GM dominates Ward's Auto Interior awards!

http://www.autointeriors.com

GM, Ford, Honda and DCX Take Top Honors in 8th Annual Ward's 'Interior of the Year' Competition

Winners Unveiled at Auto Interiors Show

DETROIT, June 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The votes are in and the big winners at
the 2007 Ward's "Interior of the Year" awards are models from General
Motors, Ford, DaimlerChrysler and Honda.

In all, 34 vehicles from 11 manufacturers were in contention to win an
"Interior of the Year" award in the annual competition sponsored by Ward's
AutoWorld magazine. The prestigious awards program is part of the annual
Ward's Auto Interiors Show being held this week at Detroit's Cobo Center.

Winners were determined in two ways: the editorial staff of Ward's
conducted a two-month review and analysis of the 34 nominated vehicles and
selected the winners based on eight evaluation categories such as comfort,
safety and design harmony. In addition, members of the auto industry
at-large were encouraged to participate in a popular vote online at
http://www.autointeriors.com to see how they would evaluate the nominees
compared to the Ward's judges. More than 1,400 popular votes were cast.

And the "Interior of the Year" winners are....

In the cars categories, Ward's editors voted the Honda Fit the best
interior in Economy-Priced Cars; they also chose the Saturn Aura as best in
Popular-Priced Cars; and the Volvo S80 as having the best interior in
Premium- Priced Car category.

In light trucks, the Ward's judges selected the Honda CR-V as the
winner in Popular-Priced CUV category; they agreed that the Cadillac SRX
had the best interior in Premium-Priced CUV category; they also chose the
Chevy Silverado as tops in Popular-Priced Trucks; and they selected the
Lincoln Navigator as having the best interior in Premium-Priced Trucks.

The industry at-large winners
Voters in the industry at-large balloting agreed with Ward's editors in
three categories: the Saturn Aura won in Popular-Priced Car; the Cadillac
SRX took the Premium-Priced CUV category; and they voted the Chevy
Silverado as best in the Popular-Priced Trucks category.

However, at-large voters went their separate way for the other vehicle
categories. To them, the Dodge Caliber was the winner in the Economy-Priced
Car category; the Saturn Outlook won in Popular-Priced CUV; and in Premium-
Priced Trucks, the Cadillac Escalade took the honors.

The vehicle awards are summarized in this table:

Award Category Ward's Editorial Staff Industry At-Large Vote

Economy-Priced Car Honda Fit Dodge Caliber
Popular-Priced Car Saturn Aura Saturn Aura
Premium-Priced Car Volvo S80 Lincoln MKZ
Popular-Priced CUV Honda CRV Saturn Outlook
Premium-Priced CUV Cadillac SRX Cadillac SRX
Popular-Priced Truck Chevy Silverado Chevy Silverado
Premium-Priced Truck Lincoln Navigator Cadillac Escalade


Special Achievement Awards

In addition to the vehicle awards recognizing overall interiors, Ward's
editors also singled out four categories for special achievement awards.
These included Best Brand Expression, Best Interior Trim, Best Overall
Comfort and even Best Cup Holder.

Winner of the Best Brand Expression award is the Jeep Wrangler; for
Best Interior Trim is the Infiniti G35; Best Cup Holder goes to the
Chrysler Sebring; and Best Overall Comfort is awarded to the Lexus LS 460L.



Awards Highlight Importance of Interiors to Vehicle Sales
With automotive interiors taking a leading role in brand
differentiation and in winning over consumers, automakers are placing an
increased emphasis on interiors. OEM spending on interior materials alone
is projected to reach $10 billion by 2009, according to CSM Worldwide.
Further, a J.D. Power study showed interior comfort is the second most
important factor in choosing a vehicle, ranking ahead of exterior styling
and just behind reliability and durability. That's why automakers are eager
to participate -- and win -- a Ward's Interior of the Year award. Last
year, many of the winning manufacturers showcased their awards in new
vehicle brochures and in national advertising to help attract consumers to
their dealer showrooms.

