2012 North American Car and Truck of the Year announced - photos

CRV was 2nd ? what a joke :)

Can't believe the Elantra beated the all mighty focus?:.. give me a break....

I can't believe that Americans call the Evoque a truck! So any crossover and SUV is a truck there? The world must be shrinking!

"Hyundai Elantra and Range Rover Evoque have been crowned the 2012 North American Car and Truck of the Year."- ROFLOL! I may have the explanation..."Selected by a jury of fifty automotive journalists from Canada and the United States" 49,5 journalists from Canada and a midget from the US.

Wait for the Mazda CX-5 in Diesel and Gas... Mazda In addition to single-cab body styles of its BT-50 commercial vehicle this month, Mazda will launch one of the most significant cars of 2012, the CX-5. Arriving in the first quarter, the all-new compact soft-roader will have a starting price below $30,000 and step in for the CX-7 as Mazda’s entry-level SUV. Combining Mazda’s latest “SkyActiv” fuel-saving technologies, the CX-5 is expected to become the most fuel-efficient model in its segment. On the European cycle, a manual-equipped front-wheel-drive diesel CX-5 uses as little as 4.5L/100km. The 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine produces 129kW of power and a V8-like 420Nm of torque from just 2000rpm. The CX-5 will be available with the choice of petrol or new diesel power as well as a six-speed manual or redesigned six-speed automatic transmission. Mazda has yet to confirm fuel economy details for the new generation 121kW/210Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine (detuned to 118kW/208Nm in AWD form), which is shared with the Mazda3 SP20 model.

Give credit where credit is due. The Elantra may not be the most exotic (let alone be a sporty) car, but this model has significance in the real car market. It really came out firing all the guns and made the long-time reigning king in the North American compact sedan segment (the Corolla) & the Civic. For automobile manufacturers (and accountants and people that live in the real world...not some automotive fantasy) and for people in the industry the new Elantra marks a shift in the segment from the dominating Japanese manufacturers. This is something that a lot of people could not have imagined happening.