OCT 21, 2009 – Consumers are invited to go to www.internetcarandtruckoftheyear.com to vote for the Consumer Internet Car of the Year and Consumer Internet Truck of the Year. After a month of semi-finalist voting among seven models in each category, the list has been narrowed down to three finalists for each award.
The finalists for the Internet Car of the Year and Internet Truck of the Year finalists, as determined by a panel of Internet automotive writers, have also been determined.
The Internet automotive writers, a jury of 12 from some of the leading automotive web sites, have selected as their finalists for the first-ever Internet Car and Truck of the Year awards:

Car
Ford Fusion Hybrid
Mazda Mazda3
Shelby GT 500
Truck
Ford Raptor
Chevy Equinox
Volvo XC60
Consumers, voting for the first time on the Internet at a website not dominated by OEM manufacturing, have voted for power:

Car
Ford Taurus SHO
Chevrolet Camaro SS
Shelby GT 500
Truck
Ford Raptor
Chevy Equinox
Audi Q7 TDI
Internet Pros and Average Joes have divergent opinions about what qualifies for Internet Car of the Year. Voting by the jury of Internet automotive writers reflects respect for technology, innovation, and, of course, power while the consumers, or Average Joes, want power, power and more power. Voting for the Truck finalists (which includes pickups, SUVs and crossovers) was fairly close with the writers opting for the Volvo XC60 over the consumers’ choice of the Audi Q7 TDI. The truck category had the closest voting.
Consumer votes will be taken until 5 p.m., EST, Friday, Nov. 13 – and, no, we’re not superstitious. The winners will be announced and presented during Media Days at the Los Angeles Auto Show. (The Internet Car and Truck of the Year awards are not affiliated in any way with the Los Angeles Auto Show.) A total of four awards will be presented, in addition to the first-ever Internet Automotive Writing awards. Deadline for entry is Oct. 30. Complete information is available at www.internetcarandtruckoftheyear.com.
From now until Nov. 13, the Internet Automotive Writers will be reviewing the six finalists for their final votes. Each juror will cast one vote in each category. The complete list of jurors is available at the Internet Car and Truck of the Year website.
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.
For more information on Internet Car and Truck of the Year, email Keith Griffin at [email protected] or call (860) 965-9782.