Motor Trend has recently announced the selection of the new 2008 Cadillac CTS as the 2008 Motor Trend Car of the Year™. For a complete report of Motor Trend's 2008 Car of the Year get a hold of the January issue of the magazine which will be available on newsstands starting December 4, 2007.

Why choose the Cadillac CTS? Angus MacKenzie, Editor-in-Chief of Motor Trend explains why: "The Cadillac CTS marks the first time in decades an American automobile has been designed and engineered with an eye on the global marketplace. Among its many excellent qualities, perhaps the most valuable one is that it shows Detroit can build a world class car to compete with the best Munich, Stuttgart and Toyota City have to offer. With the CTS, Detroit is officially back in the car business, not just the truck or SUV business.  The CTS's winning attributes go far beyond a well-designed facade. It's the star of a new GM revival, and with a base car price of just $32,990, the car is truly accessible to a wide spectrum of car buyers."

The base model CTS is powered by a potent 263-horsepower VVT V-6. A 304-horsepower direct-injection version is offered as an option. Other features include eight-speaker Bose audio, 17-inch wheels and a dual zone climate control. Inside is a sophisticated, unique interior with superb fit and finish. The CTS can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds.

In order to qualify for the 2008 Motor Trend Car of the Year a vehicle must be totally new or redesigned and should be released within the 12 months period prior to January 1, 2008. Aside from the Cadillac CTS, the list of contenders for this year's Car of the Year Award includes:

•    Audi S5/A5

•    Audi TT

•    Chevrolet Malibu

•    Chrysler Town & Country

•    Dodge Grand Caravan

•    Dodge Avenger Ford Focus Ford Taurus

•    Honda Accord

•    Mercedes-Benz C-Class

•    Mini Cooper

•    Mitsubishi Lancer Scion xB Scion xD

•    Subaru Impreza

•    Volvo C30

•    Volvo XC70

Motor Trend has started its Car of the Year Award way back in 1949 and has based their choice on three key important categories---significance, superiority, and value. Superiority pertains to the engineering excellence, advancement in design, utilization of resources and safety. Significance on the other hand as the term suggest refers to how well the vehicle does the job of which it is designed to do and at the same time how it affects or changes its particular market segment, influences consumer views and transforms product development trends.