When people talk about urban car culture, the first images that often come to mind are those of Missy Elliot’s tricked-out Lamborghinis or Funkmaster Flex’s low riding classics. But working-class African American, Asian and Latino families have their own idea of what makes a vehicle the “Urban Car of the Year.” That’s why On Wheels Inc picked the Mercedes-Benz R-Class as the winner of the 2006 Urban Wheel Award. Held in conjunction with the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the Urban Wheel Awards is the auto industry’s signature diversity oriented event. The group also picked the Honda Ridgeline as its Truck of the Year. “The Honda Ridgeline is our Truck of the Year winner because it is an extremely compelling combination of refinement, utility and sophistication,” said Lyndon Conrad Bell, editor-in chief of On Wheels, Inc. And he adds that the Mercedes R-Class is a “compelling combination of luxury, utility and performance. The R-Class is unique and truly deserving of the 2006 Urban Wheel Car of the Year award. It’s a clear standout in the automobile marketplace.”
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12/14, 4:03 PM
posted by:
David Farrer
‘Urban’? This vehicle is probably one of the most unwieldy and unsuitable modes of city transport and this choice is an unintelligent one which makes the inclusion of usually above average-IQ Asians,(who are lumped in with the underclass-providing Blacks and Mestizos),a surprise.
12/14, 6:10 PM
posted by:
Dan White
Ridgeline, can you say (God awful) UGLY! Urban truck whose weird idea is this? Seems like everyone wants to have a car/truck of the year. This is another example of PC gone wild!
12/14, 9:34 PM
posted by:
Scott
” ‘Urban’? This vehicle is probably one of the most unwieldy and unsuitable modes of city transport”
Have you driven one? NO. The R-Class is a huge step forward over other vehicles in its size class, it drives like a large, albeit heavy, car. Granted it will be worse for most city conditions compared to a sub-compact, but those aren’t exactly changing much now are they. Give MB props for making a vehicle that will hopefully lead a trend away from truck-based overkill SUVs.
I do agree that some of these awards are becoming a bit superfluous, but hey we enjoy reading them now don’t we?
12/14, 10:51 PM
posted by:
nathan
Well there’s a season for everything. This happens to be the time of year of holiday shopping and car awards.
hehe
12/15, 12:44 AM
posted by:
Horatio
Clearly “urban people” have very good taste.
12/15, 1:16 PM
posted by:
Nick
Ridgeline? Truck of the year? For an ‘urban’ vehicle, I can think of much better examples.. The Ridgeline is bad as a car, and bad as a truck. It doesn’t make sense to me.
08/24, 11:51 AM
posted by:
Barbra Childers
I just want to win a new car.