Volkswagen Golf is 2013 World Car of the Year

Introduced in 2003, the World Car of the Year award program is one of the automotive industry's most prestigious, credible and significant event that combines the attributes and functionality of various other regional, national and continental Car of the Year titles. But, Volkswagen seems to be making a mockery of this award. Don't get us wrong. With all due respect to the title and the esteemed jury, we do not really know how else to express the fact that Volkswagen has won this title 4 times in the last 5 years.

Yes, following in the footsteps of Golf VI in 2009, Polo in 2010 and Up! in 2012, the all-new seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf has been selected as the 2013 World Car of the Year.

Selected by an international jury panel comprising of 66 automotive journalists from around the world, the award winners were announced at the ongoing 2013 New York International Auto Show. From an initial list of more than 40 new models, the candidates were trimmed to a short list of 10, out of which 4 finalists were chosen. The Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Porsche Boxster / Cayman and the combined trio of Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ / Toyota GT 86 were the other cars that fought hard for the title.

Heaping praise on the all-new Golf, the jurors of the World Car Awards commented, "Honed over seven generations since its original launch in 1974, the Volkswagen Golf is as close to the perfect hatchback design as any car company has come yet. Right sized, but spacious, practical and comfortable inside, the latest Golf has been brought up to date with a fresh if evolutionary design, a range of new engines, plus an impressive list of equipment and safety features. What's more, it's fun to drive. If ever there was a car for everyman, the Golf is it."

Obviously pleased with the title, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, said, "We at Volkswagen are all delighted that the Golf has been named 'World Car of the Year'. To win this award again shows that the Golf is and remains in a class of its own all around the world. This car sets new benchmarks again and again, not least in terms of efficiency and environmental credentials. Soon, for instance, the Golf will also be launched as a plug-in hybrid and as a 100% electric car."

* 2013 World Car of the Year - Volkswagen Golf

Previous WCOTY Winners:

* 2012 Volkswagen Up!
* 2011 Nissan Leaf
* 2010 Volkswagen Polo
* 2009 Volkswagen Golf
* 2008 Mazda 2 / Demio

As is the tradition, the World Car of the Year award was accompanied by titles such as World Performance Car of the Year, World Green Car of the Year and World Design of the Year.

Porsche won the 2013 World Performance Car of the Year title for the second straight year with its Boxster and Cayman twins. In the process, Porsche trumped the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta and the Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ / Toyota GT 86 trio. Having been one among the finalists for all but one year of the existence of this award, Porsche has added yet another jewel to Volkswagen's star-studded crown.

* 2013 World Performance Car of the Year - Porsche Boxster / Cayman

Previous Winners:

* 2012 Porsche 911
* 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia
* 2010 Audi R8 V10
* 2009 Nissan GT-R
* 2008 Audi R8

When the Jaguar F-Type was unveiled last year, we knew that it was one of the most beautiful cars of our time. And we were right, as the Jaguar deservedly won the 2013 World Design of the Year award, beating Aston-Martin Vanquish and Mazda 6, the other two finalists. By doing so, the F-Type has proved to be a perfect successor to the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, that won this award in 2012.

* 2013 World Design of the Year - Jaguar F-Type

Previous Winners:

* 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
* 2011 Aston Martin Rapide
* 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
* 2009 Fiat 500
* 2008 Audi R8

Finally, the Tesla Model S, an all-electric car that has been creating shock waves across North America, has been chosen as the 2013 Green Car of the Year. Ever since its launch, the Tesla Model S has been redefining the term 'electric car', proving to the masses that electric cars are not a compromise in any sort of way. The other two finalists that came close to winning the title were Renault Zoe and Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid.

* 2013 World Green Car of the Year - Tesla Model S

Previous Winners:

* 2012 Mercedes-Benz S250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY
* 2011 Chevrolet Volt
* 2010 Volkswagen BlueMotion Cars
* 2009 Honda FCX Clarity
* 2008 BMW 118d Efficient Dynamics

2013 North American Car & Truck/Utility of the Year Award winners announced

Successors to Hyundai Elantra and Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, winners of the 2012 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards respectively, were just announced at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Considered to be one of the most prestigious awards in the automotive industry, the winners of the North American Car of the Year (NACOTY) and North American Truck/Utility of the Year (NATOTY) titles are chosen by a panel of journalists from USA and Canada representing magazines, newspapers, television, radio and websites. This is the 20th year of the awards that are financed by the jurorsí dues, an organization that doesn't accept advertising or fees from any of the manufacturers.

To be eligible for this award, a car or truck should be either all-new or substantially changed in the previous year with a retail price that's less than $ 100,000. In the initial round of shortlisting, the jurors brought down the list of candidates to 11 cars and 10 trucks on which they voted individually. In the next round of screening, the list of contenders were trimmed to just three for each title. The finalists for the Car of the Year award were Cadillac ATS, Ford Fusion and Honda Accord, while Ford C-Max, Mazda CX-5 and Ram 1500 were the finalists for Truck/Utility of the Year.

As is the custom, the winners were announced and subsequently crowned at a press conference held on the opening day of the Detroit Motor Show.

