And the North American Car of the Year is .... Saturn Aura

From http://www.thecarconnection.com/Car_Shows_and_Concept_Cars/Detroit_Auto_Show/Silverado_Aura_Win_Truck_Car_of_the_Year.S286.A116 84.html

Jurors have chosen the 2007 North American Car and Truck of The Year. For 2007, the Car of the Year is the Saturn Aura. The Truck of the Year is the Chevrolet Silverado.

The international group of automotive journalists had selected the Honda Fit, the Saturn Aura, and the Toyota Camry as finalists for the 2007 North American Car of the Year. The Chevrolet Silverado, Ford Edge, and Mazda CX-7 were finalists for the 2007 North American Truck of the Year.

I was really surprised it beat the Honda Fit, a car that seems to receive universal acclaim from every publication. It was also nice to see it chosen above Camry, which mirrors Car and Driver's most recent test where Aura placed above Camry (although still behind Accord, Altima, and Optima).

What? No one is going to call "media bias" on this? :)

Good going, GM.

More proof of media bias. Every now and then an American car does get a small award as "Proof" that the media is not biased. This was they can keep the vast herd of sheep in line. Never forget those French who control the media are very clever.

Take notice how the bigger award went to the bigger selling toy yoda. The anti American liberal French allow a little award to go to the smallest most insignificant brand knowing full well it will have little impact in the marketplace and thus won't interfere with there plans to destroy this country.

More proof of media bias. Every now and then an American car does get a small award as "Proof" that the media is not biased. This was they can keep the vast herd of sheep in line. Never forget those French who control the media are very clever.

Take notice how the bigger award went to the bigger selling toy yoda. The anti American liberal French allow a little award to go to the smallest most insignificant brand knowing full well it will have little impact in the marketplace and thus won't interfere with there plans to destroy this country.

Continuous whining about the media is one tactic, but a continuous onslaught of excellent products is the only thing that will change perceptions.

Fact is, that GM has many years of bad perceptions to turn around, and I think they're in the process of doing just that. It's going to take awhile though.

Continuous whining about the media is one tactic, but a continuous onslaught of excellent products is the only thing that will change perceptions.

Fact is, that GM has many years of bad perceptions to turn around, and I think they're in the process of doing just that. It's going to take awhile though.

I think he may have just been trying to grant the request of your previous comment.

Ive done what i can so far to talk several people into going to a saturn dealership to look at that car. This should help with that a little.

im just glad it got something. i love tthat car.

I think he may have just been trying to grant the request of your previous comment.

Ive done what i can so far to talk several people into going to a saturn dealership to look at that car. This should help with that a little.

When people's first hand encounters with GM products leave them impressed, compared to the last Toyota/Honda/whatever they've encountered, that's when people's perceptions will change. And it will be ONE person at a time.

Finally, the product is coming down the pike which people can take seriously. And honestly, I think the media is noticing.

When people's first hand encounters with GM products leave them impressed, compared to the last Toyota/Honda/whatever they've encountered, that's when people's perceptions will change. And it will be ONE person at a time.

Exactly and they dont have to play the "vanilla fleet car" to over tunr either (IMO). They need to keep getting the quality better and transform the cars to something more unique. No more FWD fleets! Give us something worth talking about!

:cool:

Congrats, Saturn and Chevrolet (and GM). :yes:

Continuous whining about the media is one tactic, but a continuous onslaught of excellent products is the only thing that will change perceptions.

Fact is, that GM has many years of bad perceptions to turn around, and I think they're in the process of doing just that. It's going to take awhile though.

I agree that they are in the process, and doing a hell of a job IMO. I do think this onslaught against the media bias can't hurt, and can actually help to open peoples eyes a little, by pointing it out for some people who might just not see it for whatever reason, until it is pointed out for them. Like when someone says something (anything), and we say, Hmmm I never thought about it like that before! And then, they take a closer look, and all the sudden they see it too! It's there IMO, and has been for a long time. And maybe they are giving GM these token award to sort of combat this "whining" as you put it.

And maybe they are giving GM these token award to sort of combat this "whining" as you put it.

To be perfectly honest, I'd doubt. GM finally is at the point again, where it's products can be directly compared with it's competition - with a straight face.

Let's be frank, all the screaming in the world, that a Chevy Corsica was just as good as a Honda Accord, wasn't going to convince anyone. But here comes Aura....world class powertrain, nice interior, styling, price, chassis, the whole deal....and people notice.

To be perfectly honest, I'd doubt. GM finally is at the point again, where it's products can be directly compared with it's competition - with a straight face.

Let's be frank, all the screaming in the world, that a Chevy Corsica was just as good as a Honda Accord, wasn't going to convince anyone. But here comes Aura....world class powertrain, nice interior, styling, price, chassis, the whole deal....and people notice.

I agree 100% :)

It's great that GM won the award but IMO COTY and TOTY are irrelevant awards as the awards are about "one size fits all"... which is distinct from reality.

Still, any momentum GM can gain from the media is a bonus.

I wouldn't take TOTY too seriously seeing as how it went up against the woefully underwhelming Ford Edge and the Mazda CX-9, which I am indifferent too. When are non-BOF Suv's considered trucks?

I have to say I have yet to have the opportunity to sit in, much less drive the Aura, but it does look very nice in the pictures and from what I've seen of them driving around town, and on paper and in the reviews it seems very nice.

If I were looking at cars in its class I've definitely give it a strong look, and even if I didn't feel it was the best car in the class, if it was close enough, I'd probably get it just to show my support for a massive improvement in Saturn's lineup. I mean seriously - I dunno what the rest of you guys have felt about Saturn, but their lineup has largely been a joke IMO - especially after you got past the entry level cars and looked at the cars they were intending to compete in the ~25k dollar range.

The Aura and Sky seem to be definitely working really damn hard to change that, though, and my hat is definitely off to GM for that reason if not others.

More proof of media bias. Every now and then an American car does get a small award as "Proof" that the media is not biased. This was they can keep the vast herd of sheep in line. Never forget those French who control the media are very clever.

Take notice how the bigger award went to the bigger selling toy yoda. The anti American liberal French allow a little award to go to the smallest most insignificant brand knowing full well it will have little impact in the marketplace and thus won't interfere with there plans to destroy this country.

You've GOT to be ****ing kidding me.
:bang:

Surprising concidering how badly the media has trashed the interior of the Aura.

But still, nice to GM win one....great to see them win many.