<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/" rel="tag">Sedan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/crossovers-cuvs/" rel="tag">Crossover</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/chevrolet/" rel="tag">Chevrolet</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/gm/" rel="tag">GM</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/electric/" rel="tag">Electric</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-chevrolet-volt-first-drive/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="0" alt="2011 Chevrolet Volt" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/2011chevroletvoltopt1.jpg" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>2011 Chevrolet Volt - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
<br />
As more and more Car and Truck of the Year awards pour in from a variety of major publications, it's no shock that the <a href="http://autoblog.com/model/volt">2011 Chevrolet Volt</a> continues to take home top honors as the best car of 2011. Both <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/16/motor-trend-car-of-the-year-the-2011-chevrolet-volt-w-v/"><em>Motor Trend</em></a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/16/2011-chevrolet-volt-wins-automobile-magazine-automobile-of-the-y/"><em>Automobile</em></a> have deemed the Volt their Car of the Year, and General Motors' high-profile EV is even a finalist for the prestigious North American Car of the Year award. (Our readers, however, would apparently rather see that honor <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/23/hyundai-sonata-edges-volt-in-autoblogs-informal-car-of-the-year/">go to the 2011 Hyundai Sonata</a>). Thus, it's no surprise that the Volt was just named Car of the Year by <em>The Detroit Free Press</em>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-first-drive/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="0" align="right" class="right border" alt="2011 Ford Explorer" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/03-2011-ford-explorer-fd-1293722209.jpg" /></a>Similarly, the <a href="http://autoblog.com/model/explorer">2011 Ford Explorer</a> is in the running for North American Truck of the Year, and the <em>Detroit Free Press</em> is honoring it as the best 'truck' of 2011. Freep auto critic Mark Phelan states that in the road ahead, automakers must choose the "right shade of green" for each type of vehicle. Phelan explains:<br />
<br />
<em>"The Volt allows most owners to go weeks or months without stopping at a gas pump. The Explorer recasts America's best-selling SUV in a fuel-efficient new form based on the same chassis as the Ford Taurus large sedan."</em><blockquote> </blockquote>Interestingly, <em>The Detroit Free Press</em> details its second and third place choices for Car of the Year, with the <a href="http://autoblog.com/model/sonata">Hyundai Sonata</a> and <a href="http://autoblog.com/model/leaf">Nissan Leaf</a> taking those spots, respectively. These two vehicles are finalists for the North American Car of the Year award, and we're wondering if the <em>Free Press</em>' predictions foreshadow the decisions that the NACTOY judges will make (Note: Phelan is a member of the jury). We'll have the answer to that in just a few weeks, but for now, we tip our hats to the Volt and Explorer on taking home the <em>Detroit Free Press</em> awards.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-chevrolet-volt-first-drive/">2011 Chevrolet Volt: First Drive</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-chevrolet-volt-first-drive/#3486190"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/2011chevroletvoltopt1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-chevrolet-volt-first-drive/#3486191"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/2011chevroletvoltopt2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-chevrolet-volt-first-drive/#3485115"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/01chevroletvoltfd2011_thumbnail.jpg" alt="2011 Chevrolet Volt" title="2011 Chevrolet Volt" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-chevrolet-volt-first-drive/#3485116"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/02chevroletvoltfd2011_thumbnail.jpg" alt="2011 Chevrolet Volt" title="2011 Chevrolet Volt" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-chevrolet-volt-first-drive/#3485117"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/03chevroletvoltfd2011_thumbnail.jpg" alt="2011 Chevrolet Volt" title="2011 Chevrolet Volt" /></a></div><br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-first-drive">2011 Ford Explorer: First Drive</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-first-drive/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/01-2011-ford-explorer-fd_thumbnail.jpg" alt="2011 Ford Explorer" title="2011 Ford Explorer" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-first-drive/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/02-2011-ford-explorer-fd_thumbnail.jpg" alt="2011 Ford Explorer" title="2011 Ford Explorer" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-first-drive/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/03-2011-ford-explorer-fd_thumbnail.jpg" alt="2011 Ford Explorer" title="2011 Ford Explorer" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-first-drive/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/04-2011-ford-explorer-fd_thumbnail.jpg" alt="2011 Ford Explorer" title="2011 Ford Explorer" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-first-drive/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/05-2011-ford-explorer-fd_thumbnail.jpg" alt="2011 Ford Explorer" title="2011 Ford Explorer" /></a></div><br />
<em><strong><small>Photos copyright (C)2010 Chris Paukert and <a href="http://www.drewphillipsphotography.com">Drew Phillips</a> / AOL</small></strong></em><br />
<br />
[Source: <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20101230/BUSINESS02/12300393/1331/business01/The-top-shades-of-green">Detroit Free Press</a>]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/30/chevrolet-volt-ford-explorer-named-detroit-free-press-ca/">Chevrolet Volt, Ford Explorer named <i>Detroit Free Press</i> Car and Truck of the Year</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 14:14:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.freep.com/article/20101230/BUSINESS02/12300393/1331/business01/The-top-shades-of-green>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/30/chevrolet-volt-ford-explorer-named-detroit-free-press-ca/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19781545/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/30/chevrolet-volt-ford-explorer-named-detroit-free-press-ca/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
More...
