Motor Trend car of the year goes to… Tesla Model S

Despite being called a loser by Mitt Romney during an October debate, Tesla's Model S won Motor Trend magazine's car of the year award.

The Tesla Model S, an electric vehicle, was selected unanimously by a panel of judges due to its responsiveness and efficiency.

“Our aspiration with the Model S was to show that an electric car truly can be better than any gasoline car, which is a critical step towards the widespread adoption of sustainable transport,” said company found Elon Musk said in a statement, according to Wired.

“Nothing illustrates this more clearly than winning Motor Trend’s Car of the Year by unanimous decision against a field of exceptional competitors.”

The Model S beat out 11 finalists that included BMW and Porsche, said Slate.

It was the first time that every judge on the panel selected the same car to win.

It is also the first time that the car of the year went to a car without an internal combustion engine.

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The Model S is the fastest sedan on the American market currently, said Slate, reaching 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds.

Motor Trend was gushing in its praise for the car.

"The mere fact the Tesla Model S exists at all is a testament to innovation and entrepreneurship, the very qualities that once made the American automobile industry the largest, richest, and most powerful in the world," the magazine wrote.

Tesla's outspoken owner, Elon Musk, said that it was a historic day and that he hoped "that other car companies will in fact copy us and pursue their own electric car programs with greater vigor as a result of this award," reported Slate.

The Model S starts at $57,400 for the base model before a $7,500 federal tax credit given for promoting electric vehicles.