Lincoln Navigator takes top honor at Readers’ Choice

As Matthew McConaughey would say: All right, all right, all right.

The Lincoln Motor Co. spokesman would probably be pleased to hear the carmaker’s 2018 Navigator drove away with the highest honor in The Detroit News’ annual Readers’ Choice Awards.

One hundred judges selected from the public voted the SUV as Best of Show as well as Best Road-Trip Ride at the Detroit auto show.

As the automotive industry moves quickly toward advancements in mobility, Detroit News Business Columnist and Associate Business Editor Daniel Howes said the North American International Auto Show is “still a show about product.”

“We brought that story to our readers, too and we brought our readers to the show,” he said. The Detroit News’ Readers Choice Awards are the only honors at the show “that come from people who can actually buy and drive the vehicles on display.”

The luxurious 2018 Navigator, which made its debut at the New York Auto Show last year, also took the top spot in the 2018 North American Car, Truck and Utility of the Year awards. The $95,000 full-size utility vehicle beat out the Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 for Truck of the Year.

Ford Motor Co. also took the prize for Best Dream Machine with its Ford GT. The GT has been a fan-favorite for years, earning the Best in Show award in 2017 and 2015.

Two Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV vehicles also took first-place in two categories — the Chrysler Pacifica for Best Family Fun Finder and the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon for Baddest Off-Road Vehicle.

Other winners include:

■The BMW i8 roadster in the Coolest Technology category

■The Infiniti Q Inspiration for Best Future Concept

■The Kia Stinger for The Most For Your Money

■The Smart Fortwo for Most Eco-friendly

■The Toyota Concept i-Walk for Most Amazing Mobility.

The announcements were made Tuesday at a Detroit Economic Club luncheon.