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It's easy to see why the Volkswagen GTI was our first two-time AOY winner (in 2007 and 2010). Everything about this car is almost perfect. The 2.0-liter turbo-four feels much stronger than its 200 hp/207 lb-ft ratings suggest. There's lots of room for passengers and cargo in a compact footprint. Interior materials are as nice as you'd find in a non-luxury car. And the chassis is tuned to be rewarding on a spirited drive without being punishing on a commute. All of that for under $25,000 makes the GTI very special.

At Automobile Magazine, Volkswagen's GTI is something of an icon: the last two generations of 2.0-liter-turbo hatchback have earned our coveted Automobile of the Year award, and the 2015 GTI has already begun earning more praise. So what happens when you take away the Golf's hatchback body and plaid seats, and add a fabric top, and a retro exterior? We have one year to find out with this, the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Turbo.

In four-wheel-drive form, the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 stands 74 inches tall, but in the eyes of General Motors, this truck is nothing short of a giant. Saying trucks are the lynchpin of the General's fortunes in North America is no understatement. Full-size trucks -- especially pickups -- are essential to GM's bottom line. Chevrolet sold 418,312 Silverado pickups in the U.S. last year, making it the most popular model in the division's North American portfolio and the most popular GM nameplate.