World Car Awards winners

Last November it was declared the 2011 European Car of the Year, and now the Nissan Leaf has been named 2011 World Car of the Year at the New York International Auto Show. Occupying the runners-up slots were the two other short-listed models, the BMW 5 Series and Audi A8.

Nissan Leaf: 2011 World Car of the Year

2011 World Performance Car winner was the Ferrari 458 Italia, an unsurprising victory even though it was up against the talented Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and Porsche 911 Turbo.



Another predictable (but deserved) result was that the 2011 World Car Design of the Year title went to the Aston Martin Rapide, which beat the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and Ferrari 458 Italia.



The Nissan Leaf was also a finalist in the 2011 World Green Car category. However, it lost out to the Chevrolet Volt which, with its range-extender technology, is undoubtedly a much more practical proposition for many drivers. Even so, the Leaf’s environmental credentials must have helped it to secure the main prize, so perhaps the outcome seems rather inconsistent? The third finalist for this award was the BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition.



Related posts:

World Car Awards top three

World Car Awards finalists

Leaf is Car of the Year

i-MiEV joins Hertz fleet

Hertz has started to offer the Mitsubishi i-MiEV to its customers in the UK. For now, two of the all-electric cars are available to members of the ‘Connect by Hertz’ car sharing club in London, but the plan is to add more of the Mitsubishis to rental fleets across the country.



To support the initiative, Hertz has set up charging stations at Heathrow Airport, London City Airport, Marble Arch, Old Kent Road, Russell Square and Uxbridge. Drivers will also be able to use the Source London network of public charging points, which is currently being established across London.

President of Hertz International, Michel Taride, said: “Our partnership with Mitsubishi Motors in the UK to provide i-MiEV cars to our Connect by Hertz members and Hertz customers in the UK is a vital part of our global Electric Vehicle and sustainability initiatives. We are excited that from today, our customers can experience the joy of 100% electric driving with the i-MiEVs, which offer surprising power and a smooth, quiet ride.”



The i-MiEV features a 66 bhp (49 kW / 66 PS) motor that’s powered by a 16 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Range is 93 miles (150 km), which should be plenty for predominantly city centre journeys.



Related posts:

Nine electric cars get grant

Mitsubishi i-MiEV costs

UK i-MiEV prices slashed

Daimler and Bosch EV JV

Daimler AG and Robert Bosch GmbH are working on forming a joint venture to make motors for electric vehicles. The plan is for the operation to commence production in 2012, with the motors initially being used in Mercedes-Benz and Smart models.



However, it’s intended that the technology will also be made available to other manufacturers. Any such sales are going to be handled by Bosch.

The electrically-powered Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-CELL

Related post:

SLS AMG E-CELL is go

Top 10: Car sales Q1 2011

UK car sales in the first quarter of 2011 fell 8.7% to 558,336, according to figures released by the SMMT.



With the fleet and business segments showing slight increases on 2010, the decline was due to 57,769 fewer private registrations. However, given the scrappage scheme that was running last year, such a drop was expected.



Probably reflecting those reduced private sales, the proportion of petrol-powered cars dipped to just over 50%. Consequently, average new car CO2 emissions were 140.3g/km, a 3.4% reduction compared to 2010.



The Ford Fiesta retained its position as the most popular car in the UK. Further down the chart, a D segment model from a mainstream manufacturer actually managed to outsell the ubiquitous 3 Series, with the Vauxhall Insignia achieving 11,904 registrations compared to the BMW’s 10,141.

Top 10: UK Car Sales Q1 2011
Position	Manufacturer	Model	Registrations
1	Ford	Fiesta	27,924
2	Ford	Focus	24,435
3	Vauxhall	Corsa	20,536
4	Vauxhall	Astra	17,250
5	Volkswagen	Golf	17,101
6	Volkswagen	Polo	12,214
7	Vauxhall	Insignia	11,904
8	Peugeot	207	10,335
9	BMW	3 Series	10,141
10	Nissan	Qashqai	9,253

Related post:

Top 10: UK car sales 2010

2011 Fleet News Awards

Following a strong showing at the Business Car Awards in January, BMW has been similarly rewarded by the 2011 Fleet News Awards. As well as being voted manufacturer of the year, it also secured four individual vehicle accolades.



There’s no doubt that the combination of badge appeal, driving dynamics and strong residuals make the honours deserved, but surely such ever increasing popularity amongst fleet users risks eroding the exclusivity of the brand?



