#VOTY18 – Let's Do It Again!
V&R's Randy Stern awarding Russell Datz of Volvo Cars North America the #VOTY17 Award at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show – Photo by Volvo Cars North America for Victory & Reseda
It's almost that time…it is #VOTY time!
For the umpteenth time in this site's history, we are getting things under way for a new season of #VOTY – all the way to the awarding of #VOTY18.
Getting to the #VOTY is the hard part. Each candidate vehicle receives a full evaluation of the format, metrics, and process is undertaken. These numbers are crunched and are presented to a Short List for panel evaluation. Then, a list of finalists is available for your vote. It is that simple.
Here is the official format of #VOTY18…
The Long List will consist of vehicles that were for a full review only in Victory & Reseda and other publications written by Randy Stern from November 1, 2017 to October 31, 2018. These reviews will have appeared only in Victory & Reseda. No vehicles driven at events or written as Quickies (unless they have been fully reviewed within the period stated above) are included in the Long List.
The Long List will not include former winners of the #VOTY unless the vehicle has been significantly changed from the last award.
The candidates on the Long List will go through an evaluation process based on the data from each review. Evaluations go through each review to glean metrics from exterior design, interior space, ergonomics and comfort, driveline and performance, driving dynamics, fuel economy, and pricing. Scores are tabulated from a 1-5 scale – 5 being best – and added up for a total score.
Additional evaluations are added to the score, based on feedback on each vehicle by the readers. The more feedback a vehicle gets, the better the score – also based on a 1-5 scale. No feedback essentially means that no score is given to the candidate.
After compiling the scores, the Long List will be announced and a Panel of Media Professionals and Influencers will convene to review the list. They will present their choices to V&R.
The top five vehicles as chosen by the panel will become Finalists for a public vote. These five Finalists will appear on an online ballot – driven by SurveyMonkey – for a public vote. These votes will be added to the total score. The highest overall score becomes the #VOTY18.
The timeline for the VOTY process is as follows:
October 31, 2018: The Long List is complied and announced. Evaluation process concludes.
November 15, 2018: The latest when the Panel will submit their input from the Long List. All scores will be compiled. The five finalists will be announced on our social media channels. The Public Vote will commence at 12:00 PM ET.
November 28, 2018: The Public Vote closes at 11:59PM ET.
November 29, 2018: #VOTY16 will be announced on all of our social media channels and on V&R at 8:00 PM ET.
The award will be given out at an auto show (to be announced) in the First Quarter of 2019. Expect a lot of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram traffic, along with posts on this site, promoting this year’s #VOTY. There is a hashtag to follow: #VOTY18.
The #VOTY18 should be one where there is a real winner in the end. What makes this award worthwhile is it being a social media-based award that leads to one important element in the process – you.
Are you ready for November? V&R is ready! Let’s celebrate ten years of the most audacious vehicle award by a web outlet ever!
PREVIOUS #VOTY WINNERS
2007 – Hyundai Sonata
2008 – Nissan Altima
2009 – Buick LaCrosse
2010 – 2011 Hyundai Sonata
2011 – Buick Regal
2012 – 2013 Dodge Dart
2013 – Cadillac ATS
2014 – 2015 Dodge Challenger
2015 – Lexus RC
2016 – Volvo XC90
2017 – Volvo V90