Photo taken on Jan. 8, 2006 shows a Honda Civic car which dubbed as the "Car of the Year 2006" at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the United States. (Xinhua Photo)

    BEIJING, Jan. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Honda's new Civic and Ridgeline truck were awarded the North American Car and Truck of the Year honors at the International Auto Show in Detroit Sunday.

    The Ford Fusion and the Pontiac Solstice were the other finalists for the North American Car of the Year award. Among trucks, the finalists were the Ridgeline, the Ford Explorer SUV and the Nissan Xterra SUV.

    The awards are to recognize vehicles for their innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.

    "I don't know how you can top this. We certainly hoped for one, didn't expect two (awards)," said John Mandel, senior vice president at American Honda. "Words can't express the excitement. It's the first time it's ever been done, I believe."

    The annual awards are voted on by a committee of 49 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada. The

John Mendel (L) and Dick Colliver, vice presidents of Honda's American company, pose for a photo near a Honda Ridgeline truck which dubbed as the "Truck of the Year 2006" during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Jan. 8, 2006. (Xinhua Photo)

journalists involved write for a variety of publications, including Fortune Magazine, while some are freelance writers.

    Despite the recognition of the automotive press making up the NACOTY/NATOTY jury, both Hondas have yet to make a big impression in the marketplace. Civic sales were down fractionally in 2005, while sales of the Ridgeline are running well below Honda's original projections.c

    The result marked another setback for Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp., which have been losing market share to Japanese competitors in their home market and have pledged to mount a comeback in the passenger car market. Enditem

    (Agencies)