Hispanic Motor Press Awards® announced the Best Cars of 2016

 This just in from fellow auto writer Ricardo Rodriguez:

LA AUTOSHOW, Los Angeles.-
Selecting the best cars for the Hispanic family is monumental task. Every year about one hundred cars are considered for the Hispanic Motor Press Awards® program as the auto industry expands it's offerings with new vehicles. The judges work from January, as the new models become available from the manufacturer's before finally selecting 3 final contenders in the different categories. The judging group has been honoring the most outstanding cars and trucks of their segments for the Hispanic family since the inception of the Hispanic Motor Press Awards®  in 2010 at the LA Auto Show.

According to data from Polk, Hispanics are projected to spend $18 billion on new vehicles in 2016. Even though that figure represents only 9% of total new-vehicle sales in the United States, Hispanic auto buyers will account for 24% of growth in new-vehicle sales. The impact of Latinos continue to increase exponentially in the market. The ever-increasing group of Hispanic consumers are influencing the market and companies must consider and incorporate this community needs and wants as part of their plan for future sales.

For the 6th annual awards the jury director, Ricardo Rodriguez-Long (Garage Latino Show), put together a panel of judges that includes Hispanic auto journalists as well as other Hispanic media leaders who reviewed and drove the cars and trucks.  Each vehicle’s virtues were assessed as they relate to the typical Hispanic family in the United States. The awards' vetting process includes test drives,  mass market availability, and affordability data valuations. The committee takes into account overall design, comfort, safety, performance, functionality, accessory content, driver satisfaction, consumer final cost, and overall value package to select the vehicles that offer the best value for the Hispanic consumer.

The jury panel this year included Camilo Alfaro (Autoproyecto), German Angel (SoCal Public TV), Cesar Arredondo (National Hispanic Journalist Asociation-LA Chapter), Karen Blanco (Ejecutiva & Negocios Magazines), Yvonne Condes (Moms LA), David Leon (La Prensa Colombiana Newspaper), Jaime Florez (ESPN Radio), Jose Pepe Forte (Univision Radio), Simon Gomez (freelance), Enrique Kogan (Huffington Post Newspaper), Alejandro Maciel (Hoy Los Angeles Newspaper), Yolanda Machado (Sassy Mama in LA), Valerie Menard (Latino Traffic Report), German Sierra (La Prensa & Excelsior Newspapers), and Al Vazquez (FAMA Magazine)

"This has been the hardest year in terms of selecting the winners", said judge director Ricardo Rodriguez-Long. "OEM's are creating extremely sophisticated, fuel efficient, and diverse power train technologies as well as the best ergonomics for the family for what seems like less money. The Hispanic consumer benefits from all this with overall savings and lower maintenance costs".

For the 6th annual awards we are honored to announce the best vehicles which represent a great choice for the Hispanic family. The 2016 HMPA Award Winners Autos De Hoy® are:
Innovation Award                     TOYOTA Mirai
Sub Compact                           Ford Fiesta
Compact Sedan                        HONDA Civic
Family Sedan                           KIA Optima
Large Sedan                             Cadillac CT6
Pickup L-Duty                          TOYOTA Tacoma
Pickup F-Duty                          Chevrolet Silverado
Pickup H-Duty                           Ram 3500
SUV Compact                           JEEP Renegade
SUV                                          HONDA  Pilot
CrossOver Sub Compact           MAZDA  CX3 AWD
CrossOver  Compact                 HYUNDAI Tucson
CrossOver                                 Mercedes Benz GL Coupe
Hybrid Car                                Chevrolet VOLT
MiniVan                                   KIA  Sedona
American Muscle                     FORD  Shelby GT350
Sports Car                                MAZDA  Miata MX-5

For the 6th annual awards the final vehicle selection represent the best option for the Hispanic family in each automotive segment. The winners excel with a high degree of engineering and standard of quality. Their safety features offer superior protection for all of the occupants.  All these cars incorporate the latest in infotainment and mobile connectivity. Additionally, they all have high efficiency engines that yield great fuel economy. Their pricing and projected residual values offer great value within their respective segments. For more information about the awards and previous winners visit: 
 www. HispanicMotorPressAwards.com

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