However, BMW didn’t get everything its own way. The new Ford C-Max / Grand C-Max scooped the company car and people carrier prizes, the former being voted for by Fleet News readers.



Meanwhile, Volkswagen Group secured wins for its Polo, Golf and Superb, while the Kia Sportage was declared the best crossover.



2011 Fleet News Awards winners



Voted for by Fleet News readers



New company car of the year: Ford C-Max / Grand C-Max

Fleet manufacturer of the year: BMW

Fleet News Hall of Fame: Phil Redman

New company car of the year and best people carrier: Ford C-Max / Grand C-Max

Voted for by Fleet News jurors



Manufacturer Awards



Best small car: Volkswagen Polo

Best lower-medium car: Volkswagen Golf

Best upper-medium car: Skoda Superb

Best people carrier: Ford C-Max / Grand C-Max

Best estate car: BMW 5 Series Touring

Best SUV: BMW X3

Best premium car: BMW 3 Series

Best boardroom car: BMW 5 Series

Best crossover: Kia Sportage

Most improved fleet manufacturer of the year: Renault

Green fleet manufacturer of the year: Peugeot

Best boardroom car: BMW 5 Series

Supplier Awards



Environment: The Miles Consultancy

Customer service: Leaseplan

New product / service: Arval

Safety award: Peak Performance

Short-term rental company of the year: Hertz

Leasing company of the year: Arval

Fleet supplier of the year: The AA

Fleet manager of the year: Val South, Xerox



Fleet Awards



Fleet initiative of the year: Balfour Beatty

Fleet of the year (under 250 vehicles): The Independent Group

Fleet of the year (251-500 vehicles): Iron Mountain

Fleet of the year (501-1,000 vehicles): Kelly Communications

Fleet of the year (>1,000 vehicles): Johnson & Johnson



Related posts:

2011-12 company car tax

Business Car of the Year

World Car Awards top three

Following the announcement of the World Car Awards finalists at the beginning of February, the jurors have voted once again to decide the top three candidates in each category.



There’s now a short wait until the New York International Auto Show, which begins on 22 April, to find out the winners.



The three models up for each award - in alphabetical order - are:



2011 World Car of the Year



· Audi A8

· BMW 5 Series

· Nissan Leaf

BMW 5 Series Saloon

The outsider here is probably the Audi, but whether enough jurors have been swayed by the Leaf remains to be seen. Many might have been reluctant to give their votes to the Nissan because, despite its green credentials, it nevertheless represents first generation electric car technology which comes with associated issues of purchase price, recharging time and range.



2011 World Performance Car



· Ferrari 458 Italia

· Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

· Porsche 911 Turbo

Ferrari 458 Italia

It’s difficult to foresee the Ferrari not winning this category.



2011 World Car Design of the Year



· Alfa Romeo Giulietta

· Aston Martin Rapide

· Ferrari 458 Italia

Aston Martin Rapide

Perhaps the surprise here is that the Citroën DS3, which was in the top ten shortlist, hasn’t make it through to the top three. Naturally this is a very subjective category but, from an aesthetic perspective, surely the Aston Martin just about beats the other contenders?



2011 World Green Car



· BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition

· Chevrolet Volt

· Nissan Leaf

Chevrolet Volt

This award is hard to predict, because the three finalists represent three very different technologies: internal combustion, range extender and pure electric. However, because the Volt combines the benefits of battery power with a total absence of range anxiety, it deserves to clinch the title.



Related post:

World Car Awards finalists

World Car Awards finalists

Sixty-six jurors from across the world have completed a first round of voting to determine the 2011 World Car Awards finalists.



With four different awards up for grabs, the shortlist models - in alphabetical order - are:





2011 World Car of the Year

• Audi A1


• Audi A8


• BMW 5 Series


• BMW X3


• Jaguar XJ


• Jeep Grand Cherokee


• Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG


• Nissan Leaf


• Porsche Cayenne


• Volvo S60 / V60

Obviously, this is the big prize. Each of the finalists will be judged on ‘overall merit, value, safety, environmental responsibility, emotional appeal and significance’, a combination that has lead to some previous winners being very worthy but also just a bit dull.



What’s striking is that 2011’s entire crop is from premium or, in the case of the Volvo and Jeep, semi-premium manufacturers. Even the Nissan isn’t exactly mainstream, given its relatively high price.

The Leaf could well repeat its 2011 European Car of the Year victory, but it does tend to divide opinion. There are those who believe it almost makes petrol or diesel cars obsolete, while others won’t back an all-electric car until both battery range and the recharging infrastructure improve.







It’s hard to see either the SLS AMG or Cayenne winning, given their comparative lack of environmental responsibility. The BMW 5 Series has to be a contender given its all-round ability, but it would be good to see the Jaguar XJ clinch it, simply because it represents such a brave departure from previous generation XJ models.



Audi’s A1 probably ticks all the boxes. However, it’d be a shame for it to win because it’s essentially a tarted-up version of last year’s World Car of the Year, the Volkswagen Polo.





2011 World Performance Car

• Aston Martin Rapide


• Audi RS 5 Coupe


• Cadillac CTS-V Coupe


• Ferrari 458 Italia


• Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera


• Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG / CL 63 AMG


• Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG


• Porsche 911 GT2 RS


• Porsche 911 Turbo


• Renault Mégane Renaultsport 250

This category is wide open, as it includes everything from a compact hot hatch to numerous supercars for the jurors to choose from. Audi has won the performance car award three times in the past five years, but it’ll be a surprise if the feat is repeated with the RS 5.









2011 World Car Design of the Year

• Alfa Romeo Giulietta


• Aston Martin Rapide


• Audi A7


• Citroën DS3


• Ferrari 458


• Honda CR-Z


• Kia Sportage


• Nissan Juke

There were originally fifty-one candidates in this category, which is expected to ‘highlight new vehicles with innovation and style that push established boundaries’ - a demanding set of criteria.

On that basis, the Aston Martin would seem to be a strong challenger, but arguably it’s the Nissan Juke that truly stands out as a unique design.



The shortlist was decided by a panel of five design experts but, as with all of the other awards, it’s now solely up to the jurors to arrive at a winner.







2011 World Green Car

• BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition


• Chevrolet Volt


• Hyundai Sonata Hybrid


• Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell


• Nissan Leaf


• Smart electric drive

Three environmental experts were asked to draw up the finalists for this award based on emissions, fuel consumption and the power plant technology employed.

Perhaps the Leaf stands a stronger chance of winning this category, but it may be the case that more jurors consider the Volt’s range extender concept as being more practical for everyday use.







But with its 109 g/km and combined cycle 68.9 mpg (4.0 l/100km), the 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition proves that cars with a traditional internal combustion engine can still be impressively green.







The next stage is that during February the jurors will vote again, but this time just on the finalists.



Following that ballot, the top three cars in each category will be announced at the Geneva International Motor Show on 1st March.



Then, bringing the process to a close, the 2011 World Car Awards winners will be declared during the New York International Auto Show in April.

DS4 is Most Beautiful Car

Citroën’s DS4 has been declared Most Beautiful Car of the Year 2011 at the International Automobile Festival, which is currently taking place at the Hôtel des Invalides in Paris, France.

The decision was based solely on a public internet ballot, with voters allowed to choose from a shortlist of seven different models. None of the candidates could have a retail price tag exceeding €50,000.



Emerging as a clear winner, the DS4 received 45% of all the hundreds of thousands of votes cast.



Of course, beauty and good design are subjective things, but it’s arguable that the opposition wasn’t exactly strong. Indeed, although some of the cars on the shortlist could be described as ‘elegant’, ‘striking’ or even ‘purposeful’, ‘beautiful’ is possibly too strong an adjective for any of them.

Most Beautiful Car of the Year 2011
Position	Model
1	Citroën DS4
2	BMW 5 Series Saloon
3	Honda CR-Z Hybrid
4	Renault Wind
U	Mini Countryman
U	Infiniti M37
U	Volvo V60
U = Unclassified

As well as the Most Beautiful Car award and an exhibition of concept cars, the International Automobile Festival also sees Jury Grand Prizes being given to reward artistic automotive creations:



Most Beautiful Concept Car of the Year



Nominees

Kia Pop

Jaguar C-X75

Renault DéZir

Bertone Pandion



Winner

Jaguar C-X75



Most Beautiful Interior of the Year



Nominees

Honda CR-Z Hybrid

Citroën DS4

Mini Countryman

Infiniti M37



Winner

Citroën DS4



Most Beautiful Book of the Year



Nominees

Gotha de l'Automobile Française - E-T-A-I - Laurent Friry and Claude Rouxel

Joyaux Automobiles des Maharadjahs - E-T-A-I - Gautam Sen

Carrosserie, une histoire de style - La Martiniere - Serge Bellu

60 voitures des années 60 - DUPUIS - Jidéhem



Winner

Gotha de l'Automobile Française - E-T-A-I - Laurent Friry and Claude Rouxel



Most Beautiful Photo of the Year



Nominees

‘Jump’ - Jari Matti Latvala in a Ford Focus. WRC 2010 Rally New Zealand, 09-05-2010 - François Baudin (Agence DPPI)

‘Etincelles’ - Dario Franchitti (Ganassi). Indycar race at Homestead, Miami, USA, 02-10-2010 - Jean-François Galeron

‘Marchand de Sable’ - Nasser Al Attiyah, Volkswagen race Touareg, Kalmoukie desert, Silk Way Rallye 2010, Dakar series 2010 - Eric Vargiolu (Agence DPPI)

‘La Dolce Vita’ - Jaguar Type C, 1000 Miglia. Tuscany, Italy, 07-05-2010 - Cathy Dubuisson



Winner

‘Marchand de Sable’ - Eric Vargiolu



Most Beautiful Advertising Film of the Year



Nominees

Fiat: ‘Brainstorming’ - Marcel Paris (France)

Mercedes-Benz: ‘The Best or Nothing’ - Jung von Matt / Alster Hamburg (International)

Citroën: ‘Dog’ - Agence H (France)

Alfa Romeo: ‘Uma Thurman’ - Leo Burnett, USA (International)



Winner

Mercedes-Benz: ‘The Best or Nothing’



Top Prize for Design



Winner

Bertone



Top Prize for the Environment



Winner

BMW Efficient Dynamics



Top Prize for Art



Winner

BMW M3 GT2 Jeff Koons Artcar



Top Prize of the Festival



Winner

Mercedes-Benz CLS



Jury’s Special Top Prize



Winner

Adrien Maeght



The Palme d’Or



Winner

Red Bull Racing - Dieter Mateschitz / Sebastian Vettel / Adrian Newey





Related post:

Citroën DS4 revealed

Business Car of the Year

UK publication Business Car has announced the winners of its 2011 Awards, which were voted for by readers rather than being decided by a jury.



It was a successful haul for the BMW Group as it took top honours in six out of the thirteen vehicle categories, as well as being declared overall manufacturer of the year. Clearly desirability, solid residuals, decent fuel economy and low CO2 emissions are all attributes that continue to keep both drivers and fleet managers happy.





Business Car Awards 2011 winners



Vehicle categories



Manufacturer of the Year: BMW



Business Car of the Year: BMW 5 Series

Green Model of the Year: BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics

City Car: Fiat 500

Supermini: Mini

Lower Medium: Audi A3

Upper Medium: BMW 3 Series

Executive: BMW 5 Series

Luxury: Jaguar XJ

Large 4x4: BMW X5

Small 4x4: Audi Q5

Mini-MPV: Volkswagen Touran

MPV: Ford S-MAX

Sporting Car: Audi R8



Service supplier categories



Service Supplier of the Year: Lex Autolease



Accident Management: The AA

Daily Rental: Enterprise

Fast-Fit: Kwik-Fit Fleet

Insurance: Aviva

Leasing and Fleet Management: Lex Autolease

Top 10: Irish car sales 2010

According to figures published by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, 88,373 cars were sold in Ireland during 2010.



That was almost 55% more than 2009’s figure of 57,118, an encouraging increase achieved in spite of harsh economic conditions. However, the market still has a long way to go before it recovers to the volumes seen in 2008, when sales topped 150,000.



2010’s performance was undoubtedly helped by the scrappage scheme, which accounted for over 17,000 registrations. Good news for the industry is that the programme will continue until the end of June 2011, although the amount of support - which is applied via Vehicle Registration Tax relief - is reduced from €1,500 to €1,250.



The top three manufacturers remained unchanged in 2010, with Ford selling the most cars followed by Toyota and then Volkswagen.



Fourth spot went to Renault, which trebled its sales thanks partly to being the manufacturer with the most scrappage scheme reclaims. Skoda also recorded a notable result but, despite a doubling of volumes, it only moved up one place to seventh on the league table.