General Motors' constant efforts of pumping in huge amounts of investment and aiding the development process saw it's luxury brand Cadillac win the 2013 North American Car of the Year award for the ATS model. Competing with German stalwarts such as the BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4, the Cadillac ATS is said to have fared reasonably well and has, apparently, beaten the expectations of its fans and customers. Taking forward the brand's popular "Art and Science" design concept into the compact luxury sedan space, the ATS is the smallest Cadillac yet that's designed and developed to expand the brand into a globally popular segment.

Honda's brilliant new Accord finished runner-up to the Cadillac ATS, while Ford's striking new Fusion finished third.

2013 NACOTY RESULTS:

1. Cadillac ATS - 207
2. Honda Accord - 159
3. Ford Fusion - 124

PREVIOUS NACOTY WINNERS:

* 2012 - Hyundai Elantra
* 2011 - Chevrolet Volt
* 2010 - Ford Fusion Hybrid
* 2009 - Hyundai Genesis
* 2008 - Chevrolet Malibu

Competing for the 2013 North American Truck/Utility of the Year award, the Ram 1500 stream-rolled the competition to emerge on top, with the Mazda CX-5 finishing runner-up and the Ford C-Max, the other finalist, ending up a distant third.

Chrysler's redesign of the Ram Truck brand's entry into the full-size, light-duty pickup truck segment, the 1500, has emerged as a force to reckon with, boasting significantly-improved mechanicals inside and out. The addition of Chrysler's award-winning Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 engine under the hood has given the 1500 class-leading fuel efficiency, apart from improved power and torque ratings. The design of the 1500, something that Americans have fallen in love with over and over again, has been left largely untouched. In short, the Ram 1500 is said to be giving sleepless nights to the big-selling light-duty pickup trucks like the Ford F150 and Chevrolet Silverado.

2013 NATOTY RESULTS:

1. Ram 1500 - 261
2. Mazda CX-5 - 142
3. Ford C-Max - 87

PREVIOUS NATOTY WINNERS:

* 2012 - Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
* 2011 - Ford Explorer
* 2010 - Ford Transit Connect
* 2009 - Ford F-150
* 2008 - Mazda CX-9

While both the 2012 winners, the Hyundai Elantra and Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, made it to India in the same year, there are absolutely no chances of the 2013 winners ending up on Indian shores.

2013 ICOTY & IMOTY Awards announced

As the year comes to a close, it is time again to honor the best in the automotive industry. When it comes to India, nothing comes close to the Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) and Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY) awards. Modeled on the lines of popular international titles such as North American Car of the Year and European Car of the year, the ICOTY and IMOTY awards are deliberated and decided by a group of automotive journalists from leading publications in the country. After analyzing every car and bike that was launched in India this year, the expert jury have zeroed in on the winners of 2013 ICOTY and IMOTY titles. The awards were presented recently at a glittering ceremony organized by the title sponsor JK Tyres.

To be eligible for the award, the car or motorcycle should have been launched in India in the first 11 months of the previous year. Facelifts or new variants of an existing model aren't eligible to participate as are cars and bikes that aren't made in India. In short, the Indian Car of the Year and Indian Motorcycle of the Year should represent the tag line "Made in India and Made for India".

Despite having over 20 cars that qualified for the 2013 ICOTY award, the jurors shortlisted the number to just 11 finalists. When all the analysis and scoring were done with, the Renault Duster, that has turned around the fortunes of Renault in India and is rewriting sales records, came out on top. Being the first compact crossover to be launched in India would have helped matters here, as would have it's all-round capabilities of rugged design, superb ride quality, decent handling, two fuel-efficient diesel engine options and an abuse-worthy build quality. That the Duster's storming success sent many other manufacturers running to get their compact crossovers ready meant that there wasn't much competition for this year's award.

Maruti-Suzuki Ertiga and Hyundai Elantra, both of which are game-changers and sales leaders in their respective segments, finished second and third in the contest. To think of the fact that the Elantra won the 2012 North American Car of the Year award amidst much-tougher competition and arguably much-higher standards and still finished behind the Duster and Ertiga shows the increasing significance of Utility Vehicles in the Indian market. It's high time brands like Hyundai, Honda, Volkswagen and Ford start working on getting their Utility Vehicles here at the earliest.

2013 ICOTY RESULTS:

   Winner - Renault Duster

PREVIOUS ICOTY WINNERS:

   * 2012 – Maruti-Suzuki Swift
   * 2011 – Ford Figo
   * 2010 – Tata Nano
   * 2009 – Honda City
   * 2008 – Hyundai i10

Moving over to two wheels, it was the KTM Duke 200 that was chosen the winner. A joint development by KTM and Bajaj, the Duke 200 is making waves not just in India but across the globe in all countries where KTM has a strong presence. Unlike the 2013 Indian Car of the Year, choosing the Indian Motorcycle of the Year was apparently tougher with the Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS giving tough competition to the Duke 200 before losing out on the title by a slender margin. A stunningly aggressive design, sporty razor-sharp handling and a thumping power-to-weight ratio makes the Duke 200 an enthusiast's delight. That it excels in the race track and still costs less than the Yamaha YZF R15 and Honda CBR 250R seals its position as a game-changer.

