The Chicago Auto Show doesn’t make the kind of “Best of…” award announcements that echo throughout the international auto industry. But, it’s still a major U.S. show, and the folks behind it allow consumer voters and a panel of auto industry experts to pick their “Best of Show” for 2015 across a range of categories.
Suffice to say, the consumer crowd seems to like the shiniest and boldest aesthetic designs as the flashiest cars for 2016 carried off most of the awards.
- After compiling votes for nine days, Chicago Auto Show reps announced the following winners:
- Best All-New Production Vehicle: Ford GT (38% of vote)
- Best Concept Vehicle: Toyota FT-1 (30% of vote)
- Best Green Vehicle: BMW i8 (38% of vote)
- Best Exhibit: Ford (25% of vote)
- Vehicle I’d most like to have in my driveway: Ford Mustang GT350
Each of the first four winners beat out seven other vehicles. The eight finalists in Best All-New Production Vehicle, Best Concept Vehicle, Best Green Vehicle and Best Exhibit were selected by a jury of automotive media experts. In the fifth category, “Vehicle I’d most like to have in my driveway,” voters could choose from any of the hundreds of vehicles on the show floor.
Related: Chicago Auto Show: 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Obviously voters considered the Ford GT Mustang the Best All-New Production Vehicle, but behind the scenes comments indicated the Acura NSX and Mercedes-Benz AMG GT also took on a pile of votes.
The BMW i8 took the honors for Best Green Vehicle, enjoying a distinct advantage in the styling department, while Best Concept went to the racy Toyota FT-1 – a car Toyota has been teasing for a couple years now.
In the end, nearly 8,000 consumers voted for Best of Show. The Chicago Auto Show bosses guarantee they’ll be doing a similar vote during the 2016 show for what will be the 11th consecutive year.
