* 2011 Ford Fiesta wins ‘Best New Small Car under $21,000′ category from AJAC
* The all-new Ford Fiesta features an expressive, vibrant design, with sharp reflexes and a global track record that will redefine small car customers’ expectations
* Fiesta delivers best-in-class highway fuel economy of 4.9 L/ 100km, with a responsive 1.6-litre DOHC I-4 engine, advanced PowerShift six-speed automatic transmission and Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS)
OAKVILLE, Ontario, October 29, 2010 – The 2011 Ford Fiesta has won in the ‘Best New Small Car under $21,000′ category at the annual Automobile Journalists Association of Canada’s (AJAC) Car of the Year TestFest.
The Ford Fiesta was put through its paces, undergoing strenuous road and track testing by teams of skilled drivers who performed uninterrupted comparisons of each vehicle under the same conditions.
Through the ratings of a panel of judges from AJAC’s TestFest, the 2011 Ford Fiesta came out as the winner.
The all-new Ford Fiesta features an expressive, vibrant design, with sharp reflexes and a global track record that will redefine small car customers’ expectations. With up to 4.9L/100 km, Fiesta delivers best-in-class fuel economy, safety, convenience and connectivity.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario (Friday, October 29, 2010) – Chevrolet Canada was today honoured by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), which named the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze as the “Best New Small Car over $21,000.”
“To win top spot in the category that represents the biggest segment in Canada, after a head-to-head comparison with the best of the competition, is critically important for any manufacturer and marks a key milestone for the new product executions from Chevrolet,” said Kevin Williams, president and managing director, GM Canada. “Our challenge to Canadian compact buyers is this: Put the Cruze on your shopping list and compare it against the current segment leaders. We are confident that, just like the AJAC judges, you will find it to be a clear winner.”
With sales success in 60 countries around the world, the Cruze is a testament to Chevrolet’s ability to compete and win with small, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive cars that are ideally suited to the everyday driving needs of consumers.
This latest award for the Cruze results from recent back-to-back driving evaluations of 48 new vehicles at the AJAC Test Fest evaluation – the foundation of the Canadian Car of the Year Awards (CCOTY) program. Seventy (70) of Canada’s top automotive journalists judged this year’s competition which aims to provide consumers with sound, comparative information on new vehicles.
The Cruze, which launched in Canadian dealerships earlier this week, stands alone in the segment with 10 standard airbags and delivers excellent fuel efficiency, top-quality infotainment plus a host of other comfort and safety features which are ideally suited to the needs of compact buyers. With a starting price of just $14,995, plus a free Apple iPad or winter tires for orders placed before January 10, 2011, the all-new Chevrolet Cruze aims to change the way Canadians look at compact cars.
Tony LaRocca accepts Best new small car award for Chevrolet Cruze
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ON, Oct. 29 /CNW/ – Seventy of Canada’s top automotive journalists spent this week in the picturesque tourist town of Niagara-on-the-Lake; but not for the scenery or the wine tasting. Journalist members of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) were here for the express purpose of determining the ‘Best New’ cars and SUV/CUVs in 11 different vehicle categories, as part of AJAC’s annual Canadian Car of the Year Awards program.
The four days of intensive, back-to-back testing and evaluation are known in the automotive industry as “TestFest”. The results of the journalists’ test-drive evaluations were made known today during a press conference wherein the category winners were announced. The press conference was held at the Niagara Drive Centre, located at the Niagara District Airport where “TestFest” is staged each year.
The winners are:
BEST NEW SMALL CAR (under $21k) Ford Fiesta
BEST NEW SMALL CAR (over $21k) Chevrolet Cruze
BEST NEW FAMILY CAR (under $30k) Volkswagen Jetta TDI Clean Diesel
BEST NEW FAMILY CAR (over $30k) Buick Regal
BEST NEW LUXURY CAR (over $50k) BMW 5 Series Sedan
BEST NEW PRESTIGE CAR (over $75k) Porsche 911 Turbo S
BEST NEW SPORTS/PERFORMANCE CAR: Cadillac CTS-V Coupe
BEST NEW MINIVAN: Toyota Sienna
BEST NEW SUV/CUV (under $35k) Hyundai Tucson
BEST NEW SUV/CUV ($35k-$50k) Ford Edge
BEST NEW SUV/CUV (over $50k) Volkswagen Touareg
The results were compiled by the international accounting firm KPMG and kept confidential even from AJAC until this morning’s press conference. They were determined from more than 40,000 individual data points established in the testing of 144 different vehicles.
