Chevrolet, GMC sweet Middle East CotY Awards

[Flybrian]

GMC and Chevrolet Clean Up In Middle East Car "Car of The Year Awards"

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Leading UAE based magazine, Middle East Car, has named the GMC Acadia “Best Crossover”, the GMC Suburban “Lifetime Achievement”, the Chevrolet Caprice “Best LWB Executive Car” and the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 “Best Muscle Car” for 2007. The award is presented annually by a jury of ten automotive authorities in the Middle East and around the world consisting of leading automotive journalists and other industry experts.

According to Publishing Director RMS magazines and Editor-in-Chief Middle East Car, Philip Moore, “The jury found the all-new, comprehensively redesigned GMC Acadia and Suburban and Chevrolet Caprice and Corvette Z06 like no other vehicles in their class, delivering an unprecedented experience,” said Moore. “These vehicles are truly leaders in their category – where buyers no longer need to sacrifice performance and style for utility.”

This is the first time the influential Middle East Car magazine has presented Car of the Year Awards. Philip Moore continued, “The publication had been responding to requests from the market and the COTYs would be an annual event from now on”.

The all-new 2007 GMC Acadia, winner of the “Best Crossover” award, was designed to add a new dimension to the fastest growing-vehicle segment in the Middle East offering superior levels of comfort, versatility and performance.

Sharing familial design cues with GMC’s other all-new full-size SUVs, the Acadia features styling that underscores GMC’s professional grade philosophy. The exterior profile of the Acadia is sporty, sleek and aerodynamic while its interior reflects style and refinement. The GMC Acadia GMC’s first CUV takes the best aspects of the class and melds them together intelligently, and with more style.

The all new 2007 GMC Suburban, winner of Middle East Car’s “Lifetime Achievement” award, is the latest generation of the industry’s most versatile and capable full-size SUV. It is based on GM’s new, full-size SUV architecture, featuring sleek exterior styling, a sharper, more precise driving feel, more power with improved, segment-leading fuel economy, increased interior refinement and improved quietness.

“GM is a powerhouse in the Middle East, notching record sales on the back of some fine product. This was reflected when the votes were tallied. GM innovates while keeping an eye on auto traditions and traditions of the Middle East, which was clearly evident in our special Lifetime Achievement award for an industry icon, the Suburban. This award will not necessarily be presented each year, only when the situation warrants it.”

Terry Johnsson, President, General Motors Middle East Operations, said: “The 2007 Acadia and Suburban reinforce that the GMC brand is all about exceeding expectations. GMC has long been a trusted brand in the Middle East and our customers are drawn to the precision, power and capabilities of what the brand offers. And now, the line-up is expanding to offer more professional grade vehicles to suit everyday demanding lifestyles.”

The new 2007 Chevrolet Caprice, winner of Best LWB Executive Car, balances great proportions, world class exterior and interior styling, and creative design elements to give a stately stance on the road. Reinforcing Caprice’s generous heritage, the all-new Caprice makes its own statement about what a large sedan should be. With its advanced technologies and functional, user-friendly features, the 2007 Chevrolet Caprice is stronger and better equipped than ever before.

The 2007 Caprice is set to build on the success and tradition of its predecessor as one of the legends of the regional car market, maintaining its pre-eminence as the car of choice among statesmen, government officials, business executives and large families.

The 2007 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, the fastest, most powerful production Corvette ever built, won the “Best Muscle Car” award. It is also the fastest, most powerful production car ever offered by General Motors, making it one of the best performance values on the market – better than many of today’s ‘super-cars’. The Z06’s LS7 7.0 litre engine delivers 505 horsepower in a 1,421 kg package – a combination that delivers 0-100 km/h performance of 3.7 seconds in first gear, quarter-mile times of 11.7 seconds at 200 km/h and a top speed of 317 km/h.

“Chevrolet’s reputation for reliability and for driveability has ensured that our heritage has developed into the success we see today with our expanded product portfolio,” said Terry Johnsson. “Our strategy is to continue to maximize our global resources to bring great new cars and SUVs to the region and to compete in all-new segments under the Chevrolet brand.”

Moore concluded, “The COTY awards have several functions. One is to salute every single person involved in providing vehicles to consumers in the Middle East. We have taken a long time to decide to give awards because we take such a matter very seriously. We salute all finalists and winners. There would always be a modicum of disappointment from some that they might not have won COTY”.

The recognition marks another milestone for the GMC and Chevrolet brands in the Middle East, coming at a time when the appeal of the brands and sales are at an all time high.


General Motors has been the global automotive sales leader for 75 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 284,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM markets its cars and trucks in 35 countries.

In 2006, 9.1 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. It marked the third time (2006, 2005 and 1978) GM has sold more than 9 million vehicles in a calendar year.

GM has been operating in the Middle East since the 1920s. GM’s vehicle brands sold in the region are Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, HUMMER, Opel and Saab supported by a unique set of customer-focused services. GM parts and accessories are sold under the GM Parts and ACDelco brands. The regional office in Dubai covers the company’s operations in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE and Yemen.

In 2006, GM sold 140,509 vehicles in the Middle East, representing a 24 percent increase over figures recorded in 2005, and the company continues to introduce pioneering programmes in the region. One example is GMs’ unique Nationalisation programme in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has been officially recognised by the Saudi government as a benchmark for training young nationals.

[Newbiewar]

interesting... nice way for GM to start off an annual vehicle appreciation type award...

im glad that GM is so well received by the middle east, interesting the Suburban is still marketed as a GMC around the world... i remember when they both used to be named that...

[K.C.]

Great news. I hope they can do the same thing here in the U.S. for 2008 and make it a two fer.