MOTORING MEDIA NAME THEIR AFMCA PICKS

ON THE same evening as the 2016-2017 People’s Choice Awards, Auto Focus and its motoring media partners also gave due recognition to the winners of the 20162017 Auto Focus Media’s Choice Awards (AFMCA), a second but equally important component of Sunshine Television’s (STV) Automobile Industry Merit Program.

The AFMCA aims to further recognize the automobile industry’s continuing efforts to provide car owners and motorists with the best on- board features, styling, performance and overall value. A select group of recognized motoring media professionals and practitioners comprised the AFMCA voters’ panel for a special poll that was held at the STV office last September 27 and witnessed by key automobile representatives.

The AFMCA awards criteria are strict. To earn a Media’s Choice award, a particular model must receive at least 51 percent or more of the total votes cast in that model’s specific performance category. As such, winners could only be qualified in 48 of the 88 award categories.

VW, Toyota, Lexus among top picks

Volkswagen bagged the most Media’s Choice Awards, bagging eight awards in total, namely: Best Engine Performance for the Golf GTI, Touran and Passat; Best Value-for-Money for the Golf GTI, Touran, Passat and Touareg, and; Best Design for the Golf GTI.

With this achievement, Volkswagen Philippines president and CEO John Philip Orbeta remarked, “We at Volkswagen Philippines are extremely proud to share with the public our eight victories for three categories in the Media’s Choice Awards, the results of which are compiled based on the critical assessment of the majority of active Philippine motoring journalists. This is a testament to the worldclass German engineering and craftsmanship the Volkswagen brand has been known for.”

Also taking home several awards is Toyota, which won Best Engine Performance for the Hiace and Innova, Best Design and Best Engine Performance for the Alphard, and Best Value- for- Money for the Land Cruiser 200. The company’s luxury brand, Lexus, also won Best Design for the IS350 and the NX200t, as well as Best Value- forMoney for IS350, LS460, and the NX200t.

Volvo, BMW named the safest

Meanwhile, Volvo dominated the Best Safety Features category for V40 ( Luxury Subcompact), S60 (Luxury Compact Sedan), XC90 (Luxury Midsize SUV) and the V60 Cross Country (Luxury Open), in feat seemingly fit for what is dubbed in the industry as the world’s safest car.

Volvo Philippines president Albert Arcilla was visibly elated by the recognition. “We’re very honored that STV’s Auto Focus Awards gave us very special awards tonight and we’re very proud of it because it goes into the very core of the Volvo brand and we almost swept the awards for Best Safety Features,” Arcilla said.

Another big winner in the Media’s Choice Awards was BMW, having won in the Best Engine Performance and Best Safety Features the for 7-Series (Luxury Large Sedan). In the Best Safety Features category, the 7-Series was joined by the 4-Series Gran Coupe (Luxury Open).

BMW Philippines president Maricar Parco said, “Thank you very much to Sunshine Television and to the Auto Focus Media’s Choice Awards. These are the new models we’ve introduced to the market this year and we look forward to bringing even newer models from BMW that delivers sheer driving pleasure. Thank you for all those who voted for BMW and we look forward to next year.”

Media’s Choice firsts

There were some firsts for some of this year’s Media’s Choice winners like Ford and Suzuki. For Ford Philippines’ Lance Mosley, it’s his first time to receive a Media’s Choice Award as the brand’s managing director in the country. Ford took home an award for Best Design – Standard for the Explorer (Large SUV) and Best Value-for-Money for the Mustang (Luxury Sports Car). On the other hand, Suzuki, which is more known for its kei cars, surprised everyone with its inaugural Media’s Choice Award for the Ciaz (Compact Sedan) and the Ertiga (MPV) in the Best Value-for-Money standard category.

“We are truly honored and grateful for the recognition we received at this year’s Auto Focus Media’s Choice Awards. This recognition inspires us and fuels our passion to bring our brand closer to more Filipino customers and give them the very best of Ford,” Mosley stated.

“Our deepest gratitude to the media for acknowledging once again our very own Ciaz and for warmly accepting our well-loved brand Ertiga. Being able to address the market’s needs is in itself an accomplishment for us, let alone, be awarded for it. With recognitions like this and customers’ continuous support, our efforts and hard work have been richly rewarded,” Suzuki Philippines, Inc. GM-Automobiles Shuzo Hoshikura said.

Commenting on the pool of AFMCA winners this year, STV chairman and CEO Ray Butch Gamboa said, “It’s a good mix of winners. As you very well know, our auto industry is really doing great now and this is also reflected in the winners tonight. Almost all car companies are represented by way of the awards given.”