J.D. Power and Associates announced the results of its 12th annual Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout Study on Thursday, June 28 with Ford and General Motors both snagging top segment honors.

The Ford Edge was named the most appealing all-new vehicle with the Mustang, Cadillac Escalade EXT, and GMC Sierra all emerging as category leaders.

The survey, which awards distinctions in nineteen categories, is a measure of the pleasure new owners take in the content, layout, design, and performance of their recently purchased vehicles. The results are aptly referred to as the APEAL awards.

Honda came out as the biggest overall winner, snagging more segment nods than any other car maker. Next in line were Porsche, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.

For the second year in a row, however, about fifty-percent of the brands coming out of Detroit were below-average performers with Dodge, Jeep, and Chrysler making a disappointing showing.

Detroit products that did beat the average included Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Volvo, Mazda, Cadillac, Saab, and Hummer.

The bottom of the pack was occupied by Chrysler, GMC, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Saturn, Buick, Ford, and Mercury.

While most surveys are a measure of what automakers have done wrong in the productions of their brands, the APEAL awards are more positive, looking at those qualities that have pleased buyers.

Since GM had no winners last year and Ford only two, their performance in the 2007 APEAL standings is a huge improvement, and one badly needed by the flagging American brands.