The Winner — Ford

The jurors announced the winners of the North America Car and Truck of the year at a press conference here at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, Ford took both awards. Named North American Truck of the year was the Ford Transit Connect and North American Car of the Year was the Ford Fusion Hybrid. For an automaker to win both awards is an occurrence that has happened only twice before in seventeen years. General Motors won both in 2007 and Honda in 2006. The 2010 Popular Mechanics Automotive Excellence Award was won by the Transit Connect, one of three received by Ford from Popular Mechanics for 2010, also an unprecedented number. These awards are given by 49 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada who represent magazines, television, radio, newspapers and websites. They are unique in that they are not given by one particular publication. Ben Stewart, the automotive editor of Popular Mechanics was in the jury. Based on factors that include innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for dollar, these awards are designed to recognize the most outstanding vehicles of the year. The vehicles must be all-new or substantially changed from the previous model to be eligible and this year over fifty vehicles were considered. In the end, only 14 cars and 11 trucks were seen a deserving to be on the ballot.