The North American Car and Truck of the Year jury has selected 24 vehicles that made the short list for 2012 car and truck of the year.
The big surprise is the Honda Civic's absence. The Civic won NACTOY Car of the Year the last time it was new in 2006. The 2012 model didn't even make the first cut from every new vehicle introduced this year to 17 cars the jurors thought were worth a second look.
The list reveals a lot about the auto industry in 2011. The shift from trucks to cars continues. Only seven new trucks went on sale this year.
There's not a single pickup -- because no automaker introduced an all-new pickup. Once overly dependent on trucks, the Detroit Three did not introduce a single new truck this year.
Fuel efficiency dominates the list. The focus has shifted from electric cars last year to vehicles like the BMW X3, Chevy Sonic, Fiat 500, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and Land Rover Evoque.
I'm one of the 50 jurors. At this point, I have no idea which vehicles will get my vote. I'll decide after driving each candidate several more times.
The NACTOY jury will announce six finalists for car and truck of the year in December. The winners will be revealed at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January.
Here's the short list, along with some quick thoughts on each vehicle's possible strengths and weaknesses. The opinions are mine alone. They don't reflect the thinking of any other jurors.
North American Car of the Year Short list
Audi A6
Plus: A strong new sport sedan
Minus : The competing A7 is essentially a better-looking version of the same car.
Audi A7
Plus: Elegant looks and advanced technology
Minus: Price. Likely to split votes with the similar A6
Buick Verano
Plus: Buick is a surging brand. The Verano compact moves it into a new market segment.
Minus: Fuel economy and performance unlikely to be exciting.
Chevrolet Sonic
Plus: Looks, performance and fuel economy
Minus: Very basic interior materials
Chrysler 300/SRT-8
Plus : Looks, performance, value
Minus : The first 300 won NACTOY in 2005. It's hard to repeat.
Fiat 500
Plus: A delightful small car spearheads Fiat's return to America
Minus: It's been on sale in Europe for several years
Ford Focus
Plus: Looks, technology, fuel economy
Minus: Some people hate its dual-clutch transmission and voice-recognition systems
Hyundai Accent
Plus: Looks, price, fuel economy
Minus: Noisy interior. Competing with the stronger Elantra from Hyundai
Hyundai Elantra
Plus: Looks, fuel economy, price
Minus: Noisy interior. Poor iPod and hands-free phone compatibility
Hyundai Veloster
Plus: Price, performance
Minus: Polarizing looks. A niche vehicle for specialized tastes
Kia Rio/Rio 5
Plus: Looks, price, fuel economy
Minus: Kia has yet to match the refinement of its corporate cousin Hyundai
Scion iQ
Plus: Minicar moves Scion into a new segment
Minus: Polarizing looks, tiny interior
Subaru Impreza
Plus: A strong replacement for a popular midsize sedan
Minus: No breakthrough features
Toyota Camry
Plus: Fuel economy, price
Minus: Very basic interior materials
Toyota Prius V
Plus: A roomier hybrid from Toyota
Minus: It's essentially a minivan version of the Prius
VW Beetle
Plus: Updated looks for an iconic model
Minus: Not as excitingly new as compacts like the Focus and Elantra
VW Passat
Plus: A bigger, better Passat for America; fuel-efficient optional diesel
Minus: Performance, handling and interior materials have been criticized
North American Truck of the Year short list
BMW X3
Plus: Value, performance, fuel economy
Minus: The jury often prefers mainstream to luxury brands
Honda CR-V
Plus: The replacement for a popular SUV
Minus: Bland looks
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
Plus: Dramatic new look, good fuel economy. A departure for Land Rover.
Minus: Is it off-road capable enough for the rugged brand?
Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Plus: An all-new version of a popular luxury SUV
Minus: Fuel economy, price
Mini Countryman
Plus: Looks, room, handling
Minus: May stretch the definition of Mini too far. Minimal off-road ability
Nissan Quest
Plus: A roomy minivan
Minus: Odd looks, no breakthrough features
Saab 9-4X
Plus: Stylish and sporty SUV, affection for Saab brand
Minus: Concern about Saab's survival, strong competition
Source : Mark Phelan: Top contenders for Car and Truck of the Year | Detroit Free Press | freep.com