2014 Connected Car of the Year Finalists Announced

Connected World Conference 2014 2014 Chicago Auto Show

CHICAGO--November 5, 2013: Distraction-free driving, remote access to vehicles, gesture-controlled infotainment systems, blind-spot detection, and remote-sensing technologies, are just a few of the features that the editors of Connected World magazine looked at when selecting the finalists for the annual Connected Car of the Year awards. Winners will be announced during the February 2014 Chicago Auto Show.

“Never before in car shopping has technology played such a vital role in determining what vehicle a consumer will buy”

Chosen by the editorial team at Connected World magazine and awarded in the Feb/Mar issue, the Connected World magazine Connected Car of the Year awards vehicles at all price levels, ranging from the small to ultra-luxury, all with the idea of honoring the best-in-class that fit all driver’s budgets and demonstrate the right blend of technology.

Select finalists will appear on two special editions of The Peggy Smedley Show to be broadcast during December. For the December 10 show Smedley will be joined by Wall Street Journal automotive editor Jeff Bennett. Smedley and Bennett will interview representatives from some of this year’s finalists for Connected World magazine’s Connected Car of the Year

“We are recognizing the next generation of car technologies that are all about providing services, safety features, making the car autonomous, connecting our vehicles to the traffic infrastructure, and turning the back seat into an infotainment destination. Carmakers are raising the bar at a rapid pace. Look for a real interaction between the smartphone, tablet, and car technologies as the race for the ultimate connected-car experience continues. Our program highlights and celebrates these efforts,” says Peggy Smedley, editorial director of Connected World magazine.

Connected World magazine’s Connected Car of the Year winners are determined by selecting vehicles that combine the right mix of safety, convenience, and infotainment technology. Automobiles are evaluated in six different categories: small, midsize, luxury, ultra-luxury, green, and truck.

“Never before in car shopping has technology played such a vital role in determining what vehicle a consumer will buy,” says Wall Street Journal’s Bennett. “The road warriors want to make telephone calls without taking their hands off the steering wheel, see how far they can drive on a tank of gas, and roll out of the driveway using a camera rather than turning the head. Customers want brands that can deliver the tech goods and still provide a sweet ride.”

The finalists for the 2014 Connected Car of the Year are:

Small: Dodge Dart (Uconnect); Mazda3 (Mazda Connect); Toyota Corolla (Entune)

Midsize: Chevrolet Impala (Chevrolet MyLink); Infiniti Q50 (Infiniti InTouch); Nissan Altima (NissanConnect)

Luxury: BMW 5 Series (BMW ConnectedDrive); Lincoln MKS (SYNC with MyLincoln Touch); Cadillac CTS (CUE)

Ultra luxury: Lexus LS (Lexus Enform); Audi A7 (Audi connect); Mercedes-Benz S-Class (mbrace2)

Green: Tesla Model S; Chevrolet Spark EV (Chevrolet MyLink); Ford C-MAX Energi (SYNC with MyFord Touch)

Truck: Ford 5-150 (SYNC with MyFord Touch); Dodge RAM (Uconnect); Chevrolet Silverado (Chevrolet MyLink)

For more information on all of this year’s finalists, go to: Connected World Car of the Year

Official presentations with the winners will take place at the new Connected World Conference, which is co-located within the 2014 Chicago Auto Show, February 6-17. The Connected World Conference is the global expo for the connected technologies that are transforming our professional and personal lives. The only expo that provides access to the players and the products in front of and behind the Internet of Things: discover not only what the devices are, but what makes them tick.

About the Connected World Conference:

The Connected World Conference is the window into the emerging technology trends shaping the future of connected devices. The conference is a destination for everyone interested in learning, sharing, and presenting their ideas and visions about the future of our digital lifestyle, connecting to our vehicles, our homes, our energy, our apps, and our healthcare. This event gives attendees a chance to explore the strategic shifts that new technologies will have now and into the future.