Hyundai Elantra Is 2012 North American Car of the Year
The 2012 Hyundai Elantra took top honors in the most exclusive automotive award in North America when it was named 2012 North American Car of the Year on January 9.
A jury of 50 independent North American automotive journalists, including 5 Canadians, evaluated each of the new cars introduced last year and chose the 2012 Hyundai Elantra as the winner. The award was announced during a news conference at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, marking Hyundai’s second win. The Hyundai Genesis was named North American Car of the Year in 2009.
“This most prestigious of awards is a great illustration of why Elantra was one of the best-selling cars in Canada last year,” noted Steve Kelleher, President and CEO of Hyundai Auto Canada Corp. “Given the fierce competition in the compact segment, especially here in Canada, we are honoured that the jury recognizes Elantra’s far-reaching impact on the industry.”
The jurors considered more than 50 new vehicles before selecting the top three cars and top three trucks. The Volkswagen Passat and Ford Focus were the other car finalists.
This is the 19th year of the awards, which were inspired by the prestigious European “Car of the Year.” The jury is administered by an organizing committee and funded exclusively with dues paid by the jurors. Jurors judge the cars on a number of factors including innovation, impact on the industry, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction, and value for the dollar.
Elantra exemplifies Hyundai’s emotional “Fluidic Sculpture” design principles. “Fluidic Sculpture” considers the interplay of wind with rigid surfaces to create the illusion of constant motion. Elantra was designed at Hyundai’s North American Design Center in Irvine, California and is built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing in Montgomery, Alabama.
The Elantra’s North American Car of the Year award follows a string of others, including being named Best New Small Car under $21,000 by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). With this category win, Elantra is also in contention to be named AJAC’s 2012 Canadian Car of the Year when the award is announced in February at the Canadian International Auto Show.
The Elantra’s critical acclaim was achieved in parallel with unprecedented sales success. With sales of 44,970 units, the Elantra nameplate played a key role in Hyundai’s best-ever year in Canada. In 2011 Hyundai Auto Canada Corp. set a new all-time annual record with total sales of 129,240 units, an increase of 9.1% relative to the previous record set in 2010.
Related posts:
- 3 Hyundai earns three AJAC Canadian Car of the Year Awards for 2012
- Highlights – 2012 Hyundai Veloster AJAC Best New Sports/Performance Car (under $50,000)
- 2012 Hyundai Genesis Spec R – Kicks it up a notch
- 2012 Hyundai Accent – Keeps getting better.
- 2012 Hyundai Accent – Keeps getting better
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Posted by admin
on Jan 14 2012. Filed under Car Review.
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Good to hear that Elantra is a favorite car in US & Canada!