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CAPE TOWN - Earlier in August, Wheels24 interviewed South African Guild of Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ) chairman, Bernard Hellberg Jr, to clarify how the South African Car of the year (CoTY) competition works.
Hellberg Jr also answered tough questions explaining why Porsche had won the award three years in a row.
The Guild's chairman revealed that the body would review the competition and implement rule changes.
NEW RULES FOR COTY
READ 2016 COTY Rules and Regulations
READ 2016 COTY Timeline
Wheels24 can confirm that the SAGMJ has extensively reviewed the competition rules for the 2016 Car of the Year.
Hellberg Jr said: "After a process of consultation with our members, the motor industry and the sponsors, the guild has released the official rules for the 2016 competition.
Watch: SAGMJ chairman outlines changes to SA COTY
"Guided by the Coty workshop held on May 4 2015, and the resolutions of the subsequent CoTY solutions sub-committee, the 2016 CoTY rules are the next step in the evolution of South Africa's oldest and most prestigious motoring award."
The guild has made several changes to the rules, including:
• Jury selection and appointment process
• 'Finalist range' versus model selection and eligibility criteria
• Car of the Year scoring mechanism and protocol.
For a full list of all the changes, click here.
Hellberg Jr stated that: "The 2016 SAGMJ Car of the Year competition will be the most prestigious event in the award's 31-year history.
"The significant rule changes, coupled with a brand new app-based scoring system will ensure that the South African Car of the Year is once again recognised as a relevant example of motoring excellence."
Watch: SA Guild of Motoring Journalists chairman explains Coty process
CONTROVERSY
German automaker Porsche has dominated the South African Car of the Year awards for the past three years.
The Porsche Boxster caused a stir in the motoring industry and the public took to social media to voice their concerns when it won the award in 2013.
The controversy escalated in 2014 when the Cayman S won took the crown. The topic of SA CoTY has become unpleasant since the premium automaker scooped a hat-trick of titles when the Macan S Diesel won the title in 2015.
What do you think of the changes to the SA Car of the Year rules? Email us and we'll publish your thoughts or use the Readers' Comments section below...
