Car Awards Group holds testing day for COTY-PH, TOTY-PH

THE CAR Awards Group, Inc. (CAGI) successfully held their third testing day in search of the 2016 Car of the Year – Philippines (COTY–PH) and 2016 Truck of the Year – Philippines (TOTY-PH).

Twenty six vehicles arrived on the last testing day, bringing the total to 72 entries vying for the special, category, and major awards. The merry mix of segments ranged from light commercial vehicles, compact sedans, to the luxury performance models.

The models tested were: Audi S3 Sedan, Q7 3.0 TDI Quattro, and TT 2.0 TFSI; BMW 118i; Ford Focus 1.5L Sport+ with EcoBoost, and Ranger 2.2L FX4 4x2 AT; Haima V70; Honda Legend; Hyundai Elantra, Tucson, and Accent Hatch; Jaguar XF 250 Prestige, and F-Type S; Lexus RX 350 Premier and RX 350 Sport; Maserati Levante; MG GS; MINI Clubman S 2.0L AT; Nissan GT-R; Peugeot 308; Suzuki Super Carry; Toyota Rav-4; Volkswagen Passat; Volvo XC90 D5, and S60 R Design.

With all the data in, all that is left to do is for the auditors to tabulate the category winners, determine this year’s COTY-PH and TOTY-PH, order the trophies, and award the winners.

“We appreciate the increased trust and support we’ve received from the car manufacturers and distributors. Several noted brands have re-joined testing process these past two years, and for that, we are truly grateful. The need to include all the brands locally available is crucial in the search for CAGI’s Car of the Year – Philippines Awards, the only consumer-oriented and instrumented test cess in the country,” said Robby Consunji, president of CAGI.

Established in 2004, the CAGI is the longest-running organization of motoring journalists in the country today. Unlike other award-giving bodies, the COTY–PH Award is not done simply by a show of hands or popularity. CAGI does not charge the car companies an entry fee for COTY and does not solicit funds from the car companies to conduct COTY.

For its second year of engagement with CAGI, KPMG R.G. Manabat & Co. took on a bigger role in the search process which starts from receiving the keys of the vehicles to be tested, randomly assigning cars on a category basis to the jurors, collecting the score sheets, tallying the data, up to releasing the official results at the end of the process.

Also back this year is co-presenter Carmudi.com.ph, the vehicle marketplace designed to make buying or selling your vehicle online as stress-free as possible.

The 2016 COTY-PH and TOTY-PH Awards Night will happen on Nov. 21 in Makati City.