Opel Insignia Wins 2009 European Car of the Year
Even as Opel looks set to leave GM’s cratering corporate mothership, the German division has scooped top honors in the European Car of the Year (ECOTY, although UK buff book EVO also claims that acronym). Oops! Did I say Opel? I mean Vauxhall. The British brand under which GM products are sold in the UK. Other than Chevrolet and Cadillac, which are also sold throughout Europe, although, in the UK, not so much that you’d require more than your two hands to count them. Anyway, the methodology used to bang the gong (and get it on) is beyond question. ECOTY is judged by a panel of 59 swag-scarfing, press car luxuriating journos members, representing 23 European countries. The Motor Authority reports that “National representation on the panel is related to the size of the country’s car market and its importance in car manufacturing, with France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain topping the list with six members each… Of the total 59 judges, 20 gave the Insignia top points, while 19 put the Fiesta in first place.” And Sweden showed it no love at all. See the votes by judge here.
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@Robert Schwartz: 2010 LaCrosse, 2011 Aura, 2012 Malibu
Hal: Aren't those indefinitely postponed? I mean, if GM is postponing any r&d til after 2010, they won't be out, if at all, until sometimes 2014.