Top 10: Irish Car Sales By Manufacturer
Position	Manufacturer	2010	2009	+/-	% +/-
1	Ford	11,215	8,121	3,094	38.1%
2	Toyota	10,660	7,603	3,057	40.2%
3	Volkswagen	10,301	6,174	4,127	66.8%
4	Renault	9,746	2,414	7,332	303.7%
5	Opel	6,603	4,046	2,557	63.2%
6	Nissan	5,494	4,684	810	17.3%
7	Skoda	4,915	2,390	2,525	105.6%
8	Hyundai	2,959	1,665	1,294	77.7%
9	Peugeot	2,924	1,766	1,158	65.6%
10	Audi	2,723	2,388	335	14.0%
Figures provided by SIMI Statistical Service

Bike of the Year 2010-2011

The BMW S 1000 RR has clinched the International Bike of the Year 2010-2011 award.

Fourteen jurors, representing motorcycle publications from around the world, were each asked to allocate a fixed number of points to their three favourite new bikes. The BMW emerged a clear winner ahead of Ducati’s Multistrada 1200 S, the only other candidate that received a significant score.



BMW has now won the International Bike of the Year contest three times. Previous victories came in 2004-2005 and 1993-1994 with the R 1200 GS and R 1100 RS respectively.

International Bike of the Year 2010-2011
Position	Motorcycle	Points
1	BMW S 1000 RR	57
2	Ducati Multistrada 1200 S	33
3=	Honda VFR1200F DCT	9
3=	Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré	9
5	Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC	8
6=	Kawasaki Z1000 SX	4
6=	MV Agusta Brutale 1090RR	4
8	Kawasaki 1400GTR	2

Daihatsu quits Europe

The first Japanese car imported into the UK was the Daihatsu Compagno back in 1966.

But now the manufacturer has announced it is to give up selling vehicles in Europe altogether. A notice posted on the Daihatsu UK web site reads:

“It was announced on 13th January 2011 that sales of Daihatsu motor cars will cease across Europe on 31st January 2013. This is due to the ongoing strength of the Japanese Yen, which has increased prices beyond competitive levels. There is no stock of new Daihatsu cars in the UK, and we do not expect to import any new cars in this interim period.



“However, we wish to reassure Daihatsu owners that all after sales services will continue unaffected. Therefore, the supply of spare parts will continue, and warranty work and servicing will be carried out at our official UK dealer network, which remains in place and whose details can be found on this website.



“We thank Daihatsu customers for their past custom and loyalty, and share their disappointment at this news.”

Circumstances for the firm have not been easy, with cheap new cars from countries such as Malaysia, Korea and India competing directly with and undercutting Daihatsu’s range.



Combined with a lack of European production facilities that might have protected against exchange rate movements, the situation had clearly become impossible.

2011 What Car? Awards

UK publication What Car? has announced its 2011 Car of the Year winners.



During a ceremony held at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, prizes were awarded across seventeen vehicle categories, with one model going on to be declared overall champion.



Supermini



Shortlist

Best buy less than £9,000: Hyundai i10 1.2 Comfort

Best buy £9,000 - £13,000: Ford Fiesta 1.25 82 Zetec 5dr

Best buy more than £13,000: Audi A1 1.4 TFSI Sport



Winner

Audi A1 1.4 TFSI Sport





Small family car



Shortlist

Best buy less than £15,000: Skoda Octavia 1.2 TSI SE

Best buy £15,000 - £20,000: Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI 122 Match 5dr

Best buy more than £20,000: Toyota Prius 1.8 VVT-i T3



Winner

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI 122 Match 5dr





Family car



Shortlist

Best buy less than £18,000: Skoda Superb 1.4 TSI S

Best buy £18,000 - £21,000: Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 140 Zetec

Best buy more than £21,000: Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI 140 SE



Winner

Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 140 Zetec





Estate car



Shortlist

Best buy less than £16,500: Skoda Octavia Estate 1.4 TSI SE

Best buy £16,000 - £22,000: Ford Mondeo Estate 2.0 TDCi 140 Zetec

Best buy more than £22,000: BMW 5 Series Touring 520d SE



Winner

Ford Mondeo Estate 2.0 TDCi 140 Zetec





MPV



Shortlist

Best buy less than £16,000: Citroën C3 Picasso 1.6 VTi VTR+

Best buy £16,000 - £22,000: Peugeot 5008 1.6 HDi 112 Sport

Best buy more than £22,000: Seat Alhambra 2.0 TDI 140 Ecomotive S



Winner

Seat Alhambra 2.0 TDI 140 Ecomotive S





Hot hatch



Shortlist

Best buy less than £15,000: Renault Twingo Renaultsport 133 Cup

Best buy £15,000 - £20,000: Renault Clio Renaultsport 200 Cup

Best buy more than £20,000: Renault Mégane Renaultsport 250 Cup



Winner

Renault Mégane Renaultsport 250 Cup





Coupé



Shortlist

Best buy less than £25,000: Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI 160

