Chevrolet Volt voted car of the year at Detroit auto show
11 Jan 2011
GM's electric-gasoline model, Chevrolet Volt was named the 2011 North American Car of the Year at the ongoing North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Volt beat the all-electric Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Sonata.
Ford Motor's Explorer sport-utility vehicle was the truck of the year beating the Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee. The win is third consecutive one for Ford in the truck of the year category. Last year, Ford Transit Connect was the winner while Ford F-150 had picked up the honour in 2009.
Volt can run for 40 miles on an electric charge before a small gasoline engine kicks in to recharge the battery and extends the range to more than 350 miles, according to manufacturer.
This is the third time Chevrolet has won the North American Car of the Year, and the fourth time for General Motors. Most recently, the Chevrolet Malibu was the 2008 North American Car of the Year.
The awards are voted for by forty-nine auto writers from the United States and Canada.