Rev up for Car of the Year

IT’S that time of the year when car manufacturers throw their respective models into the hat to be nominated for the South African Car of the Year award, with the winner being named at the end of the year after vigorous testing.

The vehicles selected as finalists are tested and driven for several days by journalists before the winner is chosen.

The exhaustive list of potential winners is polled from motoring journalists across South Africa, including the Post, and then trimmed to down to 10 brands and models, namely Audi Q5, BMW 5 series, Alfa Romeo Giulia, Porsche Panamera, Kia Picanto, Suzuki Ignis, Land Rover Discovery, Volvo S90, Toyota C-HR and Peugeot 3008.

Score sheets are filled in by more than two dozen experienced motoring writers, while on the move.

The data is then crunched by independent auditors with a focus on price, economy and features. Then follows the big wait until the announcement, which influences sales at the coalface.

It is interesting to note that BMW have recorded the most wins by any manufacturer – six to date – followed by Audi, Opel, VW and Porsche with three each, and then Honda, Renault, Toyota and Volvo with two. Ford, Alfa, Hyundai, Mazda, Mercedes and Nissan weigh in with one win apiece.

This year’s nominees have been better than before as car manufacturers looked towards sleek design and styling, fuel consumption, pricing, value for money, and perhaps most importantly, safety features, given the road carnage we have witnessed for a long time.

The Car of the Year will be unveiled at Gallagher Estate on March 13.

Have you ”souped-up” your set of wheels lately? Do you own an exotic or a vintage model vehicle? E-mail your details to me and I will feature it in future articles.

In my next motoring column, I feature the pertinent points of the much heralded Kinsey Report on exorbitant prices of car parts.

Happy and safe motoring.