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2014 North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year finalists announced [w/poll]

The 2014 North American International Auto Show is right around the corner, which means it's high time we found out which cars and trucks would be finalists for the prestigious North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year awards.
The finalists - three in cars and three in three trucks/utilities - are dominated by American brands, with two-thirds of the finalists hailing from either General Motors or Chrysler (don't worry Ford, there's always next year), while outliers from Mazda and Acura can be found in each contest. Here now is the list of finalists for the big prizes:
2014 North American Car of the Year:

2013 Acura ILX 2.4

Going Mainstream Has Its Privileges
Acura's experiment with niche models has failed. Competing in the luxury car business by filling white space with product just didn't work for the Japanese automaker. In place of slow-selling models like its ZDX and quirky first-gen RDX, the mindset at Acura has recently switched to more conventional products with vastly improved volume potential. The redesigned 2013 RDX, for example, sold almost as many units in 2012 as it did in 2010 and 2011 combined, and the all-new 2013 ILX has sold more units each month - since going on sale in May - than Acura sold in ZDXs and RLs in all of last year.
While the redesigned RDX is a crucial product to compete with luxury compact crossovers, the ILX might be the most important new product for Acura, as a growing number of premium makes are starting to realize the importance of upscale entry-level compact cars. Ironically, this segment was a pivotal part of the brand's success in the 1980s and '90s thanks to the Integra, but Acura completely abandoned the genre when it killed off the RSX coupe in 2006. The addition of the ILX not only gives Acura a competitive small car again, it also drops the brand's entry price by almost $5,000.

2022 Acura MDX Review | What's new, pricing, safety, pictures

The 2022 Acura MDX is the luxury brand’s three-row family crossover, and it received a complete overhaul for this new generation. ItÂ’s AcuraÂ’s best-selling model of all time with more than a million total sales, and for good reason. Nevertheless, Acura found ways to make it even better. Its new underpinnings improve things like ride and handling, and the new design is attractive, with a sporty exterior and high-quality interior. ItÂ’s good for families, with its utility and three rows of seating, but acceptable for enthusiasts, too, with a sporty powertrain and an intelligent “Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive” system that provides confidence even when seeking out the twistiest of roads. If youÂ’re looking for a luxury ute that offers something a little different than the rest of the herd without sacrificing quality, utility or performance, the 2022 MDX might just be the crossover youÂ’re looking for. What's new for 2022? For 2022, the Acura MDX has been completely redesigned from the ground up. What's the MDX interior and in-car technology like? The new cabin clearly shares visual DNA with the RDX and TLX designs, but it's a more expansive, elevated take that skews more towards luxury than sport. Material quality also sees a significant jump upmarket. Sure, a Mercedes-Benz, BMW or Audi will still outclass the MDX, but Acura isnÂ’t very far behind anymore, and all the German competitors are significantly more expensive. Acura promises that if you see a material that looks like wood or metal, itÂ’s genuine. Fancy LED ambient lighting can be customized with tons of different themes. The seats are both pretty (nice piping and patterns in the leather) and comfortable. Its 12.3-inch infotainment system is loaded with features, and the available ELS Studio audio system will bump with the best of them. The MDX also marks AcuraÂ’s first application of a fully digital instrument cluster, and itÂ’s a good one. You can choose between a couple base layouts for the 12.3-inch screen, but those can be changed/customized even further via the drive mode dial — each mode has its own layout. A 10.5-inch head-up display is available with the Advance package. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless phone charging are standard on all trims. How big is the MDX? The MDX has three rows of seating, but itÂ’s still a midsize crossover, which means that third row is on the small side.