The Pulsar 200NS, which is nothing but a Duke 200 in Bajaj's attire, came in a close second. The suave 'Naked Sports' styling and a host of advanced technologies underneath make the newest Pulsar the best ever. If this is the sign of things to come, Pulsar is all set to reach dizzying heights in future. Honda's much-awaited entry into the commuter segment where Splendors and Discovers rule the roost currently came in the form of Dream Yuga. As with all Hondas, the Dream Yuga comes across as a competent all-round performer, finishing the contest in third.

2013 IMOTY RESULTS:

   Winner – KTM Duke 200

PREVIOUS IMOTY WINNERS:

   * 2012 – Honda CBR 250R
   * 2011 – Honda CB Twister
   * 2010 – Kawasaki Ninja 250R
   * 2009 – Yamaha YZF R15
   * 2008 – Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi

2013 Ward's 10 Best Engines Announced

The festive season is fast approaching in the West and, in automotive terms, that means the beginning of yet another season of 'awards'. And what better way to kick-off than listing down the 10 best engines? Ward's Auto has did just that and announced the 10 best engines of the year 2013. What's special about these awards is that, when most other publications are busy giving away titles like Car of the Year, Truck of the Year, Manufacturer of the Year and even Automotive Technology of the Year, Ward's Auto ensures that the best power-train in the automotive business are recognized year after year.

A surprising element in the 2013 list is that, for the first time in seven years, every engine in the list is powered by gasoline with none of the diesel, hybrid and all-electric power-train making the cut this time. It looks like gasoline powered Internal Combustion engines, with their ever-improving efficiency and refinement, aren't going to be threatened by alternate fuels anytime soon.

Speaking about this result that seem to go against the industry's trend of popularizing alternate fuels and propulsion systems, Drew Winter, editor-in-chief of WardsAuto World magazine said, "We're always excited to see the advancements being made in hybrids and all-electric vehicles. But there are still significant barriers for the average consumer to look past when considering these vehicles. The cost for most of them remains high, and the driving ranges of the battery electric vehicles will have to be extended to meet the needs of most people."

So, who are the winners? Ford has two entries in the list, with a whooping 3.8-liters being the difference in displacement between its two award-winning engines. BMW and Honda also take home two awards each, the latter's expertise in gasoline technology coming to the fore here. General Motors, Chrysler, Volkswagen Group (Audi) and Subaru garnered a place each in the list as well. Six of the ten engines in the list have managed to retain their spot from 2012, with the most note-worthy being Audi's 3.0-liter supercharged TFSI V6 engine that has managed to find a spot in the list for a fourth consecutive year.

The award-winning engines and the cars in which they were tested are listed below in no particular order:

* 3.0L TFSI Supercharged DOHC V-6 (Audi S5)
* 2.0L N20 Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (BMW 328i)
* 3.0L N55 Turbocharged DOHC I-6 (BMW 135is Coupe)
* 3.6L Pentastar DOHC V-6 (Ram 1500)
* 2.0L EcoBoost DOHC I-4 (Ford Focus ST/Taurus)
* 5.8L Supercharged DOHC V-8 (Ford Shelby GT500)
* 2.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Cadillac ATS)
* 2.4L DOHC I-4 (Honda Accord Sport)
* 3.5L SOHC V-6 (Honda Accord)
* 2.0L FA DOHC H-4 Boxer (Subaru BRZ)

As always, to be eligible for this award, each engine must be available in a regular production model in the USA, in a vehicle with a base price below $ 55000. Currently in its 19th year, the awards will follow the tradition of crowning the winners at a gala event in the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Volkswagen Up! is 2012 World Car of the Year

As always, the winners of the grand-daddy of all automotive awards were announced on the glitzy floors of the New York Auto Show. We are referring to nothing but the World Car of the Year program, which aims to combine the attributes and functionality of all the regional and national Car of the Year titles. The awards, that were inaugurated in 2003 have slowly gained in popularity and are now considered one of the most prestigious, credible and significant in the automotive industry. And this year, it is the pint-sized Volkswagen Up! city car that has won big. What makes the Up!'s victory more significant is the other two finalists that it beat, the all-new BMW 3 Series and Porsche 911, both considered to be amongst the finest automobiles in production.

“The little Volkswagen Up! has altered what we have come to expect from the city car segment. Of note are the responsive steering, sophisticated suspension setup, new efficient engines and the quality of materials and finish. Never before in this economy segment have owners felt so premium. Look for every builder of city cars to up its game just to compete with the new VW”, commented the jurors of WCOTY title. Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG remarked, “This award shows once again that in the Up! our designers and engineers have created a vehicle that has been thought through in minute detail. A vehicle that sets standards in its class for efficient use of space, safety, motoring fun and environmental compatibility,”.

Despite being a finalist for all but one year, this is the first time Porsche has won the World Performance Car of the Year title. That the recipient was the all-new 911 that is considered to be a hair's width away from perfection and the finalists included earth-shattering super-cars like Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 and McLaren MP4-12C makes it all the more credible.

Mercedes-Benz continues to impress by taking home the World Green Car of the Year title for its S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, the first 4-cylinder engine in the model's 60-year life span. The clear conscience that they aren't burning a big hole in the ozone layer despite owning what is arguably the world's best luxury sedan is sure to keep its owners smiling.

And the World Design of the Year was just another in the long list of awards won by the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, that has been universally praised for its stunning design and appeal. 

