the Mazda MX-5 Miata, earning 203 votes out of a total of 530, with a slight margin over the Malibu that earned 180.

The XC90, on the other hand, was the runaway winner with 310 votes out of 530 total votes cast on the second and final voting, overshadowing the Nissan Titan XD and Honda Pilot.

“What a great competitive set to be in with Malibu and Miata. All great cars,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of Honda’s US operations.

This was the second win for the Civic, which also won the award in 2006. Still, Mendel pointed out the victory lap will be brief, as the award is “added pressure” to the development team already working on the next-generation Civic.

The new XC90 has a distinctive T-shaped pair of LED running lamps that double as turn signal dubbed as “Thor’s Hammer.”

LEX KERSSEMAKERS with the XC90

This year’s panelists indicatively chose the XC90 for its blend of innovative technology, comfort and driving dynamics, and its outstanding design.

The first-generation Volvo XC90 also received the North American Truck of the Year award in 2003.

Absolutely thrilled

“We are absolutely thrilled that the XC90 has won this prestigious and most respected award,” said Lex Kerssemakers, president and CEO of Volvo Car United States, “and there is a lot more to come.”

Volvo’s award reinforces its position in the US market as the company clearly intends to use the award in its marketing efforts, especially as it rolls out other new models, Kerssemakers said.

“It’s a very well-known award, and I think people look at it,” he added. “Customers need references. It’s a very competitive environment outside.”

The all-new XC90 was also recently launched in the Philippines, and it comes with an array of innovative technology and Volvo’s new design strategy.

THE HONDA Civic, winner of the North American Car of the Year award AP

Its range-topping T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrain delivers a combination of outstanding performance and fuel efficiency, as well as the T6 turbogas and the D5 turbodiesel engines.

The XC90’s refreshing and progressively new interior design comes with the use of natural materials, in contrast to its high-tech, tablet-like touch display that comes with a multitude of native applications and services, such as smartphone connectivity through Apple CarPlay.

Aside from this, audiophile brand Bowers & Wilkins gave the cabin a top-of-the-range sound system highlighted with its signature “tweeter on top” layout.