Gaywheels.com is honored to be among the 12 journalists that make up the inaugural Internet Car and Truck of the Year panel. We’ve boiled the choices down to 7 cars and 7 trucks and for the first time, consumers will have the opportunity to vote and have their voices heard.
Voting Opens on Internet Car and Truck of the
Year/Journalists Invited To Participate in Writing Contest
SEPT. 16, 2009 – For the first time, consumers will have the opportunity to vote on their choice for Internet Car of the Year and Internet Truck of the Year. It all happens at
www.internetcarandtruckoftheyear.com, where the Internet Pros and the Average Joes Pick the Car and Truck of the Year. At the same time, Internet automotive journalists are invited to submit pieces for a writing contest.
A panel of 12 Internet automotive writers has voted on 7 semi-finalists for Internet Car of
the Year and 7 semi-finalists for Internet Truck of the Year. Consumers are now invited to vote on the website for Consumer Internet Car of the Year and Consumer Internet Truck of the Year starting at Noon (EDT), today, Sept. 16.
This is the only place on the Internet (where 91% of new car shoppers begin their shopping process) for consumers to vote on a Car and Truck of the Year at a website not dominated by manufacturer advertising. The website will not accept any OEM advertising for vehicles eligible for a Car or Truck of the Year award.
Consumers will have until Oct. 16 at noon to register their selections for Internet Car of the Year and Internet Truck of the Year. Then, starting Oct. 19 at noon they will select among three vehicles in each category that have been selected as finalists. Voting ends Nov. 13. The awards will be presented during a major auto show in December.
The semi-finalists for Car of the Year are:
Chevy Camaro SS
Ford Fusion Hybrid
Ford Taurus SHO
Kia Forte Sedan
Mazda Mazda3
Nissan CUBE
Shelby GT 500
The semi-finalists for Truck of the Year are:
Audi Q5
Audi Q7 TDI
Chevy Equinox
Ford Raptor
Ford Transit Connect
Mercedes GLK
Volvo XC60
Another exciting aspect of the Internet Car and Truck of the Year is the Internet Automotive Journalism Contest. Writers and bloggers will be invited to submit their best automotive Internet pieces from September 1, 2008 to September 1, 2009. Internet automotive writers will be awarded in the following categories:
• Best Feature written solely for the Internet
• Best Automotive Review written solely for the Internet
• Best Single Blog Entry
• Best Series of Blog Entries
All winners will have their work either presented or linked to on www.InternetCarandTruckoftheYear.com (depending on original publication guidelines).
The emerging dominance of the Internet has created a major opportunity for further recognition of “best of the best.” The founding of Internet Car and Truck of the Year LLC fills a void in this important medium. It will be creating four major awards that, because of their nature, will gain instant credibility and prestige: Internet Car of the Year, Internet Truck of the Year, Consumer Choice Internet Vehicle of the Year and the Internet Automotive Journalist of the Year.
The Internet Car of the Year was created by Keith Griffin, the Guide to Used Cars for
About.com, and the Hartford (CT) Auto Examiner for Examiner.com, as well as a print
automotive journalist and vice president of the New England Motor Press Association.
Marketing for the awards is being handled by Al Vinikour of Vinikour Communications
in Trenton, Michigan.
##