The purpose of the AJAC awards is to provide consumers with a valuable resource they can use when researching the purchase of a new vehicle – one that includes a broad range of comparative information on vehicles that are new to the market. That information includes not just specifications and features but actual performance data and subjective ratings on up to 23 different characteristics – from interior roominess and comfort to ride quality and handling ability.
Our journalists’ vote results – including all of the comparative test data amassed this week – are on our web site for use as a consumer resource buying guide. Consumers that want to compare a Ford Fiesta to a Mazda2 or a Volkswagen Jetta or even a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a Honda Accord Crosstour need look no further than the AJAC web site: www.ajac.ca > Canadian Car of the Year Awards > Results
Photos from the TestFest evaluation program and press conference are available on the AJAC web site as well on the various social networking sites.
The 11 category winners listed above now go on to compete for the honour of becoming the 2011 Canadian Car of the Year or the 2011 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year. These overall winners will be announced on February 17th, 2011, at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, ON. Award winners for Best New Design and Best New Technology, presented by Shell Canada, will also be announced at that time.
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VW Touareg photo courtesy of Justin Pritchard. All other images by Gary Grant.
NIAGARA ON-THE-LAKE – October 29, 2010 — The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) has named the new 911 Turbo S the Best New Prestige Car. The announcement was made at the end of AJAC’s annual Canadian Car of the Year “TestFest” in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
“The 911 Turbo S is the pinnacle of almost 50 years of continuous evolution and it perfectly epitomizes the philosophy of Porsche Intelligent Performance,” said Joe Lawrence, President and CEO of Porsche Cars Canada. “Not only does it combine power, speed, braking and handling; its all-wheel-drive, PDK transmission and its remarkable efficiency truly make it a supercar you can drive every day and all year round.”
AJAC’s testing program includes real-world driving and dynamic on-track testing to deliver data and vote results that are highly relevant to potential buyers. Almost 70 journalists evaluated every detail of each entry to select the best new vehicles for 2011.
In order to win the hard-fought category, the Panamera faced rivals from BMW, Audi, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz. In the process, it once again recorded the fastest 0-100 km/h and 80-120 km/h acceleration times of any car in the history of the entire competition – eclipsing records set by the Porsche Panamera Turbo in last year’s competition.
The 911 Turbo S is now eligible to compete for the title of overall Canadian Car of the Year, which will be announced on press day at Toronto’s Canadian International Auto Show.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario (Friday, October 29, 2010) – Cadillac was today honoured by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), which named the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V as the “.”
“The CTS-V Coupe is the ultimate luxury performance coupe and the new focal point of Cadillac, expressing our design, performance and technical capabilities,” said Kevin Williams, president and managing director, GM Canada. “Packing more punch, luxury and technical sophistication per dollar than any other competitor, the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe brings the performance and luxury of exotics into a price range that discerning Canadians can embrace.
This latest award for the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe results from recent back-to-back driving evaluations of 48 new vehicles at the AJAC Test Fest evaluation – the foundation of the Canadian Car of the Year Awards (CCOTY) program. Seventy (70) of Canada’s top automotive journalists judged this year’s competition which aims to provide consumers with sound, comparative information on new vehicles.
The 2011 CTS-V Coupe combines the new CTS Coupe’s dramatic design with the 556-horsepower supercharged V-8 engine from the CTS-V sedan. The result is a luxury sports coupe aimed squarely at driving enthusiasts. Its suite of technical and performance elements include Magnetic Ride Control, racing-bred Brembo brakes and an available automatic transmission with paddle-shift control. With a starting price of $71,250, the all-new CTS-V Coupe offers Canadian driving enthusiasts a world class luxury performance coupe.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario (Friday, October 29, 2010) – Buick was today honoured by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), which named the 2011 Buick Regal as the “Best New Family Car over $30,000.”
“The Regal epitomizes the new direction at Buick, offering all of the style and premium features expected, but with the driving performance of a purebred sport sedan that has Canada’s toughest auto critics taking note,” said Kevin Williams, president and managing director, GM Canada. “Based off of Europe’s 2009 Car of the Year, the all-new Regal is like nothing Canadians have ever experienced from Buick and is putting smiles on the faces of driving enthusiasts who would never before had Buick on their shopping list.”
