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CHICAGO (February 19, 2014) – For the ninth consecutive year, consumer voters proclaimed their favorites in five categories in the Chicago Auto Show’s “Best of Show” balloting. In voting conducted over the 10-day public run of the nation’s biggest auto show, winners in the contest’s five categories were:
“Best of Show voting has become a benchmark measure, and winning in any category is quite meaningful for our manufacturers and exhibitors,” said 2014 Chicago Auto Show Chairman Kurt Schiele. “In a year where the show featured three indoor test tracks and six outdoor test drives, consumers had a better chance than ever to evaluate the competitors and let their voice be heard.” Each of the first four winners beat out seven other vehicles. The eight finalists in Best All-New Production Vehicle, Best Concept Vehicle, Best Green Vehicle and Best Exhibit were selected by a jury of automotive experts. In the fifth category, “Vehicle I’d most like to have in my driveway,” voters could choose from any of the nearly 1,000 vehicles on the show floor. According to the results, voters considered the 2015 Ford Mustang the Best All-New Production Vehicle. Though the Stingray took a solid victory, the Lexus RC and Maserati Ghibli also garnered a considerable number of votes, finishing second and third, respectively. The Cadillac ELR took the honors for Best Green Vehicle. It topped runner-up Chevrolet Volt and third-place finisher BMW i3. The ELR is a strikingly styled luxury coupe with an extended-range electric powertrain. Best Concept honors went to the luxurious Cadillac Elmiraj, which made its debut last summer at the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Elmiraj is a two-door, four-seat coupe with a twin-turbo V8 and rear-wheel drive. A close runner-up for Best Concept was the sleek Toyota FT-1 concept. Taking top honors as Best Exhibit was Chevrolet, snapping a three-year run by Jeep. Chevrolet’s exhibit included the debut of the all-new City Express, the Corvette Z06, a Greenbrier photo booth with take home flip book, free buttons and trading cards, outdoor Silverado ride & drive, Marvel comic book giveaways and phone charging stations. Posting a close second was the rejuvenated Ford display, which features Hank the Robot, the Mustang dynamometer, Mustang pinball and a four-axis driving simulator. Every year the tightest race of all is the pick for “Vehicle I’d most like to have in my driveway.” This year was no different as the Bugatti Veyron and Corvette Z06 battled neck and neck to the last day. Bugatti fans mashed the gas on the final day to put the Veyron on top. In all, nearly 8,500 consumers voted for best of show, which was sponsored by the Chicago Tribune. Each consumer who voted was entered for a chance to win one of 10 $50 Shell Gas cards. The awards for Best of Show will be presented to the winning manufacturers at the annual Midwest Automotive Media Association Spring Rally, held annually at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. About the Chicago Auto Show About The Chicago Automobile Trade Association |
