Best of Show Results -- Consumers Pick Their Favorite Vehicles and Exhibit at the 2017 Chicago Auto Show
MEDIA INFORMATION
Contact: Mark Bilek
Senior Director of Communications and Technology
Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Office: (630) 424-6082
Cell: (847) 652-0632
Email: mbilek@drivechicago.com
Contact: Jennifer Morand
Director of Public Relations and Social Media
Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Office: (630) 424-6084
Cell: (630) 391-1986
Email: jmorand@drivechicago.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BEST OF SHOW RESULTS -- CONSUMERS PICK THEIR FAVORITE VEHICLES AND EXHIBIT AT THE 2017 CHICAGO AUTO SHOW
CHICAGO (Feb. 24, 2017) - For the twelfth consecutive year, consumer voters selected their favorites in five categories in the Chicago Auto Show's "Best of Show" balloting. The Chicago Auto Show is the only major auto show that polls its attendees' favorite vehicles and exhibit.
In voting conducted over the 10-day public run of the nation's biggest auto show, winners in the contest's five categories were:
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Best All-New Production Vehicle: 2018 Ford Mustang
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Best Concept Vehicle: LEGO Batmobile from Chevrolet
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Best Green Vehicle: 2018 BMW 530e
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Best Exhibit: Chevrolet
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Vehicle I'd most like to have in my driveway: 2018 Chevrolet Corvette
"We think of our attendees as one enormous focus group that we can leverage to analyze data and assess trends," said Chicago Auto Show General Manager Dave Sloan. "Best of Show voting has become a benchmark measure of what the public deems the most exciting, impressive and innovative on the show floor."
Each of the first four winners beat out seven other vehicles. The eight finalists in Best All-New Production Vehicle, Best Concept Vehicle, Best Green Vehicle and Best Exhibit were selected by a jury of automotive experts. In the fifth category, "Vehicle I'd most like to have in my driveway," voters could choose from any of the hundreds of vehicles on the show floor.
According to the results, voters considered the 2018 Ford Mustang the Best All-New Production Vehicle. Though the Mustang was a runaway favorite, the Porsche Panamera and Chicago Auto Show world introduction Ford Expedition also garnered a considerable number of votes, finishing second and third, respectively.
Voters exhibited a bit of whimsy selecting the LEGO Batmobile from Chevrolet as Best Concept. In a year that was "concept lean," attendees clearly found the 350,000-brick Batmobile entertaining. Ranking second in Best Concept voting was the Mazda MX-5 Speedster.
The all-new 2018 BMW 530e took the honors for Best Green Vehicle. The unique hybrid-electric sedan has a battery range of roughly 20 miles and total of more than 250 horsepower on tap. It topped runner-up Cadillac CT6 Plug-In Hybrid by a slight margin, showing luxury buyers are considering "clean" performance.
For the second year in a row, Chevrolet took top honors as Best Exhibit. The display featured four 20 feet high, transparent screens with coordinated LED lighting and music surrounding a centerpiece screen that was 73 feet long. Four turntables around the exhibit highlighted Chicago world introduction Redline vehicles. Posting a close second was the extremely popular Jeep display followed by the Ford exhibit.
Every year the tightest race of all is the pick for "Vehicle I'd most like to have in my driveway." This year was no different as the Chevrolet Corvette and Ford GT battled neck and neck to the last day. Bowtie fans mashed the gas on the final day to put the Corvette on top.
The manufacturer awards for Best of Show will be presented to the winners at the annual Midwest Automotive Media Association Spring Rally, held annually at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis.
For more details on the 2017 Chicago Auto Show, please visit www.chicagoautoshow.com.
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About the Chicago Auto Show
The Chicago Auto Show is the nation's largest auto show, spanning more than 1 million square feet of production, concept, and exotic vehicle exhibit space. In addition to hosting multiple world and North American vehicle debuts, the Chicago Auto Show's First Look for Charity raises more than $2.5 million annually for 18 vital Chicago organizations in a single night. The 2018 public show will be Feb. 10-19. For more information, visit www.chicagoautoshow.com or www.Facebook.com/ChicagoAutoShow.
About the Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Founded in 1904, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association is one of the nation's largest metropolitan dealer organizations. It is comprised of more than 420 franchised new-car dealers and an additional 150 allied members. The group's dealer members employ about 20,000 people in the metropolitan area. The association has produced the world-famous Chicago Auto Show since 1935. For more information please visit www.CATA.info.
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