2012 WCOTY Program Winners:

* World Car of the Year - Volkswagen Up! (BMW 3 Series, Porsche 911)

* World Performance Car of the Year - Porsche 911 (Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4, McLaren MP4-12C)

* World Green Car of the Year - Mercedes-Benz S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY (Ford Focus Electric, Peugeot 3008 Hybrid)

* World Design of the Year - Land Rover Range Rover Evoque (Citroen DS5, Volkswagen Up!)

Previous WCOTY Winners:

* 2011 Nissan Leaf
* 2010 Volkswagen Polo
* 2009 Volkswagen Golf
* 2008 Mazda 2 / Demio
* 2007 Lexus LS460
* 2006 BMW 3 Series
* 2005 Audi A6

2012 European Car of the Year is Opel Ampera

The Chevrolet Volt may not be as big a sales success as GM would have hoped with the company even recently announcing an extended closure of its plant in North America where the car is manufactured. But the Volt is just not done with the awards yet, it seems. As if the long list of awards and titles that it garnered since its introduction an year ago isn't enough, the Volt's European cousin was recently crowned the 2012 European Car of the Year. Yes, the badge-engineered Opel Ampera came out on top this year beating out the other finalists ranging from the diminutive Volkswagen Up! to the luxurious Land Rover Range Rover Evoque. The jury adjudged the Volt/Ampera as a mature product, after years of development and perfectioning by General Motors, and the first example of an electric vehicle with extended range. They also commented that other manufacturers will soon come along this path with their own extended range gasoline-electric hybrid. 

As always, 7 finalists were chosen for the title from the initial list of 35 cars that were launched in 2011. The candidates included the very best of automotive industry such as Audi A6, BMW 6 Series, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Lexus GS and even the Porsche 911, which only makes the Ampera's achievement more note-worthy. With the Chevrolet Volt not setting the sales charts on fire in USA, we hope that this all-important victory gives a fillip to Opel Ampera's chances in Europe. This is the second victory for Opel in 4 years as the Insignia took the European Car of the Year title in 2009.



2012 ECOTY RESULTS:



1. Opel Ampera / Chevrolet Volt - 330

2. Volkswagen Up! - 281

3. Ford Focus - 256

4. Land Rover Range Rover Evoque - 186

5. Fiat Panda - 156

6. Citroen DS5 - 144

7. Toyota Yaris - 122



PREVIOUS ECOTY WINNERS:

* 2011 Nissan Leaf
* 2010 Volkswagen Polo
* 2009 Opel/Vauxhall Insignia
* 2008 Fiat 500
* 2007 Ford S-Max

The European Car of the Year title is among the most respected in the industry, judged by a panel of 59 senior motoring journalists representing 23 countries across Europe. The seven organizers of European Car of the Year are prominent automotive publications such as Auto(Italy), Autocar(UK), Autopista(Spain), Autovisie(Holland), L'Automobile Magazine(France), Stern(Germany) and Vi Bilagare(Sweden).

2012 North American Car & Truck of the Year Award Winners announced

As the curtains rose for the annual North American International Auto Show in Detroit early this week, one of the world’s most-awaited automotive announcements was made. The winners of the 2012 North American Car of the Year (NACOTY) and North American Truck of the Year (NATOTY) awards, considered to be the most prestigious and important in the industry, were revealed. The awards, currently in their 19th year of existence, is among the very best as more than 50 jurors from an assortment of automotive media in USA & Canada converge together and pick the winners. For 2012, it is the Hyundai Elantra and Land Rover Range Rover Evoque that has come out on tops in cars and trucks respectively.

 

If you thought that the critically-acclaimed, multiple award-winning and super-successful Sonata was the best Hyundai could offer, you might be proved wrong. Whatever the Sonata achieved a year back with so much fanfare, the Elantra has did that all and more. Quite understandably, the media, the public, the critics and the fans can’t have enough of it and Hyundai is not able to produce enough of them either. That the Elantra has won this award should not be a big surprise then. The Passat that best signifies Volkswagen’s resurgence in the North American market takes the runner up spot. Quite surprisingly for a Ford, the Focus ends up last amongst the finalists.



Commenting on the title winner, Jayne O’Donnell, a member of the jury from USA Today said "The Hyundai Elantra is sporty, yet sensible; luxurious, yet affordable; spunky, but safe. The Elantra is a series of paradoxes and every one is another argument for the latest, impressive entry in the Hyundai lineup".



2012 NACOTY RESULTS:



1. Hyundai Elantra – 174

2. Volkswagen Passat – 161

3. Ford Focus – 155



PREVIOUS NACOTY WINNERS:

* 2011 - Chevrolet Volt

* 2010 - Ford Fusion Hybrid

* 2009 - Hyundai Genesis

* 2008 - Chevrolet Malibu

* 2007 - Saturn Aura

To say that the Range Rover Evoque is a game-changing model for Land Rover would be an understatement to the model's abilties. And, if the Evoque keeps winning awards at this rate, Land Rover might end up using every inch of display space available at its headquarters. This smashing looking vehicle from Land Rover has changed the way we look at crossovers with a design that instantly strikes an emotional chord with the onlookers. And the result proves that with the Evoque winning by a whooping margin of 112 points. Compare this to the cars where all three finalists were separated by just 19 points and you get the picture. Honda’s successful redesign of the CR-V comes runner up with the BMW X3 taking the third and final spot.