This latest award for the Buick Regal results from recent back-to-back driving evaluations of 48 new vehicles at the AJAC Test Fest evaluation – the foundation of the Canadian Car of the Year Awards (CCOTY) program. Seventy (70) of Canada’s top automotive journalists judged this year’s competition which aims to provide consumers with sound, comparative information on new vehicles.
The Regal’s development is rooted in Germany, where the globally led engineering team created the award-winning Opel Insignia – the 2009 European Car of the Year. The Insignia has garnered more than 39 prestigious awards and is the best-selling midsize sedan in Europe. Regal brings all of Insignia’s award-winning design, technology and European-inspired performance capabilities to the Canadian market. With a starting price of $31,990, the all-new Buick Regal aims to change the way Canadians look at sport sedans.
[TORONTO, ONTARIO] – The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) named the 2011 Toyota Sienna as the Best New Minivan in the 2011 Canadian Car of the Year Awards following rigorous testing during the annual TestFest for the Canadian Car of the Year Awards competition.
With a suggested retail price starting at just $27,900, the completely redesigned and stylish new Sienna comes in eight different models featuring a choice of 4-cylinder or V6 engines and front-wheel or the segments only all-wheel drive option, making it easy for Canadians to find the perfect Sienna to meet their needs. The new Sienna offers unique features including tip-up second-row seats, tri-zone climate control, a driver’s knee airbag, power one-touch up and down on all windows and available widescreen DVD screen, 2nd row ottoman seating, easy-clean fabric and more.
“We’re pleased that AJAC’s members recognized the Toyota Sienna’s unique combination of style, performance, versatility and innovation which makes Sienna a favourite with busy Canadian families,” said Warren Orton, Director at Toyota Canada Inc. “Thank you and congratulations to all Toyota associates across North America who contributed to the design, manufacturing and sale of the 2011 Toyota Sienna – you helped make this award possible”
The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada’s annual Car of the Year awards are considered the most significant awards program in Canada. Even worldwide, the AJAC awards are held in high esteem thanks to their regimented testing procedures and scoring. Manufacturers covet the award and consumers heed the advice too.
The overall Car of the Year for 2010 is the VW Golf GTI!
The other categories are as follows:
Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year: Subaru Outback More
Annual car awards. Where would we be without them? In many cases, we’d probably be better off. In the case of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada though, the car buyer’s world is an easier place thanks to a testing process that has taken years to perfect. Every aspect of a vehicle is reviewed, from inside out. On road performance and when warranted, off road or on track performance are compared.
The 2009 edition has just wrapped up in the rainy Niagara region of Ontario and the category winners have been announced. The overall winner will not be revealed until the Toronto Autoshow in February.
Until then, we’ll have to be satisfied in knowing that some pretty worthy machines have won their respective categories.
Best New Small Car under $21,000: Mazda 3
Best New Small Car over $21,000: Mazda 3 Sport
Best New Family Car under $30,000: VW Golf Wagon
Best New Family Car Over $30,000: Ford Taurus
Best New Luxury Car Over $50,000: BMW 335d
Best New Prestige Car over $75,000: Porsche Panamera Turbo
Best New Sports / Performance Over $50,000: Audi S4
Best New Convertible: Audi A5
Best New Sports / Performance Under $50,000: VW GTI
Best New SUV / CUV under $35,000: Subaru Outback
Best New SUV / CUV $35,000 to $60,000: VW Touareg TDI Clean Diesel
Best New SUV / CUV over $60,000: Lexus RX450h
It is worthy to note that the VW/Audi/Porsche group have won an outstanding 6 out of 12 categories! That said, each of the winners are truly outstanding within their class and are remarkable vehicles. Believe it or not, I actually agree with all of them!
Car Guy:
FYI...it's the 2010 Canadian Car of the Year Awards.
Gary Grant:
Uggh - you are right! Not sure how that one slipped by me....It was a busy day in front of…
Car Guy: FYI...it's the 2010 Canadian Car of the Year Awards.
Gary Grant: Uggh - you are right! Not sure how that one slipped by me....It was a busy day in front of…