Car Of The Year | featured news

It’s been a tough year for the Volt, General Motors’ plug-in hybrid.  But perhaps it’s about to see its fortunes turn as a jury of continental journalists declare Volt the European Car of the Year.

The Hyundai Elantra has won the North American Car of the Year award. And the NACTOY goes to... The acronym for The North American Car and Truck of the Year award doesn't roll off the tongue like `Oscar.' And it's hardly a household name. For the award's annual winners in Detroit, though, it offers the same opportunity to strut. Here's the problem: Like with the Academy Awards, the bragging rights don't guarantee a sales boost.

This year's winners, announced Monday as Detroit's annual auto show opened to the media, are the Hyundai Elantra and Land Rover Range Rover Evoque.

The Chevrolet Volt has won the 2011 North American Car of the Year at the Detroit auto show. The car that runs on electricity for 40 miles before a backup gas engine kicks in beat out the Nissan Leaf, another electric, and Hyundai Sonata in the annual ceremony on the first day of media previews for the Detroit auto show.