Alex Taylor of Fortune magazine had this to say about the Evoque - "Range Rover successfully charts a new direction for the venerable SUV trailblazer with a fresh design and advanced thinking about environmental issues".



2012 NATOTY RESULTS: 

1. Land Rover Range Rover Evoque – 254

2. Honda CR-V – 142

3. BMW X3 – 94



PREVIOUS NATOTY WINNERS:

* 2011 - Ford Explorer
* 2010 - Ford Transit Connect
* 2009 - Ford F-150
* 2008 - Mazda CX-9
* 2007 - Chevrolet Silverado
 
As we posted before, the finalists for both the titles were shortlisted by the jurors from a list of more than 30 models launched last year. Unlike in 2011 when we were spot on in guessing the winners, we were only partly right this year as the Hyundai Elantra sprung a surprise by leapfrogging Ford Focus for the title. With the Evoque already launched in India, we are sincerely hoping that the Elantra will make it to our shores at the earliest, now that Hyundai has showcased the car in the 2012 Indian Auto Expo.

2012 ICOTY & IMOTY Awards Announced

The winners of the most prestigious automotive awards in the country, the 2012 Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) and Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY), were announced at an event in New Delhi on the eve of the ongoing 2012 Auto Expo. This award is modeled on the lines of the popular North American Car and Truck of the Year and European Car of the Year titles, wherein a group of journalists from top automotive media come together and decide the winners.

Unlike 2011, when Ford Figo went on to win every single 'Car of the Year' award in the country to become India's most awarded car ever, this year saw a spate of high profile models being launched in India that fought hard for victory making the life of jurors tougher. Models like Mahindra XUV500, Maruti-Suzuki Swift, Hyundai Verna, Hyundai Eon and Honda Brio are all extremely competent in their own right and have won many individual awards themselves.

In the final tally, it was the Maruti-Suzuki Swift that came out on top with its winning combination of looks, space, frugality and fun-to-drive factor. With this, the second generation Swift has ensured that the legacy of its predecessor, which won the inaugral ICOTY award in 2006 before going on to smash all sales records in India, remains intact. Though Swift has been declared the winner, we are sure that models like Mahindra XUV500 and Hyundai Verna are amongst the best in their segments too and are no less competent.

2012 ICOTY RESULTS:

   Winner - Maruti-Suzuki Swift

PREVIOUS ICOTY WINNERS:

   * 2011 - Ford Figo
   * 2010 – Tata Nano
   * 2009 – Honda City
   * 2008 – Hyundai i10
   * 2007 – Honda Civic

It seems that, unlike the ICOTY award, choosing the winner of IMOTY award was an unanimous decision with the Honda CBR250R coming out easily on top. Honda's all-new model that was developed specifically for the Asian markets has created quite a ripple with people inside and outside the industry going gaga over it. The fact that it introduced Antilock Braking System in a motorcycle in India amongst its other innovative features and technologies makes it a worthy winner. This is the second year in a row Honda has won this award.

2012 IMOTY RESULTS:

   Winner - Honda CBR 250R

PREVIOUS IMOTY WINNERS:

   * 2011 - Honda CB Twister
   * 2010 - Kawasaki Ninja 250R
   * 2009 - Yamaha YZF R15
   * 2008 - Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi

Images Source: Overdrive (www.overdrive.in)

2012 North American Car & Truck of the Year Finalists Announced

Here they are. The finalists for the eagerly-awaited and tough-to-crack 2012 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards have been announced. And, the models that make the final cut are Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and Volkswagen Passat in cars and BMW X3, Honda CR-V and Land Rover Range Rover Evoque in trucks. If you are wondering, Sports Utility Vehicles and Crossovers are classified as trucks in USA. These finalists have been chosen from a list of over 30 all-new or significantly-revised models that went on sale in North America in the past 12 months. The list included extremely competitive models such as Audi A6, Audi A7, Toyota Prius V and Mercedes-Benz M Class. Now you know why we said these awards are tough to crack.

If you do not know already, these awards are unique in the United States because, instead of being given by a single media outlet or entity, they are awarded by a coalition of automotive journalists from USA and Canada representing all forms of media that includes magazines, television, radio, newspapers and websites. The title-winners will be announced on the opening day of the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Jan-09. The awards, considered to be one of the most significant in the automotive world, are currently in their 19th year. In 2011, it was Chevrolet Volt and Ford Explorer which won the North American Car and Truck of the Year titles respectively.

This time though, our bet is on the Ford Focus and Land Rover Range Rover Evoque to win the titles, but the Hyundai Elantra and BMW X3 could spring a big surprise. Let us wait and watch!

Nissan Leaf is 2011 World Car of the Year

Congratulations Nissan! The hugely-hyped, 100% electric, zero-emission 'Leaf' has been selected as the World Car of the Year 2011. In the final round of polling, the Nissan Leaf garnered more votes than the other two finalists, the Audi A8 and BMW 5 Series, quite formidable competitors I would say.



By winning the World Car of the Year title, the Nissan Leaf has become the recipient of two significant automotive awards this year. Remember that the Leaf was voted the European Car of the Year 2011 a few months back. Its just a case of history repeating itself as Volkswagen Polo did the same and won both the awards last year.



