2013 Cadillac ATS, Ram 1500 Earn Vehicle of the Year Honors in Detroit

One of Motown’s top media outlets—the Detroit Free Press—recently chose two domestic vehicles for its top auto honors of the year, but it wasn’t just because of their local ties. The 2013 Cadillac ATS and 2013 Ram 1500 are this year’s Car and Truck of the Year from the Freep because they offer the kind of best-in-class characteristics that also make them truly credible selections as the best vehicles in the industry.

Per the Free Press’ top auto critic, Mark Phelan: “The ATS sport sedan is a watershed vehicle for Cadillac and a breakthrough that will change the way General Motors develops all its upcoming vehicles,” while the Ram provides “a glimpse of the pickup of the future, a truck that combines workhorse capability with fuel efficiency.”

2013 Cadillac ATS: Detroit Free Press Car of the Year

In the 2013 Cadillac ATS, GM has finally accomplished something the rest of the industry has been trying to do for years: It’s created a worthy rival to one of the true icons of the road, the BMW 3 Series. A key here is that the ATS is actually lighter than its German competitor, which in itself is an incredible accomplishment for a brand that has let the Cadillac CTS-V coupe balloon above 4,000 lbs. in certain configurations.

The low curb weight of the ATS—starting at 3,315 lbs.—enables both incredibly dynamic performance and a surprisingly light impact on the environment, too. A particularly nice example of this is the model equipped with GM’s power-dense 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 engine. With that powerplant mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, the ATS still weighs under 3,400 lbs., benefits from 272 hp and 260 lb.-ft. of torque, and delivers an EPA line of 21 mpg city/31 mpg highway/24 mpg combined.

Plus, as Phelan points out: “The ATS pioneers new technologies that none of Cadillac's competitors can match, including safety systems that relay warnings about parking obstacles, inadvertent lane departure, potential collisions and more by subtly vibrating the driver's seat. The system is sure to spawn imitators, as are the excellent voice-recognition and iPad-style controls of CUE, the Cadillac User Experience.”

2013 Ram 1500: Detroit Free PressTruck of the Year

Even more surprising than GM’s accomplishments with the Cadillac ATS were the results from the recent redesign for the 2013 Ram 1500—particularly in the fuel-efficiency department. By combining the much-honored Pentastar V6 engine with the first eight-speed automatic transmission in the full-size pickup segment, then deploying advanced technologies like a start/stop fuel-shutoff system and active grille shutters for improved aerodynamics, Ram has created the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid full-size pickup in each phase of the EPA testing regiment. The bottom line: 18 mpg city/25 mpg highway/21 mpg combined. And note, those marks compare quite favorably to the line of 20/23/21 offered by the GM hybrids. But at the same time, the Ram 1500 also can out-tow any other non-turbo V6 pickup in the country, with a max tow rating of 6,500 lbs. Then, in the near-term future, that eight-speed transmission will be matched with a HEMI and likely set a new benchmark for V8 efficiency, too.

Of course, not all the upgrades to the 2013 Ram 1500 are to be found under the hood. The truck also offers premium features like LED turn signals and tail lamps, a sophisticated air suspension, a more aerodynamic exterior (with a coefficient of drag of 0.36), and, as Phelan reports, “The interior features Chrysler's outstanding uConnect system, which combines simple, user-friendly controls with state-of-the-art voice-recognition to create a control system that outshines high-profile competitors.”

You know, much like the truck itself.