Car's 'automaker of year' named

  • Ford named Company of Year by CAR
  • Engine, Hot Hatch and Best Large MPV titles
  • Six models launched in 2013
 
South Africa's Car magazine has listed its Top 12 Best Buys for 2014 and awarded Ford the title Company of the Year.

Here are Ford’s accolades:

Engine of Year - One-litre EcoBoost used in the Fiesta and EcoSport
Best hot hatch - Fiesta ST
Best large MPV - Tourneo Custom
Best double Cab Bakkie – Ranger (for the third consecutive year)
Best compact SUV/ Crossover - Kuga

Budget car – Chevrolet Spark Campus 
Light hatchback – Peugeot 208
Light sedan – Kia Rio
Compact hatchback – Audi A3/A3 Sportback
Compact sedan – Toyota Corolla
Compact executive sedan – BMW 3 Series
Luxury sedan – Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Performance car – Ferrari 458 Spider
Light SUV/Crossover – Nissan Juke
Compact SUV/Crossover – Ford Kuga
Large SUV/Crossover – Range Rover Sport
Double-cab bakkie – Ford Ranger

Ford marketing manager Gavin Golightly said: ““We were thrilled to receive such high praise from not only the magazine but also its readers. These awards demonstrate the growing appeal of Ford’s continually expanding line-up.

"Ford sales grew by 39.3% in 2013 off the back of a spate of model introductions. The new Fiesta, Transit and Tourneo, Fiesta ST, Kuga and EcoSport all made their way into showrooms across the country during 2013 and have been well-embraced.” 

The CAR team’s overall selections will be unveiled in its March 2014 issue.