Ford F-150 Wins North American Truck Of The Year

(RTTNews) - Ford Motor Co.'s (F) all-new F-150 pickup won the 2015 North American truck/Utility of the Year award at this year's Detroit auto show, beating out the mid-size Chevrolet Colorado and and fellow Ford brand the Lincoln MKC compact SUV.

Fifty-seven automotive journalists from Canada and the United States voted to choose the winner. The F-150 got 297 points, the Colorado 205 and the MKC 68.

Chevrolet Silverado had won the award last year.

It is the 8th truck win for Ford and the fourth time the F-150 has won.

"Ford is honored to be named the best among such a strong field of competitors," said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of The Americas. "Ford employees and customers have a lot to be proud of with the innovative and award-winning F-150."

Ford built the 2015 F-150 with a military-grade, aluminum-alloy body and a high-strength steel frame, cutting the weight of the vehicle by almost 700 pounds. The innovative new truck can tow up to 1,100 more pounds and haul up to 530 more pounds than the 2014 model, and has the highest EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of any full-size gasoline pickup on the market. The automaker started building the truck in November and the first models went on sale last month.

Ford's F-Series remains America's best-selling truck for the 38th straight year and best-selling vehicle for the 33rd straight year.

Similarly, Volkswagen AG's Golf won the 2015 North American Car of the Year award at the Detroit auto show, beating out Ford Mustang and Hyundai Genesis. It was the second win for Volkswagen.

Last year, the winner was the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.

The awards, now in their 22nd year, are given by an independent group of automotive journalists from the United States and Canada who represent magazines, television, radio, newspapers and web sites.