North American Car and Truck of the Year contenders announced

Officials recently released the early contenders of 2014 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards. The updated ''long lists'' includes 29 cars, including Chevrolet leading the way with three vehicles, and 18 truck/utility vehicles, with Toyota leading the way with three vehicles.

2014 Toyota Tundra debuts at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show.Michael Wayland | MLive.com

DETROIT- Officials recently released the early contenders for the 2014 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards.

The updated “long lists,” which were distributed to judges, include 29 cars, with Chevrolet leading the way with four cars, and 18 truck/utility vehicles, with Toyota leading the way with three.

In December, the NACOTY jury of 50 automotive journalists will narrow the lists to five cars and four trucks/utilities. The short lists will each be cut to three finalists before the 2014 North American International Auto Show January in Detroit. The winners are announced during the show, which is scheduled to be open to the public from Jan. 18-26 at Cobo Center.

To be eligible for the awards, a vehicle must have been “substantially changed from the previous model and must go on sale shortly after the announcement of the award.”

The goal, according to officials, is to select a car and a truck that set new benchmarks in the classes in which they compete. Jurors evaluate the vehicles on factors including value for the dollar, innovation, handling, performance, safety and driver satisfaction.

In January, General Motors Co.'s Cadillac ATS won 2013 North American Car of the Year. Chrysler Group LLC's Ram 1500 won 2013 North American Truck/Utility of the Year.

The Detroit Three have swept both awards six times -- 1995, 1996, 2005, 2010, 2011 and 2012 -- since the awards started in 1994.

Of the Detroit Three, GM is leading with nine nominees on both lists, followed by Chrysler with three and Ford Motor Co. with one.

Here’s a look at the 2014 model-year vehicles for the early contenders for the 2014 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards:

2014 North American Car of the Year

2014 Acura RLX

2014 BMW 4 Series

2014 Cadillac CTS

2014 Cadillac ELR

2014 Chevrolet Corvette

2014 Chevrolet Impala

2014 Chevrolet Spark EV

2014 Chevy SS

2014 Fiat 500L and E

2014 Honda Fit EV

2014 Infiniti Q50

2014 Jaguar F-Type

2014 Kia Cadenza

2014 Kia Forte, 5-door, Koup

2014 Kia Soul

2014 Lexus IS

2014 Maserati Ghibli

2014 Mazda3

2014 Mazda6

2014 Mercedes-Benz B-Class

2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

2014 Mini Paceman

2014 Mitsubishi Mirage

2014 Nissan Versa Note

2014 Porsche Cayman/Cayman S

2014 Smart fortwo electric

2014 Toyota Corolla

2014 North American Truck/Utility of the Year

2014 Acura MDX

2014 BMW X5

2014 Buick Encore

2014 Chevrolet Silverado

2014 Ford Transit Connect / Wagon

2014 GMC Sierra

2014 Hyundai Santa Fe LWB

2014 Jeep Cherokee

2014 Kia Sorento

2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

2014 Mitsubishi Outlander

2014 Nissan Rogue

2014 Nissan NV200 Compact

2014 Ram 2500/3500

2014 Subaru Forester

2014 Toyota 4Runner

2014 Toyota Tundra

2014 Toyota RAV4