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It's Car of the Year time again in South Africa and this year the SA Guild of Motoring Journalists and its jury of 30 members has come up with 10 cars to vie for the title.
The List of Ten was announced at the end of the first of two "media days" ahead of the public opening of the 2011 Johannesburg International Motor Show at the Nasrec showgrounds on Saturday, October 8.
So, the 10 finalists to be tested and judged early in 2012 in Gauteng for the 2012 SAGMJ Car of the Year competition will be (in alphabetical order) and all models launched during 2011 are (each link will take you to the relevant manufacturer's website):
Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 125kW MultiAir Distinctive
Audi A6 3.0 T TDI Quattro S tronic
Citroen DS4 THP 200 Sport
Ford Focus 2.0 TDCI Trend Sedan Powershift
Hyundai Elantra 1.8 GLS
Kia Picanto 1.2 EX
Mercedes Benz SLK 350 BlueEFFICIENCY
Peugeot 5008 2.0 HDi Active Man
Suzuki Kizashi 2.4 SDLX Man
VW Jetta 1.4 TSI 118kW Highline
The next step in the process will determine the winner from a two-day test session to be held in February 2012 at the Gerotek test facility west of Pretoria where the cars will be assessed independently by the Jury members.
In keeping with the broadened competition, the testing at Gerotek will allow the vehicles to be evaluated under the conditions in which each would be expected to perform. Routes are designed to evaluate 4x4s or sports cars, as the average consumer would use them.
There were, in fact, two SA Cars of the Year in 2011 when, unexpectedly, two cars tied for the honour - VW's Poli TDI and BMW's 530D - and caused extreme consternation and in some quarters unkind amusement in the auto industry.
EVERYTHING UNDER SCRUTINY
While jury members are already familiar with the vehicles they have voted into the final, the testing days offer an opportunity to re-acquaint themselves with the cars.
The testers will be expected to pay close attention to the cars’ aesthetics, build quality and ergonomics, while considering their cost, safety features and replacement parts prices. Fuel consumption data is also considered.
South Africa’s Car of the Year competition claims to be unique in the world in that it is determined by three rounds of voting, the first which is open to all full members of the SAGMJ yields the semi-finalists, a second round open to the only the jury determines the finalists and then a final allocation of points after a two-day evaluation the winner.
The winner of the 2012 South African Car the Year competition will be announced in March, 2012.
Use the Readers' Comments box below and tell the world which car YOU think should win!
Read more reports on the Johannesburg International Motor Show here!
The List of Ten was announced at the end of the first of two "media days" ahead of the public opening of the 2011 Johannesburg International Motor Show at the Nasrec showgrounds on Saturday, October 8.
So, the 10 finalists to be tested and judged early in 2012 in Gauteng for the 2012 SAGMJ Car of the Year competition will be (in alphabetical order) and all models launched during 2011 are (each link will take you to the relevant manufacturer's website):
Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 125kW MultiAir Distinctive
Audi A6 3.0 T TDI Quattro S tronic
Citroen DS4 THP 200 Sport
Ford Focus 2.0 TDCI Trend Sedan Powershift
Hyundai Elantra 1.8 GLS
Kia Picanto 1.2 EX
Mercedes Benz SLK 350 BlueEFFICIENCY
Peugeot 5008 2.0 HDi Active Man
Suzuki Kizashi 2.4 SDLX Man
VW Jetta 1.4 TSI 118kW Highline
The next step in the process will determine the winner from a two-day test session to be held in February 2012 at the Gerotek test facility west of Pretoria where the cars will be assessed independently by the Jury members.
In keeping with the broadened competition, the testing at Gerotek will allow the vehicles to be evaluated under the conditions in which each would be expected to perform. Routes are designed to evaluate 4x4s or sports cars, as the average consumer would use them.
There were, in fact, two SA Cars of the Year in 2011 when, unexpectedly, two cars tied for the honour - VW's Poli TDI and BMW's 530D - and caused extreme consternation and in some quarters unkind amusement in the auto industry.
EVERYTHING UNDER SCRUTINY
While jury members are already familiar with the vehicles they have voted into the final, the testing days offer an opportunity to re-acquaint themselves with the cars.
The testers will be expected to pay close attention to the cars’ aesthetics, build quality and ergonomics, while considering their cost, safety features and replacement parts prices. Fuel consumption data is also considered.
South Africa’s Car of the Year competition claims to be unique in the world in that it is determined by three rounds of voting, the first which is open to all full members of the SAGMJ yields the semi-finalists, a second round open to the only the jury determines the finalists and then a final allocation of points after a two-day evaluation the winner.
The winner of the 2012 South African Car the Year competition will be announced in March, 2012.
Use the Readers' Comments box below and tell the world which car YOU think should win!
Read more reports on the Johannesburg International Motor Show here!
