Texas Auto Writers Name 2012 Cars of Texas

FT. WORTH, Texas, May 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- It's impossible to pigeonhole drivers or Texas auto writers.  While they thrive on trucks, there is also a need for speed, luxury, and performance that they see bringing balance to the vehicle experience.  That's why Texas auto writers evaluate everything but trucks each spring at the Texas Motor Speedway. 

With assistance from the Total Driving Experience, which is headquartered at the track, 49 journalists judged 58 vehicles entered in competition by their manufacturers, according to Linda Water Nelson of the Texas Auto Writers Association, INSIDEout: Cars & Trucks., and truck editor for Texas Fish & Game Magazine.

"This year was particularly competitive," says Nelson.  "There were a number of track-worthy standouts, as well as those well suited to road driving in a range of categories." 

The two big winners were the rocketing  2013 Nissan GT-R named Car of Texas (a 545-hp track monster with more than adequate road manners) and Supercar of Texas; and the venerable 2012 Chrysler Town & Country with an extraordinary interior, storage and technology, as well as cruising comfort that writers loved for its road manners.

It was a banner year for Chrysler, winning for vehicles as diverse as the Town & Country for Family Car and Mini-Van of Texas; the 2013 Dodge Dart as Compact Car of Texas, Best New Feature, and Best Vehicle; the Fiat 500 Cabrio for Sub-Compact; the Chrysler 300 loaded with virtually everything that can be ordered  as Luxury Sedan of Texas and Full-Size Luxury Vehicle; and the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 for Performance Utility Vehicle of Texas.    

Ford and General Motors were also multiple category winners.  Ford took honors for the 2013 Ford Mustang GT as Performance Coupe of Texas, 2013 Taurus SHO police package as Performance Sedan of Texas, and 2013 Taurus SHO for best new interior.

GM was the winner for the Buick Regal GS as Mid-Size Sedan, the Buick LaCrosse eAssist as Full-Size Car of Texas, the Chevy Volt as Green Car of Texas, and Cadillac SRX AWD as Mid-Size Luxury Vehicle of Texas.

The Suburu BRZ, an on-track favorite, won Performance Compact of Texas.

"It's important to understand that these were not runaway winners without extraordinary competitors.  Every year there are more vehicles entered and the rating scores get closer and closer.  It is never a sure thing for anyone," Nelson added.

Contact: Linda Water Nelson, [email protected]

SOURCE INSIDEout: Cars & Trucks