Best buy £25,000 - £40,000: Audi TT 2.0 TFSI 211 Sport

Best buy more than £40,000: Jaguar XKR



Winner

Audi TT 2.0 TFSI 211 Sport





Open-top



Shortlist

Best buy less than £25,000: Mazda MX-5 1.8i SE AC

Best buy £25,000 - £35,000: BMW Z4 sDrive23i

Best buy more than £35,000: Mercedes-Benz E350 CDI Cab Blue Efficiency SE



Winner

BMW Z4 sDrive23i





Performance car



Shortlist

Best buy less than £60,000: Lotus Evora 3.5 V6

Best buy £60,000 - £120,000: Audi R8 Spyder V10

Best buy more than £120,000: Ferrari 458 Italia



Winner

Ferrari 458 Italia





Crossover



Shortlist

Best buy less than £15,000: Nissan Juke 1.6 Visia

Best buy £15,000 - £20,000: Peugeot 3008 1.6 THP 156 Sport

Best buy more than £20,000: Volvo XC60 2.0 D3 DRIVe SE



Winner

Peugeot 3008 1.6 THP 156 Sport





4x4



Shortlist

Best buy less than £30,000: Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRDi Style 7 seats

Best buy £30,000 - £40,000: BMW X3 xDrive20d SE

Best buy more than £40,000: Land Rover Discovery 3.0 SDV6 XS



Winner

Land Rover Discovery 3.0 SDV6 XS





Compact executive



Shortlist

Best buy less than £25,000: BMW 3 Series 316d ES

Best buy £25,000 - £30,000: BMW 3 Series 320d ES

Best buy more than £30,000: BMW 3 Series 330d SE



Winner

BMW 3 Series 320d ES





Executive car



Shortlist

Best buy less than £30,000: BMW 5 Series 520d SE

Best buy £30,000 - £40,000: Jaguar XF 3.0D V6 Luxury

Best buy more than £40,000: Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI 245 quattro SE



Winner

Jaguar XF 3.0D V6 Luxury





Luxury car



Shortlist

Best buy less than £65,000: Mercedes-Benz S-Class S350 CDI BluTEC

Best buy £65,000 - £100,000: Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Vogue 

Best buy more than £100,000: Rolls-Royce Phantom



Winner

Mercedes-Benz S-Class S350 CDI BluTEC





Ultra-low carbon car



Winner

Nissan Leaf





Safety Award



Winner

Volvo for Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake





Security Award



Winner

Volkswagen





What Car? Car of the Year 2011



Winner

Audi A1 1.4 TFSI Sport

Volt is Car of the Year

The Chevrolet Volt has been declared the 2011 North American Car of the Year. 49 jurors from across the United States and Canada gave it 233 points, making it the fourth time that GM has won the title.

Images © GM Corp.

In second place was the Hyundai Sonata, which received 163 points. Third went to the electric car that took the 2011 European Car of the Year award, the Nissan Leaf. It picked up 94 points.



Meanwhile, the 2011 North American Truck of the Year is the Ford Explorer, which earned 253 points. It comfortably beat the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which scored 138 points from the jury. The Dodge Durango, with 99 points, was third.

Top 10: UK car sales 2010

Despite the car scrappage scheme ending in March, figures just published reveal that UK car sales managed to rise very slightly in 2010 compared to the previous year.



Total registrations were 2,030,846, up 1.80% on 2009’s figure. This modest growth was mainly down to increased fleet activity, particularly in the first half of the year.



However, the harsh economic climate continues, and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders is predicting that sales will fall by 5% in 2011.



The ten best-selling cars in the UK during 2010 were:



1. Ford Fiesta (103,013 registered)

Despite its overall sales dropping by over 36,000 to 280,364, Ford was the manufacturer that shifted the most cars in 2010. The Fiesta remained the most popular model, too, and deservedly so. A great drive, decent equipment and affordable prices make it one of the best superminis on the market.