The results were announced at the 2011 New York International Auto Show a couple of days back. The other awards announced were as follows:



* World Car of the Year - Nissan Leaf (Audi A8, BMW 5 Series)

* World Performance Car of the Year - Ferrari 458 Italia (Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Porsche 911 Turbo)

* World Green Car of the Year - Chevrolet Volt (Nissan Leaf, BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics)

* World Design of the Year - Aston Martin Rapide (Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Ferrari 458 Italia)



The models inside the braces were the other finalists that ended runners up in the respective categories. Isn't it ironical that the Nissan Leaf, the big-winner of 2011, ended up a distant third in the North American Car of the Year awards behind the Chevrolet Volt and the Hyundai Sonata?

2011 North American Car & Truck of the Year Award Winners announced

The winners of the 2011 North American Car and Truck of the Year titles were announced recently at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. And the winners, as predicted, were the Chevrolet Volt and the Ford Explorer. This is the 18th year of these awards, which are designed to recognize the most outstanding new vehicles of the year. These vehicles are benchmarks in their segments based on factors including innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.



After winning a multitude of awards, the Chevrolet Volt, rather least surprisingly, takes this most prestigious title too. By the way, this should make the Volt the first proper electric car to win this award. The highly-acclaimed and super-successful Hyundai Sonata ended up second in the title fight while the Nissan Leaf, the 2011 European Car of the Year award-winner, ended up last.

2011 NACOTY RESULTS:

1. Chevrolet Volt - 233

2. Hyundai Sonata - 163

3. Nissan Leaf - 94



PREVIOUS NACOTY WINNERS:

* 2010 - Ford Fusion Hybrid

* 2009 - Hyundai Genesis

* 2008 - Chevrolet Malibu 

* 2007 - Saturn Aura
* 2006 - Honda Civic

Its a ha-trick of NATOTY awards for Ford, this time with the redesigned all-new Explorer taking the honors. Though GM had two finalists, one each from Jeep and Dodge, the Ford managed to trounce them in the final standings. Jeep Grand Cherokee came in a distant second while the Dodge Durango ended up last in the standings.

2011 NATOTY RESULTS:
1. Ford Explorer - 253
2. Jeep Grand Cherokee - 138
3. Dodge Durango - 99

PREVIOUS NATOTY WINNERS:
* 2010 - Ford Transit Connect
* 2009 - Ford F-150
* 2008 - Mazda CX-9
* 2007 - Chevrolet Silverado
* 2006 - Honda Ridgeline

2011 North American Car & Truck of the Year Finalists Announced

Its that time of the year again when new cars and trucks from across the globe compete among themselves for various titles being given away by a whole lot of automotive publications. Among the significant, tough-to-win titles are the North American Car of the Year & Truck of the Year awards. So, when finalists for such prestigious titles are announced, it ought to be noticed. The models which have been shortlisted for 2011 awards are Chevrolet Volt, Hyundai Sonata and Nissan Leaf in cars and Dodge Durango, Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee in trucks.

The awards are unique because instead of being given by a single media outlet, they are awarded by a group of automotive journalists from the United States and Canada representing magazines, television, radio, newspapers and web sites. To be eligible, a vehicle must be 'all new' or 'substantially changed' from the previous model year.

Though my heart beats for Hyundai Sonata to take the title in the cars category with its Regular, Turbo and Hybrid variants for the sole reason of shaking up the established midsize sedan segment, my mind shouts that its going to be the revolutionary Chevrolet Volt taking the top step. The fact that the Volt has already won quite a few individual Car of the Year titles and the Nissan Leaf has already been declared 2011 European Car of the Year doesn't help matters either. Amongst the trucks, in all probability, Ford Explorer should be taking the title though there are good chances of the Jeep Grand Cherokee springing in a surprise.

Both the awards, in their 18th year currently, will be announced at the North American International Auto Show at Detroit on January 10. Last year, Ford made a clean sweep of the awards with its Fusion Hybrid and Transit Connect taking the respective titles. Let the countdown begin!

2011 ICOTY & IMOTY Awards announced

The recipients of India’s most prestigious automotive honors, the Indian Car of the Year and Indian Motorcycle of the Year 2011 were announced recently. This is the sixth edition of this annual event which has been modeled along the likes of European and North American Car of the Year titles. With journalists from top automotive publications across the country like Overdrive, Auto Bild, Top Gear, Car India, BS Motoring and Auto India being the jurors, Ford Figo and Honda CBF Stunner have come out on tops.

Apart from the Ford Figo, the final contenders for the ICOTY title included models like Volkswagen Polo and Vento, Tata Aria, Skoda Yeti, Nissan Micra, Chevrolet Beat and Maruti-Suzuki Wagon-R. When the final tally was declared, the Figo had comfortably trounced the competitors with a comfortable margin. It has not only lived up to the hype that it created with Ford’s CEO Mr. Alan Mulally himself unveiling the car to the Indian public, but has also exceeded the expectations with over 60,000 units sold since launch. It has won the acclaim of critics and customers alike and has given Ford unprecedented volume and growth in India.



