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Best of Show Results -- Consumers Pick Their Favorite Vehicles and Exhibit at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show

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Contact: Mark Bilek

Senior Director of Communications and Technology
Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Office: (630) 424-6082
Cell: (847) 652-0632
Email: [email protected]

Contact: Jennifer Morand
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Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Office: (630) 424-6084
Cell: (630) 391-1986
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BEST OF SHOW RESULTS -- CONSUMERS PICK THEIR FAVORITE VEHICLES AND EXHIBIT AT THE 2018 CHICAGO AUTO SHOW

CHICAGO (Feb. 21, 2018) – For the 13th 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:

  • Best All-New Production: 2018 Jeep Wrangler
  • Best Concept Vehicle: Cadillac Escala
  • Best Green Vehicle: 2019 BMW i8
  • Best Exhibit: Jeep
  • Vehicle I'd most like to have in my driveway: 2018 Ford GT

“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 Jeep Wrangler the Best All-New Production Vehicle. Though the Wrangler was a runaway favorite, the Chevrolet Silverado and Chicago Auto Show world introduction Volkswagen Arteon also garnered a considerable number of votes, finishing second and third, respectively.

The stunning Cadillac Escala narrowly beat out the Lexus LF-1 in a hotly contested contest for Best Concept Vehicle. The all-new 2019 BMW i8 took the honors for Best Green Vehicle – the second year in a row a BMW has claimed this honor.

After a two-year run by Chevrolet, Jeep reclaimed honors for Best Display. Highlighting the Jeep display was the Camp Jeep Test Track – a staple since 2005. Camp Jeep offered ground clearance stairs, maneuverability moguls, extreme break-over rocks, 18-ft. 30-degree ascent/descent hill, off-camber/low-crawl boulders and articulation berms.

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. Blue Oval fans mashed the gas on the final day to put the Ford GT 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, Wisconsin.

For more information about the 2018 Chicago Auto Show, please visit www.chicagoautoshow.com.

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About the Chicago Auto Show
The Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show in North America, spanning more than one 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 is Feb. 10-19. For more information, visit www.chicagoautoshow.com or www.Facebook.com/ChicagoAutoShow.

The 2018 Chicago Auto Show is officially sanctioned by the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers. Founded in Paris in 1919, it is known as the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs.

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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