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>2011 Chevrolet Volt - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
<br />
As more and more Car and Truck of the Year awards pour in from a variety of major publications, it's no shock that the <a href="http://autoblog.com/model/volt">2011 Chevrolet Volt</a> continues to take home top honors as the best car of 2011. Both <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/16/motor-trend-car-of-the-year-the-2011-chevrolet-volt-w-v/"><em>Motor Trend</em></a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/16/2011-chevrolet-volt-wins-automobile-magazine-automobile-of-the-y/"><em>Automobile</em></a> have deemed the Volt their Car of the Year, and General Motors' high-profile EV is even a finalist for the prestigious North American Car of the Year award. (Our readers, however, would apparently rather see that honor <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/23/hyundai-sonata-edges-volt-in-autoblogs-informal-car-of-the-year/">go to the 2011 Hyundai Sonata</a>). Thus, it's no surprise that the Volt was just named Car of the Year by <em>The Detroit Free Press</em>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-first-drive/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="0" align="right" class="right border" alt="2011 Ford Explorer" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/03-2011-ford-explorer-fd-1293722209.jpg" /></a>Similarly, the <a href="http://autoblog.com/model/explorer">2011 Ford Explorer</a> is in the running for North American Truck of the Year, and the <em>Detroit Free Press</em> is honoring it as the best 'truck' of 2011. Freep auto critic Mark Phelan states that in the road ahead, automakers must choose the "right shade of green" for each type of vehicle. Phelan explains:<br />
<br />
<em>"The Volt allows most owners to go weeks or months without stopping at a gas pump. The Explorer recasts America's best-selling SUV in a fuel-efficient new form based on the same chassis as the Ford Taurus large sedan."</em><blockquote> </blockquote>Interestingly, <em>The Detroit Free Press</em> details its second and third place choices for Car of the Year, with the <a href="http://autoblog.com/model/sonata">Hyundai Sonata</a> and <a href="http://autoblog.com/model/leaf">Nissan Leaf</a> taking those spots, respectively. These two vehicles are finalists for the North American Car of the Year award, and we're wondering if the <em>Free Press</em>' predictions foreshadow the decisions that the NACTOY judges will make (Note: Phelan is a member of the jury). We'll have the answer to that in just a few weeks, but for now, we tip our hats to the Volt and Explorer on taking home the <em>Detroit Free Press</em> awards.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-chevrolet-volt-first-drive/">2011 Chevrolet Volt: First Drive</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-chevrolet-volt-first-drive/#3486190"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/2011chevroletvoltopt1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-chevrolet-volt-first-drive/#3486191"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/2011chevroletvoltopt2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-chevrolet-volt-first-drive/#3485115"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/01chevroletvoltfd2011_thumbnail.jpg" alt="2011 Chevrolet Volt" title="2011 Chevrolet Volt" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-chevrolet-volt-first-drive/#3485116"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/02chevroletvoltfd2011_thumbnail.jpg" alt="2011 Chevrolet Volt" title="2011 Chevrolet Volt" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-chevrolet-volt-first-drive/#3485117"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/03chevroletvoltfd2011_thumbnail.jpg" alt="2011 Chevrolet Volt" title="2011 Chevrolet Volt" /></a></div><br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-first-drive">2011 Ford Explorer: First Drive</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-first-drive/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/01-2011-ford-explorer-fd_thumbnail.jpg" alt="2011 Ford Explorer" title="2011 Ford Explorer" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-first-drive/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/02-2011-ford-explorer-fd_thumbnail.jpg" alt="2011 Ford Explorer" title="2011 Ford Explorer" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-first-drive/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/03-2011-ford-explorer-fd_thumbnail.jpg" alt="2011 Ford Explorer" title="2011 Ford Explorer" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-first-drive/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/04-2011-ford-explorer-fd_thumbnail.jpg" alt="2011 Ford Explorer" title="2011 Ford Explorer" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-ford-explorer-first-drive/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/05-2011-ford-explorer-fd_thumbnail.jpg" alt="2011 Ford Explorer" title="2011 Ford Explorer" /></a></div><br />
<em><strong><small>Photos copyright (C)2010 Chris Paukert and <a href="http://www.drewphillipsphotography.com">Drew Phillips</a> / AOL</small></strong></em><br />
<br />
[Source: <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20101230/BUSINESS02/12300393/1331/business01/The-top-shades-of-green">Detroit Free Press</a>]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/30/chevrolet-volt-ford-explorer-named-detroit-free-press-ca/">Chevrolet Volt, Ford Explorer named <i>Detroit Free Press</i> Car and Truck of the Year</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 14:14:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.freep.com/article/20101230/BUSINESS02/12300393/1331/business01/The-top-shades-of-green>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/30/chevrolet-volt-ford-explorer-named-detroit-free-press-ca/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19781545/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/30/chevrolet-volt-ford-explorer-named-detroit-free-press-ca/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
More...