2011 ICOTY RESULTS:



1. Ford Figo – 83

2. Volkswagen Vento – 57

3. Volkswagen Polo / Skoda Yeti – 37



PREVIOUS ICOTY WINNERS:



    * 2010 – Tata Nano

    * 2009 – Honda City

    * 2008 – Hyundai i10

    * 2007 – Honda Civic

    * 2006 – Maruti-Suzuki Swift



Unlike the ICOTY award, there seemed to be a slug fest for the IMOTY 2011 title with the Honda CB Twister taking the crown by a meager margin of 3 points. This latest offering from Honda has brought style, flair and refinement which are unheard of in the mass market commuter bike segment. Bajaj’s critically acclaimed, feature-laden, sporty yet efficient Pulsar 135 LS made life difficult for the CB Twister by finishing a close second with TVS’s technologically-superior Jive finishing third. The other finalists for the award included Bajaj Discover 150, Mahindra Stallio and TVS Max4R.  



2011 IMOTY RESULTS:



1. Honda CB Twister – 66

2. Bajaj Pulsar 135 LS – 63

3. TVS Jive - 48



PREVIOUS IMOTY WINNERS:



    * 2010 – Kawasaki Ninja 250R

    * 2009 – Yamaha YZR R15

    * 2008 – Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi

2011 European Car of the Year is Nissan Leaf

For the first time in the history of Europe's most prestigious automotive award, a zero-emission electric car, the Nissan Leaf has been chosen as the Car of the Year for 2011. This is the second time Nissan is getting this coveted title after the Micra won the award in 1993. Mr. Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan accepted the honor by saying, "This award recognizes the pioneering zero-emission Nissan Leaf as competitive to conventional cars in terms of safety, performance, spaciousness and handling. It also reflects Nissan's standing as an innovative and exciting brand with a clear vision of the future of transportation, which we call sustainable mobility."

A total of 41 models launched in 2010 were eligible for the title initially which were then trimmed down to seven final contenders. The Nissan Leaf ultimately took the title after the jurors proclaimed that it is a breakthrough for electric cars and that it is the first electric vehicle that can match conventional cars in many respects. It was a close contest though, with the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and Opel/Vauxhall Meriva giving the Leaf tough competition.

 

2011 ECOTY Results :

1. Nissan Leaf (257)


2. Alfa Romeo Giulietta (248)


3. Opel/Vauxhall Meriva (244)


4. Ford C-Max/Grand C-Max (224)


5. Citroen C3/DS3 (175)


6. Volvo S60/V60 (145)


7. Dacia Duster (132)

Previous ECOTY Winners :

• 2010 Volkswagen Polo


• 2009 Opel/Vauxhall Insignia


• 2008 Fiat 500


• 2007 Ford S-Max


• 2006 Renault Clio

The jury for "European Car of the Year 2011" consisted of automotive journalists representing 23 European countries. The seven organizers of this annual title are prominent automotive publications such as Auto (Italy), Autocar (UK), Autopista (Spain), Autovisie (Holland), L'Automobile Magazine (France), Stern (Germany) and Vi Bilagare (Sweden).

VW Polo is 2010 World Car of the Year

I think I have what it takes to become a successful automotive journalist in the future. There were quite a few eyebrows raised when, as per my initial forecast, the Ford Fusion became the 2010 North American Car of the Year and the Volkswagen Polo won the 2010 European Car of the Year award. This time again, I have been spot-on in guessing the eventual winner of yet another important title. Personal kudos apart, coming to the big news, as predicted in my earlier post, the just-launched in India Volkswagen Polo has won the 2010 World Car of the Year award. 

The World Car of the Year award aims to combine the attributes of all the regional and individual publication's titles to crown the best car in the world that has been launched the previous year. The Volkswagen Polo took the top honors among the 3 finalists, which included the Mercedes-Benz E Class and the Toyota Prius. The award was announced in the New York International Auto Show that's taking place in New York currently. The other awards announced were as follows:

• World Car of the Year - Volkswagen Polo (Mercedes-Benz E Class, Toyota Prius)


• World Performance Car of the Year - Audi R8 V10 (Porsche 911 GT3, Ferrari California)


• World Design of the Year - Chevrolet Camaro (Kia Soul, Citroen C3 Picasso)


• World Green Car of the Year - Volkswagen Blue Motion Cars (Toyota Prius, Honda Insight)

The cars mentioned in the braces were the ones that made it into the Top 3 Finalists in each of the above categories. Way to go Volkswagen!

2010 World Car of the Year finalists announced

The World Car Awards have become the most prestigious award programme in the world rewarding automotive excellence on an international scale. Inaugurated in the year 2004, the motive of this programme is to complement the already existing regional and national Car of the Year awards. The World Car Awards are presented in the following categories:

• World Car of the Year


• World Performance Car of the Year


• World Car Design of the Year &


• World Green Car of the Year 

For the year 2010, an international panel of 59 automotive journalists have already shortlisted the Top 10 Cars which are competing for the first two award categories. The finalists in each of the two categories are listed below:

World Car of the Year Finalists:

• Audi Q5


• BMW X1


• Chevrolet Cruze


• Kia Soul


• Mazda 3


• Mercedes-Benz E-Class


• Opel/Vauxhall Insignia / Buick Regal


• Porsche Panamera


• Toyota Prius


• Volkswagen Polo

World Performance Car of the Year Finalists: 

• Aston-Martin V12 Vantage


• Audi R8 V10


• Audi TT RS Coupe/Roadster


• BMW Z4


• Ferrari California


• Jaguar XFR


• Lotus Evora


• Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG


• Nissan 370Z


• Porsche 911 GT3


• Porsche Boxster/Cayman

The above top cars from both categories will undergo a series of rigorous evaluation and will be rated for Overall Merit, Value, Safety, Environmental Responsibility, Emotional Appeal and Significance. A final shortlist of 3 cars from each category will be selected from which the winner will be chosen. The winners for the remaining two award categories will be chosen from recommendations by global design and auto experts among the finalists.

