Nominees Announced for 11th Annual
International Car of the Year Awards

by Jessica Howell

The holiday season is drawing near and with it comes the bevy of hot new vehicles for 2007 – sleek, sexy and sure to impress – that have been nominated for the 11th Annual International Car of the Year Awards (ICOTY).

Sure to heat things up in the Motor City, the ICOTY Awards will kick off festivities of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) this January 6th, taking center stage at the Marriott Detroit Renaissance Hotel and honoring the top 2007 models across ten emotionally-charged categories.

From Most Sex Appeal (sports car) to Most Respected (luxury vehicle), Most Versatile (crossover vehicle) and Most Athletic (pickup truck), this year’s ICOTY Awards will once again raise the standard for consumer compatible cars and will also honor the much-anticipated Car and Truck of the Year.

The first awards to judge new vehicles based on how they reflect lifestyle and the car buying and ownership experience, ICOTY celebrates the important bond between a vehicle and its owner.

"The emotionally compelling theme on which we present our awards represents the relationship consumers have with their cars," says RTM Editor-in-Chief Courtney Caldwell. "It's about how cars reflect our lifestyles and self-image, an attitude most consumers can identify with."

Along with the Top 10 vehicle awards, RTM will present its fourth annual Lifetime Achievement Award honoring veteran automotive journalist and photographer Jim Dunne. RTM will also be awarding their third annual HEART STRING Award to the vehicle manufacturer and their advertising agency for creating the most emotionally compelling vehicle commercial for 2006.

For 2007 there are more vehicles, more awards and more lights, glitz and glamour. Take a look at our nominees below and see if you can guess which vehicles will be make the 2007 winner’s list:

Car of the Year
Audi S8, Dodge Caliber, Lexus LS 460

Truck of the Year
Chevrolet Silverado, Mercedes-Benz GL, Toyota Tundra

Luxury : Most Respected
Audi S8, BMW 335i Coupe, Lexus LS 460

Sedan : Most Dependable
Mercedes-Benz E Class, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry

Entry Level : Most Spirited
Mazda Speed 3, MINI Cooper, Nissan Versa

Sports Car : Most Sex Appeal
Jaguar XK, Mazda MX 5, Saturn Sky Red Line

Pickup Truck : Most Athletic
Chevrolet Silverado, Ford Harley-Davidson F-150, Toyota Tundra

SUV : Most Resourceful
Acura MDX, GMC Yukon, Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

Minivan/Life Stage : Most Compatible
Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona, Nissan Quest

Crossover/Sport Wagon : Most Versatile
Dodge Caliber, Ford Edge, Mazda CX-7

2007 ICOTY sponsors include DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Bridgestone/Firestone Tires, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, OnStar by GM, Subaru of America, American Suzuki Motor Corporation, Bose Corporation, American Honda Motor Company, Automotive Women’s Alliance, BMW North America, Hyundai Motor America, Mazda North America, Nissan North America, AutoTrader.com, Car Crazy Central, Women’s Automotive Association International, and U-Haul International. Media partners include AutoTrader.com, Edmunds.com, MSN Autos, and Popular Mechanics, all of which will provide post event coverage of the winners. CBS Detroit will be televising ICOTY 2007 as a TV special to air on opening weekend of the North American International Auto Show.

For more information on the awards, visit the ICOTY Awards page.