{"id":23222,"date":"2018-12-28T10:24:50","date_gmt":"2018-12-28T14:24:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=23222"},"modified":"2018-12-28T10:24:50","modified_gmt":"2018-12-28T14:24:50","slug":"payne-a-tesla-is-detroit-news-vehicle-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2018\/12\/payne-a-tesla-is-detroit-news-vehicle-of-the-year","title":{"rendered":"Payne: A Tesla is Detroit News Vehicle of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Model<\/p>\n

Hollywood is determined to expand its Oscars list to offer more diversity. But if it’s diversity you want, check out the field for Detroit News Vehicle of the Year.<\/p>\n

I tested more than 60 new vehicles this year. There’s never been such a range of options for every consumer stripe. Let me count the ways.<\/p>\n

There are pickups that range from midsizers\u00a0to mega heavy-duties\u00a0taller than my 6-foot-5\u00a0frame.<\/p>\n

Then there are all the sport utilities: So crackers\u00a0are customers for SUVs that luxury makers like BMW and Mercedes are making SUV \u201ccoupes\u201d to mimic sports sedans.<\/p>\n

The best SUVs are athletic, all-around value plays like the Acura RDX. Its doppelganger in the sedan segment is the $35,000\u00a0Mazda 6, which will make you think twice about spending $20,000\u00a0more for an equivalent luxury brand.<\/p>\n

In a sea of practicality there is still plenty of eccentricity. This year brought sequels to the Audi A7, Mustang Bullitt and three-door Hyundai Veloster. Speaking of threes, there\u2019s even a Polaris trike out there for enthusiasts.<\/p>\n

You want power? Dodge\u00a0unveiled another Hellcat,\u00a0the 797-horse Redeye. It does 0-60 in 3.4 seconds, which is still a second slower than the Tesla Model S P100,\u00a0putting us on notice that batteries aren’t\u00a0just for tree-huggers.<\/p>\n

EVs abound from affordable Hyundai Konas to bonkers Porsche hybrids. The new, new thing \u2014\u00a048-volt battery systems \u2014\u00a0is found in everything from Audi A6s to Ram trucks for smoother operation.<\/p>\n

Like the Oscar judges, I\u2019ve seen a lot of stuff this year. Some new, some small, some epic.<\/p>\n

Here are my top new vehicles of the year. The envelopes, please.<\/p>\n

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