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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTesla Model S Beats Chevy, Toyota, and Cadillac for Ultimate Car of the Year Honors
The selection and judging criteria have changed, the trophies have changed, and the vehicles most certainly have changed, but the spirit behind the Car of the Year is the same today as it was in 1949: Identify the most superlative new vehicle introduced each year.
We are confident that, were we to summon all the judges and staff of the past 70 years, we would come to a rapid consensus: No vehicle we've awarded, be it Car of the Year, Import Car of the Year, SUV of the Year, or Truck of the Year, can equal the impact, performance, and engineering excellence that is our Ultimate Car of the Year winner, the 2013 Tesla Model S.
"The mere fact the Tesla Model S exists at all is a testament to innovation and entrepreneurship, the very qualities that once made the American automobile industry the largest, richest, and most powerful in the world," we wrote. "That the 11 judges unanimously voted the first vehicle designed from the wheels up by a fledgling automaker the 2013 MotorTrend Car of the Year should be cause for celebration. America can still make things."
It can be argued, as we still are today, that the Tesla Model S wouldn't exist without the Prius. If Toyota hadn't made green cool, the nascent Tesla Motorsfounded one year before the second-generation Prius was named our 2004 Car of the Yearmight never have sold an electrified Lotus, much less create a new car that would revolutionize an industry.
https://www.motortrend.com/news/2013-tesla-model-s-beats-chevy-toyota-cadillac-ultimate-car-of-the-year/
MichMan
(11,915 posts)The Tesla Model S can now be part of the list of other previous illustrious winners of the Motor Trend Car of the Year.
Automotive icons such as the Chevrolet Vega, Renault Alliance, Chevrolet Citation, Plymouth Volare, and Dodge Aries/Plymouth Reliant K cars were all previous winners of the award.
USALiberal
(10,877 posts)From the article:
OTHER ULTIMATE CAR OF THE YEAR FINALISTS:
1996 Dodge Caravan
2004 Toyota Prius
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air
1949 Cadillac Series 62 Sedanette
1972 Citroen SM
1968 Pontiac GTO
1986 Mazda RX-7
2013 Tesla Model S
Motor Trend's ultimate award is limited only to cars they deemed most significant in each decade.
MichMan
(11,915 posts)I still stand by my point that the number of terrible vehicles that were once former "Car of the Year" winners makes the entire validity of the award itself very suspect at best.
I had similar thoughts about the Nobel Peace Prize after Yassar Arafat won it. IMO, it made the entire thing a joke.
BlueDawn
(892 posts)My son recently took me on a drive in his new Tesla and I have to say that I absolutely love it. I wish I could buy one for myself. And it is so odd to hear him start up his car to drive home without the car making any sound.
We were joking with him about getting a license plate that said "GAS LOL".......But he decided against it.