The winners for 2009 were Volkswagen Golf and Nissan GT-R respectively. For this year, my bet is on Mercedes-Benz E-Class or Volkswagen Polo to take the crown as Car of the Year. Will Volkswagen make it two in a row? Wait for the results to be announced on April-01-2010 at the New York International Auto Show.

2010 ICOTY & IMOTY Awards announced

Though the 2010 ICOTY & IMOTY titles have been announced almost a month back, constant traveling at the beginning of the year kept me extremely busy to post it on time. Nevertheless, it's an important event which couldn't be left out without posting either.



Modeled along the likes of the North American, European and Japanese Car of the Year awards, all the major automotive publications in the country, along with JK Tyre have instituted these awards which is now recognized in the international level. Now in it's fifth year of running, the 2010 Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) and Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY) award-winners have been announced. No surprises in both the categories, as Tata Nano and the Kawasaki Ninja 250R have been selected for the top honors in the country. It's ironical to know the fact that the title-winning bike is costlier than the car selected for the title. In fact, you can get two Tata Nanos for the price of a Kawasaki Ninja 250R.

 

Tata's diminutive Nano has been on a spree of winning awards including Car of the Year awards from individual automotive publications like Autocar India, Overdrive and the like. The Nano is the height of Indian innovation and by developing this automotive icon, Tata has made the world to crane and look towards Indian engineering. Production constraints apart, there is absolutely no reason why the Nano will not succeed in the domestic level though I am skeptical about it's success in the international arena. (Pic Courtesy: Overdrive)

When Bajaj introduced the Kawasaki Ninja 250R in India, it presented Indians with a gift which they have not received before - "Affordable Sports Biking". Though people with very deep pockets had their choice when it came to sports bikes (Hayabusa, R1, etc.), others were forced to settle for something from the crowded 150cc segment or the monopolized 220cc segment. Hope Bajaj lives up to the hype created by the bike and does not discontinue this bike within months of launching it in the market like it does for most other models.

Ford sweeps 2010 North American Car & Truck of the Year Awards

Ford, the American giant which is on a stunning comeback trail across the world, has made a clean sweep of the 2010 North American Car & Truck of the Year Awards with it's Fusion Hybrid and Transit Connect taking home the titles respectively. Earlier, Honda in 2006 and General Motors in 2007 had won both the titles and this is the third time in the 17-year history of the awards that a single manufacturer becomes the recipient of both the titles.

Of the three car finalists, Ford Fusion Hybrid scored 241 points leaving behind the Volkswagen Golf/TDI/GTI (146 points) and the Buick LaCrosse (103 points). One of the jurors summed up the verdict as "Though not the first hybrid on the market, or even the second or third, The Fusion Hybrid is simply the best one ever built. In addition to delivering terrific mileage, it looks and drives like a regular car - and a very good one indeed."



Amongst the truck finalists, Ford's Transit Connect had 213 points followed by the Chevrolet Equinox (183 points) and the Subaru Outback (94 points). Jim Mateja, of the Chicago Tribune, said "A U-Haul that fits in your garage. Holds people and soooo much of their stuff - bikes, snowmobiles, lawn movers, skis, tents, boats, ladders, furniture, you name it. Defines multi-purpose and boasts a reasonable price even when you add side and rear windows and back seat."

The fact is that both are worthy winners from a deserving manufacturer which is doing almost everything right at the moment. Last year, the North American Car of the Year was the Hyundai Genesis and North American Truck of the Year was Ford F-150. My guess on the title winners turned out to be partially correct with the Fusion Hybrid hitting the bull's eye and the Chevrolet Equinox failing to make the cut.

2010 North American Car & Truck of the Year Finalists Announced

The final contenders for the prestigious 2010 North American Car and Truck Of The Year awards has just been announced. The models which have made the final cut are the Buick LaCrosse, Ford Fusion Hybrid and Volkswagen Golf/GTi in cars and the Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Transit Connect and Subaru Outback in trucks. The winners will be announced on Jan-11-2010 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. One of the above models will be crowned as successors to the 2009 title winners, the Hyundai Genesis and Ford F150 in Cars and Trucks respectively.

The awards, which are in their 17th year, are very special and unique in North America because, instead of being given by a single media outlet, they are given by automotive journalists from USA and Canada representing all sections of the media like websites, television, magazines, etc. The awards are designed to recognize the most outstanding vehicles of the year based on factors that include innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar. To be eligible, vehicles must be “all-new” or “substantially changed” from the previous model. This year the jury considered more than 50 vehicles and finally focused on 16 cars and 10 trucks.

My bet is on the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Chevrolet Equinox to walk away with the honors for 2010 making it a clean sweep by the domestic automakers. But the jury may pull out a surprise at the Detroit Auto Show. So it's a long wait till Jan-11 to check whether my predictions and guesses are true.