Electric vehicle named top car

CHEVROLET’S part electric-powered Volt was named North American Car of the Year today.

The car, that runs on electricity for 64km before a backup petrol engine kicks in, beat the Nissan Leaf, another electric, and Hyundai’s Sonata at the Detroit auto show.

Forty-nine car journalists from the US and Canada made the choices judging on innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value.

It is the latest in a string of accolades for the Volt, which went on sale in limited markets in December for $40,000 (€31,000).

It was named the Green Car of the Year at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November and Motor Trend and Automobile Magazine named it the 2011 car of the year the same month.

General Motors said the car “represents the soul” of the new GM, on the rebound after enduring a bankruptcy in 2009.