2. Vauxhall Astra (80,646 registered)

In its first full year on sale, the sixth-generation Astra managed to out-perform its rivals, even though the range has been criticised for its prices. Overall, Vauxhall registrations were up by almost 4%, finishing the year at 247,265.









3. Ford Focus (77,804 registered)

A perennial favourite, the Focus managed to secure third place in 2010’s chart. Sales weren’t too far behind the much newer Astra, a feat that was probably helped by some healthy discounts and fleet sales. Due to be replaced by the third-generation Focus in 2011.









4. Vauxhall Corsa (77,398 registered)

The Corsa is strong on refinement and comfort, but it seems a very large number of buyers still prefer the Fiesta. It’ll be interesting to see what impact the recently introduced Vauxhall Lifetime Warranty has on 2011’s sales figures.









5. Volkswagen Golf (58,116 registered)

One of the best all-rounders on the market, it’s no great surprise to see the Golf make the top ten. Overall, Volkswagen sales were up by over 8% in 2010, with 174,655 cars registered. That was good enough to retain third place in the manufacturer league table behind Ford and Vauxhall.









6. Volkswagen Polo (45,517 registered)

Under the skin, the Skoda Fabia and Seat Ibiza have a lot in common with the Polo, but apparently customers are happy to shun the cheaper brands in favour of Volkswagen. Whatever the reasons for this behaviour, sixth place was a respectable result for the 2010 European Car of the Year.









7. Peugeot 207 (42,185 registered)

Another decent all-rounder, although the somewhat gawky styling and lack of image might have put some buyers off. Peugeot didn’t have a bad year with total sales up over 6% to 109,324, making it the fifth most popular manufacturer.









8. BMW 3 Series (42,020 registered)

It has become a bit trite to say that the 3 Series outperforms its mainstream rivals such as the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia, but the fact is it does. Overall, BMW achieved 109,418 sales in 2010, an increase of nearly 11% that gave it fourth spot in the manufacturer table. A premium brand, but no longer exclusive?









9. Mini Hatchback (41,883 registered)

A fantastic image, low emissions, that terrific chassis and extremely strong residuals continue to make the Mini Hatchback an attractive buy. The only things letting it down are a lack of kit on lower-spec models and a small boot.











10. Nissan Qashqai (39,048 registered)

This British-built crossover is arguably the ideal family car. There’s plenty of choice, too, with front- or all-wheel drive available and ‘+2’ extended wheelbase versions that seat seven. Total Nissan registrations rose by 15% in 2010 to 89,681, but it remained in eighth place in the manufacturer chart.

Tiguan has best residuals

Glass’s, publisher of the eponymous used car values guide, has revealed which three-year old models have best held their values in the UK market.



The study looked at ‘57’ plate cars (i.e. first registered between 1 September 2007 and 29 February 2008), which had covered 37,000 miles (59,545 kilometres). The results were ranked by residual value as a percentage of original list price, although low volume models and exotica were excluded.



Given the tough economic climate, it might be expected that used buyers would be flocking towards cheaper, more economical vehicles, so driving up their residual value percentages. Surprisingly, though, seven of the top ten are 4x4s or SUVs, with top spot taken by the Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4Motion.

Glass’s Top Ten Residuals 2010
Position	Model	Residual %	Average Yearly Depreciation
1	Volkswagen Tiguan (168 bhp) SE 4Motion	68.0%	£2,394
2	MINI 1.6 Cooper Hatch	65.9%	£1,462
3	Honda CR-V 2.2 CTDi (138 bhp) SE	64.3%	£2,356
4=	Land Rover Freelander 2 GS Td4 auto	63.8%	£2,965
4=	Audi Q7 3.0TDI (237 bhp) Quattro S Line tiptronic	63.8%	£4,962
6	Land Rover Discovery 3 2.7TD (190 bhp)	63.7%	£3,720
7	Audi TT Coupé 2.0T FSI (197 bhp)	63.6%	£3,123
8	Nissan Qashqai 1.6 (113 bhp) 2WD Visia	63.3%	£1,628
9	Land Rover Range Rover Sport 2.7TD (187 bhp) S auto	62.5%	£4,425
10	Audi A5 2.7TDI (187 bhp) Sport Coupé S tronic	62.2%	£4,123

Leaf is Car of the Year

The Nissan Leaf has been declared 2011 European Car of the Year. It’s the first electric car to win the title, but it wasn’t a unanimous decision.

