First CarSifu awards a success

It was a crowning achachievement for Honda Civic that went home with th the ‘Car of the Year’ award.

IT was a glitzy affair at the first CarSifu Editors’ Choice Awards 2016 as CEOs of car companies and their senior executives showed up in force to honour the best cars the local auto industry has to offer.

It’s not often that key players in the business get together and the CarSifu event on Oct 6 was an opportunity for them to mingle, talk shop and build rapport with each other at a cocktail reception prior to the awards announcement.

Many of them were seen happily posing together in small groups at the CarSifu photowalls.

Everyone proceeded to the grand ballroom of The Royale Chulan Damansara hotel in Petaling Jaya as the guest of honour, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong, arrived accompanied by Star Media Group chairman Datuk Fu Ah Kiow, chief operating officer Calvin Kan and chief revenue officer Lim Bee Leng.

Following the opening speeches by Kan and Lee, it was full throttle as award after award was announced to cheers, hearty claps and hoots of

delight as winners were declared before the demonstrative crowd.

Three of the winning cars - Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P, a Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Perodua Bezza 1.3 (A) Advance - were lined up in front of the stage to add pizzazz to the atmosphere.

SUVs or crossovers dominated the line-up of winners in a list of 22 categories but ultimately it was a sedan that seized the imagination of the CarSifu editors to win the coveted top award.

That car, as we all know, is the Civic that has become CarSifu’s “Car of the Year” for 2016.

The 1.5-litre turbocharged sedan also grabbed the Best Mid-Size Car award for its styling, features, sharp handling, comfortable ride and accessible (on-the road) pricing of RM135,800.

Honda Malaysia president and chief operating officer Roslan Abdullah, who received the trophy from Lee, expressed delight over the Civic’s double win.

We at CarSifu can’t wait to see who the contenders will be in 2017 and who will get to be crowned the next “Car of the Year”.

Proton Edar CEO Rohime Shafie receiving the award for Best Compact won by Proton Persona (Premium CVT) from Lee. Roslan (centre) rejoicing with the Honda Malaysia team.

Naza Corp Holdings group chief operating officer (automotive group) Datuk SamSamson Anand George (centre) with Nasim (Peugeot) and Naza Euro Motors (Citroen) managemagement team. .

Roslan (centre) holding the award for the Car of the Year, which was won by Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P. With him are Lee (on Roslan’s left), Fu (on Roslan’s right), Kan (on Lee’s left) and Lim (on Fu’s right) and representative of car companies whose...

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia general manager Carsten Bauer (fourth from left) and his team posing with a Mercedes-Benz E-Class displayed in the ballroom during the gala dinner.

Perodua managing director Dr Zahari Husin receiving the award for Best Family Ride of the Year (<RM100K) won by Perodua Bezza 1.3 (A) Advance from Lee.

TC Euro Cars (Renault) CEO Kuan Kim Luen receiving the award for the Best Design won by Renault Captur from Lee.