CHICAGO- For the twelfth consecutive year at Chicago’s Auto Show, consumers voted for their favorite vehicles in five categories in Show’s “Best of Show” balloting. Chicago’s show is the only major auto show that polls attendees favorite vehicles and exhibits.

Winners in five categories of the voting over the 10-day public run of the Chicago Auto Show include the following:

• Best All-New Production Vehicle: 2018 Ford Mustang
• Best Concept Vehicle: LEGO Batmobile from Chevrolet
• Best Green Vehicle: 2018 BMW 530e
• Best Exhibit: Chevrolet
• Vehicle I’d most like to have in my driveway: 2018 Chevrolet Corvette

Consumers are “are one enormous focus group that we can leverage to analyze data and assess trends,” said Chicago Auto Show General Manager Dave Sloan. “Best of Show voting has become a benchmark measure of what the public deems the most exciting, impressive and innovative on the show floor.”

Each of the first four winners beat out seven other vehicles, and the final eight were selected by a jury of automotive experts. In the fifth category, “Vehicle I’d most like to have in my driveway.”
Entries included any of the hundreds of vehicles on the show floor.

2017 Ford GT

According to the results, voters considered the 2018 Ford Mustang the “Best All-New Production Vehicle.” Coming in a close second to the Mustang was the Porsche Panamera. Also taking away a considerable amount of votes, coming in third place, was the Chicago Auto Show world introduction Ford Expedition.

Another favorite of voters included the LEGO Batmobile from Chevrolet as Best Concept. Concept cars were scarce at this year’s show, but many found the 350,000 brick Batmobile fun. Second choice in Best Concept voting was the Mazda MX-5 Speedster.

Best Green Vehicle went to the all-new 2018 BMW 530e, a unique hybrid-electric sedan with a battery range of roughly 20 miles and more than 250 horsepower. Runner-up went to the Cadillac CT6 Plug-In Hybrid, close behind.

Chevrolet took top honors as Best Exhibit, for the second time in a row. Their display consisted of four 20 feet high, transparent screens, LED lighting and music surrounding a 73 foot long centerpiece screen. Four turntables around the exhibit highlighted Chicago world introduction Redline vehicles.

The second most popular exhibit was the Jeep display, and third, Ford.

The tightest rate, though, is always which vehicle gets chosen as the “Vehicle I’d most like to have in my driveway.” As always, Chevrolet Corvette and Ford GT remained tied, up to the last day. On the final day, the Corvette won!!!! Fans were ecstatic!

Our local media group, the Midwest Automotive Media Association also votes for their favorites, and Best of Show. The winner will be presented at this year’s Spring rally at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI.