2011 Detroit Auto Show: Chevrolet and Ford Win Car of The Year Awards - COMPLETE VIDEO

SEE ALSO: Ford Buyers Guide
SEE ALSO: Chevrolet Buyers Guide
SEE ALSO: 2011 Detroit Auto Show - Press Pass Coverage

NORTH AMERICAN CAR AND TRUCK OF THE YEAR FOR 2011
By Steve Purdy
TheAutoChannel.com
Detroit Bureau

As part of the opening ceremonies of the North American International Auto Show here in Detroit this morning Karl Brauer of Edmunds.com announced the winners of the North American Car and Truck of the Year competition, one of the most prestigious awards in the US car business. More of an insiders

Click PLAY to watch the complete awards presentation

The awards are juried by 49 fully-independent, A-list, automotive journalists who vote on for their favorites. Finalists are chosen throughout the years as the journalists evaluate them all, then three finalists are chosen in each category.

Finalists for Car of the Year are: Chevrolet Volt, Hyundai Sonata and Nissan Leaf.

The winner is the innovative Chevrolet Volt, an extended-range electric compact sedan. In accepting the award on behalf of his team Tom Stephens called the Volt “the essence of the new General Motors.”

Finalists for Truck of the Year are: dodge Durango, Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The winner is the Ford Explorer. Significant about this fresh redesign is the transition from being a traditional body-on-frame SUV to being a unibody CUV. The execution appears excellent.