2007 Audi TT Adjudged Best in Show at SEMA

Anthony Fontanelle
November 5, 2007

The biggest and most prestigious event of its kind has made waves in the auto industry. Held in Las Vegas, the SEMA Show hosted the awarding of the Best in Show award to a 2007 Audi TT owned by Marcel Horn. The said award was given away by Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., the publisher of the world-renowned Gran Turismo Series.

Topping the list of other extraordinary vehicles showcased at the Specialty Equipment Market Association Show, the 2007 Audi TT will be immortalized in the gaming series. Millions of gamers all around the world will have the chance to drive the TT on race tracks around the world with the release of the next Gran Turismo installment. Last year, the Best in Show winner was a 1960 Chevrolet Corvette and it is going to be featured in the upcoming Gran Turismo 5 Prologue due to be released in North America next year.

Kazunori Yamauchi, the creator of the popular racing game series and the president of developer Polyphony Digital, said that the awarding held at the SEMA Show is one concrete example of how the automotive industry is closely related to the gaming industry.

"The 2007 Gran Turismo Awards showcases the collaboration between the automotive culture and the gaming industry," said Yamauchi. "We are proud to honor auto enthusiasts for their passion of cars, and to celebrate the automotive lifestyle that Gran Turismo embodies," he added.

The 2007 Audi TT made its way to the top after it topped its class and therefore made eligible for the Best in Show award. Prior to the show itself, exhibitors are encouraged by organizers to register their respective vehicles for the Gran Turismo Awards. There are five classes which are "Best Domestic", "Best European Import", "Best Japanese Import", and "Best Truck/SUV". After the winners for each class has been decided upon, the Best in Show vehicle is decided by a panel of auto journalists.

Other vehicles which made it to the top of the class are all winners in their own rights even if they are not equipped with Rancho shocks. A 2007 factory Five GTM owned by Gary Cheney topped the Best Domestic Automobile. A 1967 Ford Mustang Hatchback owned by Jim and Mike Ring won the acclaim as the Best Hot Rod during the show. The Best Japanese Import award goes to Michael Chung's 2007 Nissan 350Z. The Best Truck/SUV at the show is the 2007 Dodge Ram owned by Mike DeFord.

Source:  Amazines.com