Hyundai awarded at Detroit auto show
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The Hyundai Elantra took North American Car of the Year honors at the 2012 North American Car show in Detroit. -
The 2013 Dodge Dart, the reinvented compact, debuted at the Detroit auto show Monday. Chrysler is counting on the Dart, and its zippy name, to help it sell more small cars and continue its recent revival. Associated Press photos -
The BMW i8 concept car, a Tron-looking two-seater on display in "Mission: Impossible == Ghost Protocol," at the 2012 North American Car show in Detroit.
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DETROIT -- Hours after the Hyundai Elantra won the big award of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit -- the 2012 North American Car of the Year -- the automaker's press conference was packed with hundreds of bloggers, members of the auto press from all over the world and car company workers, who were the best dressed members of the crowd.
Two levels of risers, 40 feet wide and 8 feet deep, were packed with photographers shooting the unveiling of the company's newest model, the Genesis Coupe, described by the company as the big brother of the Hyundai siblings.
The show itself is like a neighborhood car lot on steroids. Giant video screens, bright flooring under the cars and flashing lights add to the hyperactive mood as carmakers are each assigned times to unveil their latest models.
Each unveiling is viewed by crowds that are about 85 percent male, while tall thin women in very tight dresses stand next to many of the new model cars.
Hyundai also unveiled its Velostar Turbo, a small sports model that, for the show, was tricked out with racing decals that would make a state police officer salivate on the speed gun.
The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque won the North American Truck of the Year.
Fifty automotive journalists voted on the winning vehicles from a group of finalists.
John Krafcik, Hyundai's North American CEO, said the award won't help the compact's sales much because the company already is selling as many Elantras as it can make at its factory in Montgomery, Ala.
Hyundai sold more than 186,000 Elantras last year, nearly a 41 percent increase over 2010 figures.
The award should help solidify the brand's image in the eyes of the American public, especially in the highly competitive compact car segment.
First Published January 10, 2012 12:00 am