Fifty-seven motoring journalists from across the continent formed a jury to decide the winner, and each was given twenty-five votes to distribute across the seven finalists. The contest rules stipulate that they had to allocate those votes to at least five cars, with no more than ten points allowed for any one model.



Only three jurors gave the Leaf a maximum score, but nine didn’t give it any votes at all.

Such a divergence of opinion reflected that while it’s technically interesting, the Nissan is still unproven in real world conditions. Some of the journalists also recognised that the Leaf is very much a first generation electric car; future models will undoubtedly have better range, shorter recharging times, and cost less.



Consequently, it was a close result, with second and third spots being occupied by the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and Vauxhall / Opel Meriva.

2011 Car of the Year
Position	Model	Votes
1	Nissan Leaf	257
2	Alfa Romeo Giulietta	248
3	Vauxhall / Opel Meriva	244
4	Ford C-Max / Grand C-Max	224
5	Citroën C3 / DS3	175
6	Volvo S60 / V60	145
7	Dacia Duster	132

Related posts:

2011 CotY nominations

Electric car grants saved

Leaf to be built in UK

Alfa Giulietta prices

2011 CotY nominees

The seven finalists in Europe’s 2011 Car of the Year contest have been announced:

• Alfa Romeo Giulietta


• Citroën C3 / DS3


• Dacia Duster


• Ford C-Max / Grand C-Max


• Nissan Leaf


• Vauxhall / Opel Meriva


• Volvo S60 / V60

Notable is the Leaf, which is the first purely electric car to reach this stage of the competition.



All new models were eligible for the award, provided that they were already on sale (or soon would be) in five or more European markets, and are expected to achieve annual retails of 5,000 or more. This year, there were 41 that met the criteria.



A first stage of voting, which involved motoring journalists from across the continent, whittled those candidates down to the final nominees. The list of cars that failed to make it onto the shortlist makes interesting reading, too, and it includes some surprises:

• Audi A1


• BMW 5 Series


• Honda CR-Z


• Mini Countryman


• Mitsubishi i-MiEV / Citroën C-Zero / Peugeot i-On


• Nissan Juke


• Renault Fluence

The jurors will now have a second vote to determine the 2011 Car of the Year, and the winner will be announced on 29 November 2010.

SMMT Electric Car Guide

The UK’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has published an Electric Car Guide.



Aimed at anyone thinking of going electric, it sets out to answer all the questions that potential customers are bound to have.



One sure uncertainty will be the financial aspects of electric car ownership, and so the guide includes some theoretical running cost estimations. These compare a non-specific, typical, mid-size diesel car against a purely electric model.



Although the electric car comes out with marginally better cost per mile figures after three years of ownership, the calculations suppose that a car powered by electricity will have a similar residual value to one run on diesel. The SMMT freely admits that that is a big assumption though, simply because nobody yet knows what the depreciation characteristics will be.



Nevertheless, with the OLEV Plug-in Car Grant (which will cover up to 25% of a qualifying vehicle’s price, to a maximum of £5,000) due to be offered from January 2011, the SMMT’s timing couldn’t be better.



The Electric Car Guide is now available free via the SMMT website, which can be accessed by clicking here.



Related posts:

Electric bikes ignored?

Electric car grants saved

The future's electric

Five new Lotus sports cars

Lotus had promised it was going to unveil a few new models at the Paris Motor Show, and it didn’t disappoint. Along with a city car, five new sports car concepts were on display: Esprit, Elan, Elite, Elise and Eterne.



This product offensive is key to the Lotus strategy of moving upmarket. With Proton’s money and a new CEO, ex-Ferrari man Dany Bahar, the intention is to transform the company into a manufacturer of premium vehicles to compete with the likes of Porsche and Ferrari.



Ambitious, but in some respects the plan smacks of déjà vu. That’s because something similar was attempted in the past, with a range of models that included the previous generation Elite and Esprit. It didn’t work then, and consequently Lotus reverted to its traditional heartland - a family of small, lightweight sports cars that started with the original Elise.



Both public and press alike reacted well to those models (seemingly with the exception of the Europa, which was quietly dropped from the line-up earlier this year). However, financially they haven’t been too successful, with Lotus failing to be profitable for many years now.



Hence yet another change in direction, which will kick off with the new Esprit.



For more details of the Paris concepts, please see these posts:



2013 Lotus Esprit

2013 Lotus Elan

2014 Lotus Elite

2015 Lotus Elise

2015 Lotus Eterne