Since their founding in 2007, the SAMA Awards have been a fixture of the Miami International Auto Show. This year, they were announced at the Squadra Lupo display..
The number of awards given out annually by the Southern Automotive Media Association has been as few as 2 and as many as 5. One constant, however, has been the Star of the Show. For 2025, a jury comprising SAMA Vice President Joaquin Ruhi, Secretary Jorge “Nacho” García and new member Diego Porciello of Argentina’s Parabrisas magazine selected the Cadillac Escalade IQ. This zero emissions, fully battery-electric edition of Cadillac’s flagship SUV model debuted for the 2025 model year. Its regal, imposing exterior and roomy , luxuriously-appointed interior are definitely worthy of the “Standard of the World”.
The road to electrification, however, is a winding, bumpy road. In stark contrast to our 2024 SAMA Awards, which were all full battery electrics, our 2025 winners reflect a diversity of powertrain options. In part, its unexpected appearance at the 2025 Miami Auto Show led the SAMA jury to select the Dodge Charger Sixpack as the Best Coupe of the show. Last year, we selected its Charger Daytona BEV counterpart for the same award. Its tepid sales start, however, leads to anticipation that the gasoline-powered Sixpack option will turn the venerable nameplate’s fortunes around. The new powertrain is centered around Stellantis’ Hurricane twin-turbo inline 6-cylinder engine (hence the Sixpack name),
The final vehicular SAMA Award goes to the Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro as Best SUV of the show. This long-running nameplate enters its 6th generation for 2025. This is the first 4Runner to offer a hybrid gas-electric powertrain option. It comes standard on the top-of-the-line, most off-road capable TRD Pro variant that received our award.
The Terry Jackson Memorial Award
SAMA Awards, however, go beyond automobiles. Just about every year, there is a recipient for the Terry Jackson Memorial Award. It is named for the founding SAMA member and former automotive writer for the Miami Herald who passed away from cancer in January 2009. This year’s recipient is our Immediate Past President Woodie Lesesne. SAMA’s first female president was honored for her initiatives in steering minority students toward automotive careers. She also played an integral role in establishing our ChargedUp Miami ride-and-drive electrified vehicle competition.
Left to right: SAMA President Daniel Álvarez, Past President Emeritus Paul Borden, Immediate Past President Woodie Lesesne and Vice President Joaquín Ruhi
Top header photo. Left to right: 2025 SAMA Awards juror Jorge “Nacho” García, SAMA president Daniel Álvarez and SAMA Awards jurors Joaquín Ruhi and Diego Porciello
