People look at a Saturn Aura sedan displayed at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, Jan. 7, 2007. The new medium-sized sedan of Saturn Aura won the North American Car of the Year on Sunday. (Xinhua Photo/Qi Heng)  Photo Gallery >>>

More photos: 2007 N American Int'l Auto Show held in Detroit

    DETROIT, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. auto giant General Motors started off the 2007 North American International Auto Show with a bang when its new full-sized pickup, the Chevrolet Silverado, and its new medium-sized sedan, the Saturn Aura, won the North American Truck and Car of the Year awards on Sunday.

    "I just want to go, 'YES!'," said Jill Lajdziak, general manager for Saturn, while she pumped her fist in the air.

    "Sometimes you have to speak from the heart. This is a great day for General Motors, for Chevrolet and for Saturn," she said.

    Karl Brauer, editor-in-chief of Edmunds.com and one of 49 jurors voting for the award, said that Saturn could see a bigger lift from the honor than Silverado, since Silverado was already well established with large pickup buyers, while the award could get sedan buyers to take a new look at Saturn.

    "It's an undeniable statement about where Saturn has gotten," he said. "You could say it's long overdue, but they are now producing a competitive vehicle in a very competitive class."

    Chevrolet General Manager Ed Peper was a little more restrained but also pleased as he accepted Chevrolet's award. "Inside, we have always felt we had the best truck, but this award validates those feelings," he said.

    The North American Car and Truck of the Year awards are designed to recognize the most outstanding vehicles of the year. These vehicles are benchmarks in their segments based on factors including innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.

    The winners are selected by a panel of 49 full-time automotive journalists from Canada and the United States.