Top Gear is Giving Out its First American Awards- See Why GM is a Big Winner

For the first time ever, British publication TopGear.com is giving out U.S. Car Awards and General Motors is driving off with three top honors. TopGear.com named the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 the 2026 U.S. Supercar of the Year. The Cadillac LYRIQ-V earned 2026 U.S. SUV of the Year, and Cadillac was recognized as 2026 U.S. Manufacturer of the Year. The Corvette ZR1 is widely regarded as America’s own supercar. The Cadillac LYRIQ-V is the super powerful form of the popular EV. Cadillac is known for being the brand that debuts all of GM’s advancements.

“When the end of the year rolls around and a media outlet as respected as Top Gear hands you three awards, you know you’re doing something right,” says GM President Mark Reuss. “We are truly grateful to the editors and staff at TopGear.com for the recognition, validation, and honors for the Corvette ZR1, LYRIQ-V, and Cadillac. We’re thrilled and grateful for all the teams who earned these awards.”

2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

The eighth-generation Corvette ZR1 features the most powerful V8 assembled in the U.S. by an American automaker. It is powered by a twin-turbo 5.5-liter engine making up to 1,064 horsepower and 828 lb.-ft. of torque. When the ZR1 is equipped with the ZTK Performance Package and the ZR1 Carbon Fiber Aero Package, the ZR1 generates over 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speed. At the Nürburgring racetrack, in Germany, earlier this year, the ZR1 and its all-wheel drive sibling, the ZR1X, became the two fastest American cars to ever lap the legendary track.

General Motors President Mark Reuss drove a 2025 Corvette ZR1 233 mph, setting a top speed record beating any current production car priced under $1 million. The ZR1 was the fastest car GM has ever produced, until it unveiled the ZR1X. 

“Setting the top-speed record in the Corvette ZR1 is a true triumph for Corvette and for Chevrolet, and also an exhilarating, surreal experience for me personally,” said Reuss. “With the current generation’s switch to mid-engine, we knew the outstanding performance and balance made this a real possibility. To go over there and get it done is a testament to the power of ZR1, and to the incredibly talented team that developed and built it.”

"We track tested the ZR1 against the Ford Mustang GTD and in terms of pure entertainment they were difficult to separate, but in raw lap time it’s not even close,” said Top Gear Editor-in-Chief Jack Rix. “Lighter, much more powerful and mid-engined, the ZR1 is simply irresistible."

TopGear.com U.S. SUV of the Year

Top Gear awarded the Cadillac LYRIQ-V U.S. SUV of the Year honors. The LYRIQ-V is the first EV to earn the legendary “V” badge. The LYRIQ-V is the quickest-accelerating Cadillac ever, with a Cadillac-estimated 3.3-second 0-60 MPH sprint when the driver uses the boost function called Velocity Max. The LYRIQ-V has 615 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque from its dual-motor AWD system. 

TopGear.com was impressed by the total package offered by LYRIQ-V. “Looks and feels genuinely premium – inside and out,” Rix said. “[O]n the move, it steers beautifully and rides well. An excellent all-rounder that truly surprised us.”

Cadillac Named Top Gear Manufacturer of the Year

The Cadillac LYRIQ-V was just one of many Cadillac achievements that impressed the Top Gear team, which named the brand U.S. Manufacturer of the Year.

“In the space of a few years, Cadillac has introduced an entire range of new EVs... got pole at Le Mans and launched a full Formula 1 team," Rix said. "In a seemingly continuous blur of activity, announcements and achievements, the brand has [become] one of the most bold and ambitious nameplates on the planet.”

Other Recent GM Awards

This awards season has treated General Motors well. The Cadillac ESCALADE IQ won MotorTrend SUV of the Year. The Cadillac VISTIQ was also recently named German Luxury Car of the Year.

GM Photo

Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.

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