Consumers Pick Their Favorite Vehicles and Exhibit At the Chicago Auto Show

CHICAGO, Feb. 21, 2010 -- Consumer voters proclaimed their favorites in five categories in the Chicago Auto Show's fifth annual "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 All-New Production Vehicle: Ford Focus (29 percent of vote)
  --  Best Concept Vehicle: Cadillac XTS Platinum (28 percent of vote)
  --  Best Green Vehicle: Chevrolet Volt (25 percent of vote)
  --  Best Exhibit: Ford (41 percent of vote)
  --  "Vehicle I'd most like to have in my driveway:" Ford Shelby GT500

"These are tough competitions that make a win really meaningful for our manufacturers and exhibitors," said show chairman John Phelan. "In a year when our attendance was about level with 2009, we're thrilled that everyone worked so hard to bring their best displays, concepts and production vehicles to a public whose optimism is returning."

Each of the first four winners beat out seven other vehicles. In the fifth category, "Vehicle I'd most like to have in my driveway," voters could choose from any of the nearly 1000 vehicles on the show floor.

According to the results, almost one-third of the voters considered the 2011 Ford Focus the Best All-New Production Vehicle at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show. This is the second year in a row the Blue Oval took the top spot in this category as the Ford Taurus took the honors in 2009.

General Motors also repeated for Best Concept with the Cadillac XTS Platinum taking the honors this year and the Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray winning last year.

Chevrolet's Volt outpaced the Fisker Karma for the top Green Vehicle at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show. The extended-range electric Volt will go on sale later this year at a price of approximately $40,000.

For the second year in a row, Ford grabbed the honors for Best Exhibit with a commanding 41 percent of the vote. That's not a shock as Ford had more than a half dozen interactive displays throughout its booth.

In the tightest race of all, the 2010 Ford Shelby GT bested every other vehicle on the show floor to become the showgoers' pick for "Vehicle I'd most like to have in my driveway."

About the Chicago Auto Show: The Chicago Auto Show is the largest on the continent, spanning more than one million square feet of production, concept and exotic vehicle exhibit space. In addition to hosting multiple world and North American vehicle debuts, the Chicago Auto Show's First Look for Charity raised nearly $2 million this year for 18 worthy Chicago organizations. For more information, visit www.ChicagoAutoShow.com or www.facebook.com/chicagoautoshow.

About the Chicago Automobile Trade Association: Founded in 1904, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA) is the nation's oldest and largest metropolitan dealer organization. The CATA is comprised of more than 400 franchised new-car dealers and allied members. For additional information visit: www.cata.info.