2000 Chrysler 300M

In the 50-year lifespan of Motor Trend, no more widely recognizeable symbol has emerged from its pages than the words "Car of the Year." Since its first appearance in 1949, Motor Trend's Car of the Year award has become the longest-running award program in the automotive publishing world. It's inspired countless clones, yet remains the most prestigious and coveted prize in the industry. In fact, platform teams charged with creating new car models have often motivated themselves by setting their sights on the Car of the Year trophy right from the drawing board.

As the automotive industry has evolved, so has the award program, spinning off related competitions, including Import Car of the Year, Truck of the Year, and new-for-'99 Sport/Utility of the Year, to honor important new segments of the American automotive market as they've emerged.

For all its broad recognition, Car of the Year and its sibling competitions generate strong feelings, pro and con. After the announcement of any given winner, we can expect an avalanche of mail, mostly praising our "keen acumen," while a few condemn our misguided perspective, untold bias, and/or accuse us of selling the award to the highest bidder. It's a process fraught with emotion, for readers and editors. In some years, it can be extremely hard to whittle a year's worth of laudable contenders down to one lone representative agreed upon by the diverse personalities on our staff. It's the most important thing we do all year.

Often, the "of the year" competitions have been likened to wine: "Not every year is a memorable vintage." Yet, in the award's best years, the prevailing editorial staff has defined an entire era with a single choice, flagged a bonafide landmark in the automotive landscape, and collectively traced the history of the modern automotive age. In the worst years, the staff has pegged its tribute on a model that, for one reason or another, has not lived up to expectations.

For all the limelight, accolade, and controversy that have surrounded these awards, the Car of the Year grew from fairly humble beginnings to become an icon of the modern automotive era. Here are highlights of this long and winding road.

Car Of The Year: Chrysler 300M
The 300M has put a stake through the heart of the notion that "big American cars aren't supposed to handle." The ongoing resurgence of Chrysler (even pre-Daimler) is perhaps best summed up in the 300M, a roomy, powerful luxury sedan that's downright fun to drive.

Import Car Of The Year: Volkswagen New Beetle
The New Beetle has been one of the most anxiously anticipated cars of all time. Sporting innovative styling that borrows cues from the original, beloved Bug and modern technology based on the current Golf front-drive platform, the New Beetle works as both a conversation ice-breaker and a fun-to-drive runabout-all for an attractive price.

Truck Of The Year: Chevrolet Silverado
Chevrolet's full-size truck line was totally redesigned for '99, offering pickup enthusiasts more passenger and cargo room, more advanced technology, a more rigid chassis, a more comfortable environment, and class-leading engines, including the most powerful production V-8 available in a pickup: the 300-horsepower Vortec 6000.

Sport/Utility Of The Year: Lexus RX 300
The winner of Motor Trend's inaugural Sport/Utility of the Year award couldn't be more appropriate. Based on a car platform, rather than the traditional truck chassis of most SUVs, the RX 300 has set a new class standard for ride and driveability, while retaining virtually all the versatility, all-weather capability, and utility that most SUV buyers demand. It is a suitable symbol of the ever-widening spectrum of choices within this ever-growing segment and quickly became Lexus' best-selling model.