Wards 10 Best Interiors Of 2016 Announced By Penton's WardsAuto

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Penton's WardsAuto announced the Wards 10 Best Interiors list of 2016. Luxury automakers win a majority of the spots on the 2016 Wards 10 Best Interiors list for the first time ever, signifying the brisk pace of product development in the premium segment and illustrating the popularity of aspirational vehicles in the reasonably strong U.S. market.  The awards will be presented in a ceremony during the WardsAuto Interiors Conference on May 11 in Detroit's Cobo Center.

This year's winners:

• Audi TTS (Audi AG)
• BMW 7-Series (BMW AG)
• Cadillac XT5 (General Motors Co.)
• Chevrolet Camaro (General Motors Co.)
• Chrysler Pacifica (FCA US LLC)
• Honda Civic (Honda Motor Co. Ltd.)
• Lexus RX (Toyota Motor Corp.)
• Mercedes-Benz GLC (Daimler AG)
• Nissan Maxima (Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.)
• Volvo XC90 (Volvo Car)

In years past, as many as three luxury brands have been recognized on the list. This year, one could argue all 10 honored vehicles lean toward the luxury side of the aisle, as the Camaro, Pacifica, Civic and Maxima integrate lots of soft surfaces, upscale materials, warm ambient lighting and the latest connectivity and safety features typically found in premium cars.

"It's important that the Wards 10 Best Interiors list include mainstream, affordable vehicles," says Drew Winter, director-content at WardsAuto. "But the average price of a new vehicle in the U.S. has risen past $33,000, which is forcing us to reconsider how we define mainstream, affordable vehicles."

Besides, the established luxury brands are flush with new product. Of the 47 vehicles evaluated in this year's competition, 19 hailed from premium brands. For instance, Audi had five eligible vehicles this year, including the A4, A6, Q7, S7 and TTS, while BMW and Lexus each had three entries.

Eight WardsAuto editors selected the winners after spending February and March evaluating all 47 interiors. To be eligible, an interior must be all-new or significantly redesigned.

Each vehicle is scored based on aesthetics and design harmony, as well as materials, ergonomics, safety, comfort, value and fit-and-finish. Editors also test the user-friendliness of the human-machine interface to see how effectively vehicle information is communicated.

In addition to the awards being presented in a ceremony during the WardsAuto Interiors Conference on May 11, Ward's expects to have all ten winning vehicles on display at the event for attendees to experience and judge the interiors for themselves. The ceremony will include a live video review inside each vehicle, highlighting the key features that earned each interior its honor. Registration information for the conference can be found at WardsAuto Interiors Conference.

About WardsAutoWardsAuto is a world-leading provider of automotive insights and analysis, having served the industry's information needs for more than 90 years. A Southfield, MI-based division of Penton, WardsAuto provides a forward-looking perspective on all aspects of the automotive business, from the tech center to the plant floor to the showroom.  Its services include the premium WardsAuto.com resource and suite of customizable data reporting tools, the WardsAuto Interiors and WardsAuto Outlook Conferences, and digital newsletters and magazines.  Subscribe to WardsAuto and attend its events by visiting http://www.wardsauto.com.

About PentonPenton is an innovative information services company that empowers nearly 20 million business decision makers in markets that drive more than 12 trillion dollars in purchases each year. Our products inform with rich industry insights and workflow tools; engage through dynamic events, education and networking; and advance business with powerful marketing services programs. Penton is the way smart businesses buy, sell and grow.  Headquartered in New York, Penton is privately owned by MidOcean Partners and Wasserstein & Co., LP. For more information, visit http://www.penton.com or follow us on Twitter @PentonNow.

MEDIA CONTACT:           

Chris Lamphear, Director of MarketingPenton Automotive and Trucking248 799 2658   -   [email protected]

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SOURCE Penton