Automobile Magazine Announces 2011 All-Stars

ANN ARBOR, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AUTOMOBILE Magazine, America’s leading automotive lifestyle publication, announced today the ten winners of its 2011 AUTOMOBILE Magazine All-Star awards.

“The Ram’s cabin excels in attention to detail. Instruments are clearly marked, and the cupholders and storage locations are bountiful. Crew cabs have in-floor bins, and the handy RamBox option converts normally wasted bed-sidewall space into secure storage lockers.”

In total, 39 separate vehicles garnered votes, but only 10 honorees were chosen. Perennial winners, such as the BMW 3-series and the Volkswagen GTI, joined fresh faces like the Hyundai Sonata and the Volvo S60. After the votes were tabulated, ten different automakers emerged with All-Star trophies.

“We’ve had those years when each editor acts on behalf of his or her inner twelve-year-old car fan and votes for ten sports cars to represent a perfect All-Stars fleet. This wasn’t that year,” said Jean Jennings, president and editor-in-chief of AUTOMOBILE Magazine. “Instead, after a single round of voting, we arrived at the most interesting, most diverse, All-Star winners we’ve seen in quite some time.”

Winners of the 2011 AUTOMOBILE Magazine All-Star awards are:

BMW 3-series

A perennial favorite among the editorial staff, AUTOMOBILE Magazine says of the car: “In the past eighteen years, the 3-series has not once fallen from our grace, winning two Automobile of the Year awards, making twenty-one All-Star appearances, and winning a Technology of the Year award for good measure. As the car enters the sixth year in its current form, it still has no equal.”

Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon

With an exhilarating blend of performance and practicality, Cadillac’s high-output wagon builds upon the solid platform established in the CTS sedan and coupe: “The CTS-V Sport Wagon is not only far cooler than the sedan and the coupe that share its raucous powertrain and chiseled good looks, it’s also evidence that Cadillac is willing and able to play to the desires of the keenest automotive enthusiasts in America.”

Ford Mustang

Representing the latest chapter in the decades-long pony car wars, the 2011 Ford Mustang was chosen in part because of its all-new V-8 powerplant. According to AUTOMOBILE Magazine: “This year’s knockout blow came when Ford brought the 5.0-liter V-8 back from the dead… it’s nearly impossible to keep a big, fat grin off your face—and points off your driving record—when you’re behind the wheel.”

Honda Odyssey

To be an All-Star, a vehicle doesn’t have to be a performance vehicle or a sports car. For 2011, the Honda Odyssey earned top honors for being the best at what it does, setting class standards for style, utility, and performance. AUTOMOBILE Magazine describes minivans as “… the teacher’s pets of the automotive world—so good at so many things that most people despise them. Get over it already! The minivan is as close as you can get to the perfect family vehicle, and the Honda Odyssey is as close as you can get to the perfect minivan.”

Hyundai Sonata

Look out, Camry and Accord, a serious competitor has arrived on the scene. The newest iteration of the Hyundai Sonata is so good that it was a serious contender for the 2011 AUTOMOBILE Magazine Automobile of the Year award. “The Sonata has emerged as an unquestioned leader in a segment that’s bursting with excellent automobiles. Painstakingly conceptualized, designed, and engineered…the Sonata meets and exceeds the varied needs and wishes of demanding American buyers,” declares the magazine.

Jaguar XJ

For its part in redefining and modernizing the brand, the Jaguar XJ has been honored as a 2011 All-Star. In the luxury-car class, “…it’s very hard for any one car to stand out in the crowd. And yet the XJ manages to do just that, in both its design and its dynamics. Both for the aesthete and the enthusiast, the Jaguar XJ is an All-Star.” The XJ was also named the 2011 Design of the Year in the January issue.

Porsche Boxster/Cayman

Another perennial favorite, the Porsche Boxster/Cayman has garnered All-Star nods five times in the last six years. Of its performance and spirited handling, AUTOMOBILE staff members say that “all controls are perfection,” “ride and handling balance is perfect,” “perfect—don’t change a thing,” and “wherever one drives a mid-engine Porsche, it truly feels as if it’s an extension of your body.”

Ram 1500

A repeat winner from last year, the Ram 1500 was honored in large part for both its best-in-class driving dynamics and host of creature comforts. In particular, “The Ram’s cabin excels in attention to detail. Instruments are clearly marked, and the cupholders and storage locations are bountiful. Crew cabs have in-floor bins, and the handy RamBox option converts normally wasted bed-sidewall space into secure storage lockers.”

Volkswagen GTI

The Volkswagen GTI is an All-Star winner for the fifth year in a row. The GTI makes a compelling argument for itself against vehicles costing twice as much, and its turbocharged four-cylinder powerplant was cited for delivering both the power and throaty sound of a much more substantial engine. The GTI is “not only a segment standard, it’s also an industry benchmark…The enduring appeal stems from passionate performance, subtle restraint, and detailed execution that position the GTI as a capable, inviting, and upscale hot hatch.”

Volvo S60

The Volvo S60 is perhaps the most unexpected All-Star award winner. While on paper it appears similar to the previous S60, driving the redesigned 2011 model was a revelation. “The Volvo S60 was easily the biggest surprise during this year’s All-Stars test,” say the editors. “With the S60, Volvo has managed to carve out a distinct product in an impossibly crowded field. The S60 retains its Swedish personality but now challenges the class leaders on refinement and handling.”

The prestigious All-Star awards recognize ten vehicles chosen by the editorial staff of AUTOMOBILE Magazine. For 2011, there were 271 automobiles for sale in the United States that were eligible for the award.

A more detailed description of each of the winners can be found in the February issue of AUTOMOBILE Magazine. Additional photos and videos can be seen on the AUTOMOBILE Magazine iPad app or at www.automobilemag.com.

About AUTOMOBILE Magazine

AUTOMOBILE Magazine, part of Source Interlink Media, LLC, is America's leading automotive lifestyle publication and reaches 4.6 million readers monthly; through its print, online and digital components the brand counts an audience of over 6 million. Arbiters of the "All-Star" awards, Automobile Magazine profiles upcoming car designs from leading manufacturers. It is written for the sophisticated enthusiast and profiles high-end vehicles with compelling editorial and photographic content. For nearly 25 years, AUTOMOBILE Magazine has set the standard for automotive journalism, maintaining its devotion to auto adventure and an editorial approach that emphasizes "No boring cars!"

Source Interlink Media is the premier source of special interest media in the United States. With more than 70 publications, 90 websites, 800 branded products, 65+ events, and TV and radio programs, SIM is the largest provider of content to enthusiast communities interested in automotive, action sports, marine and other niche activities. The division's strategy is to wholly focus on targeted audiences by leveraging and expanding upon its core market-leading brands through a multiplatform media approach.