As a result of the growing spotlight on the Interior of the Year
Awards, Ward's instituted three fundamental changes this year. First,
Ward's editors developed a quantitative selection process that evaluated
vehicle interiors based on eight criteria to ensure the integrity,
transparency and objectivity of the competition. Vehicle interiors were
scored on each of the eight criteria which included material selection;
ergonomics; driver information; safety; overall value; comfort; fit and
finish; and aesthetics and design harmony.

Second, a new category -- Economy-Priced Cars under $17,000 -- was
added. With rising fuel prices shifting consumers to more economical
vehicles, Ward's editors felt it important to include the interiors of cars
at the lower end of the price range.

Third, Ward's instituted a process for recognizing outstanding features
and design choices instituted in new vehicles or vehicle interiors. These
awards are designated "Special Achievements" and focus on areas deemed
worthy of honor by a consensus of the Ward's judges.

About the Auto Interiors Show: Now in its 14th year, The Auto Interiors
Show is presented by Ward's Automotive Group and is the industry's leading
trade show and conference for vehicle interiors. It spotlights the latest
innovations in vehicle technology and design to help suppliers respond to
increasing OEM demands and changing consumer preferences. It features
exhibits of leading suppliers who showcase trend setting products and
materials with a view to the future of vehicle interiors. For complete
information on the annual Ward's Auto Interiors Show, go to:
http://www.autointeriors.com.


SOURCE Ward's AutoWorld Magazine

and they selected the
Lincoln Navigator as having the best interior in Premium-Priced Trucks
Thats interesting:think:
http://www.lincoln.com/navigator/img/feat_quiet.jpg

Thats interesting:think:

Tell me about it. The materials may be top-notch, but a lot of these voters must have really loved the 70's in terms of dash styling. :yuck:

Well, I don't agree with most of their findings - but it is good press, at least.

I don't think it's too much a stretch that the people who would have a catagory for 'best cupholder' would give any award, design or otherwise, to the Caliber or Lincoln.....:rolleyes:

You have to sit inside the Navigator to appreciate the interior. My first thoughts were "Holy ****, this is nice!".

You have to sit inside the Navigator to appreciate the interior. My first thoughts were "Holy ****, this is nice!".

Like I said, I'm sure the materials are top notch. The styling of it is total disco fever. Then again, beauty is all in the eye of the beholder as they say...

Eye of the beholder for the Navigator obviously.

I find the results interesting because GM isn't known for their interiors. But the ones they picked are of newer vehicles and that's encouraging.

At a recent auto show, it was a tough call to make over which truck had a worse interior; the Navigator or the Tundra.

Good article--a bit surprising. I have yet to plant my butt in a new '08 Malibu or a Saturn Aura, and I promise to go with an open mind. I'd really like to see GM succeed in the coming years.

I am a bit surprised with the Ford products though receiving high praise for their interiors. My parents '03 Mountainner is a piece of crap, both of their 01 and 02 Taurus' were crap. The 2007 mustang with 230 miles I rented in March--was crap. My boss drove me to lunch in her 2007 Expedition--and it seems to have a fascination with cheap leather and squeaky plastics--and CHROME. Also crap. OMG the chrome--everywhere! :eek: Need glasses just to sit inside the thing.

Oh well...and as far as Lincoln/Merc go, I guess Granada and LTD styling is making a comeback? Meh...

My GF bought a 2007 Aura. It really does have a nice interior. The ambient lighting is a great touch.

I've driven all the GMT900's as rentals for work (truck, hoe, and burb) and OH MY GOD are those things SWEET!

The Caliber is the worst POS I've seen in a very long time. The build quality was terrible, and the interior plastics are worse than power wheels. How it won an award I'll never know.

The Caliber is the worst POS I've seen in a very long time. The build quality was terrible, and the interior plastics are worse than power wheels. How it won an award I'll never know.

Features. It has a lot of storage cubbies and the glovebox "refrigerator" gets a lot of press. My friend has one and loves it (even though it has some annoying glitches that has even stranded him once or twice). I've never been very impressed with it.

Features. It has a lot of storage cubbies and the glovebox "refrigerator" gets a lot of press. My friend has one and loves it (even though it has some annoying glitches that has even stranded him once or twice). I've never been very impressed with it.

Don't VW's have that as well? I remember seeing some commerical about that. And if so, there interiors are *far* better than the Calibers.