The new Acura Integra has been crowned the 2023 North American Car of the Year (NACTOY) winner at an event in Pontiac, Michigan.
It’s an excellent achievement for the reborn Integra, which had to impress a panel of 50 professional automotive journalists.
The judges are drawn from print, online, radio and television outlets in the United States and Canada, and they all cast votes on the three finalists.
Prizes were also handed out for the North American Truck of the Year, along with the top Utility vehicle.
Return of the iconic Integra
The Acura Integra started with success on its side, being based upon the latest Honda Civic that took the Car of the Year trophy in 2022.
However, the judging panel assessed the Integra on its own merits, praising its styling and fun driving experience. The option to combine a six-speed manual gearbox with the 1.5-liter turbocharged petrol engine also added to the appeal.
In the final of the 2023 NACTOY competition, the Acura Integra faced the Nissan Z coupe and the four-door Genesis G80 EV.
Charm, nostalgia and affordability all helped the Integra edge ahead, becoming Acura’s second winner in the NACTOY Awards.
Ford keeps on truckin’
Ford has enjoyed plenty of success in the Truck of the Year category, with various iterations of the F-150 pickup truck emerging as winners. Last year saw the compact Maverick claim the top truck award.
For 2023, the all-electric F-150 Lightning overwhelmingly won over the jurors. Off-road ability, practicality and impressive EV performance gave the Lightning a near-landslide win over the Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 and Lordstown Endurance.
Bengt Halvorson, NACTOY judge, said: “The F-150 Lightning shows how the most familiar vehicle in American life can be made even better as an EV, and it’s fantastic.”
All-electric Utility of the Year final
The North American Utility Vehicle of the Year category encompasses SUVs, crossovers and the few remaining minivans on sale. All three of the finalists in 2023 were electric cars, demonstrating the speed of change in this sector.
With attractive styling, a large battery range and rapid performance, the jurors voted the Kia EV6 as the winning utility for 2023.
Ease of charging and a refined interior added to the EV6 package, placing it ahead of the Genesis GV60 and luxurious Cadillac Lyriq.
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