EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -
The 2011 Motor Trend Sport Utility of the Year winner was unveiled Tuesday on Facebook, and taking this year’s honor was the Porsche Cayenne.
Motor Trend said it has not done an award announcement through Facebook before, and doing so was part of its multimedia strategy.
Looking at the winner in more detail, officials praised the Cayenne for its technological innovation, strong fuel economy, strong value rating and upgrades when it comes to interior and exterior design.
“The second-generation version of the German manufacturer’s popular luxury sport-utility vehicle, the 2011 Porsche Cayenne represents an evolution in concept and design rather than an outright overhaul,” Motor Trend highlighted.
“Not only are the Cayenne’s technical advancements compelling, but its increased fuel efficiency, high value rating, and improved interior and exterior design features result in an unbeatable combination of performance and capability,” officials continued.
Angus MacKenzie, Motor Trend’s editor-in-chief, added: “Our Sport Utility of the Year evaluation is not a comparison test. Each contender is evaluated against six criteria — advancement in design, engineering excellence, efficiency, safety, value and performance of intended function.
“With strong showings in the engineering and efficiency areas, an attractive exterior, a thoughtful interior design, a full roster of active and passive safety gear, and a high value rating on its opening price, the Cayenne was quite obviously the winner,” MacKenzie added. “The fact that the Cayenne’s driving experience eclipsed that of every other contender was just a bonus.”
Motor Trend’s editorial staff gathers annually to choose the contestants. In the performance tests, vehicles are examined for track-based ride and handling as well as how they perform on a “real-world loop.” Courses featured in the latter evaluations are a freeway, a regular two-lane highway and a loose-surface track, officials noted.
The vehicles are judged based on the six criteria mentioned by MacKenzie.