At the show: Chevy Malibu, Mazda CX-9 honored

— -- USA TODAY auto team members Sharon Silke Carty, James R. Healey and Chris Woodyard are in Detroit for the North American International Auto Show.press preview days. Separately, you'll find reports on the cars and trucks being unveiled at the show. Here, our reporters and our wire services provide a peek at some of what's being said and done at the show besides vehicle introductions as the show gets ready to open to the public Saturday.

Honored: The Chevrolet Malibu and the Mazda CX-9 were chosen as the car and truck of the year at the North American International Auto Show.

The awards were presented Sunday, the first day of media previews for the show. It opens to the public on Saturday.

It was the second major award for the CX-9 crossover, which was named Motor Trend's 2008 sport utility of the year in October.

"The CX-9 was designed for North America, and I think the award is recognition that the team delivered on the promise," Mazda Executive Vice President Robert Graziano said.

Bob Lutz, General Motors' vice chairman of product development, said GM is rapidly trying to add production capacity to keep up with demand for the Malibu.

"It's gone way beyond our expectations," he said.

Four of the six finalists for the awards were GM products.

The Malibu, Cadillac CTS and Honda Accord were finalists for car of the year, while the CX-9, the Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid were finalists for truck of the year.

To be considered for the coveted honor, which often is used in automakers' advertising, vehicles must be new or substantially changed from the previous model. More than 50 vehicles were eligible this year, but jurors winnowed that list to 15 cars and 13 trucks.

The winners were selected by a jury of 46 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada. Jurors consider a variety of factors, including innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value.

Bulls a little distracting:Chrysler unveiled its 2009 Dodge Ram pickup with what many expected to be a running of the bulls, but what ended up being more like a meandering of the bulls. The automaker, known for its flashy and splashy car and truck unveilings, herded about 120 longhorn steer through the streets of Detroit. While Jim Press, vice chairman and president of Chrysler, tried to wow the audience with details of the shiny new truck, many were distracted by the site of amorous bulls cavorting in the background. ?This is one show you?re not going to forget. Now, look at the truck,? Press said, exasperated.