Talking About Automobiles
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Small makes it big in Car of The Year
The 2008 New Zealand Auto Car Magazine Car of the Year for the first time is entitled to a small car, the Mazda2 supermini.
Judges picked the minute Mazda against its behemoths which includes the Holden VE ute, Subaru Impreza, Ford Mondeo, BMW X5, Mercedes Benz C-Class, Lexus LS460, Audi R8, Toyota Highlander and the Audi TT Roadster.
"Mazda's engineers obviously know that every gram saved is one less that engine has to motivate, one less that a chassis must control in corners, and one less that the brakes have to arrest. They designed the new Two with this always in their minds, and the result is a car that effectively demonstrates that less really does equal more.
"Our judges were highly impressed with the way this car performed throughout the two-day judging process. It is a car that makes no apologies for being small, and combines a fun driving experience with the usual low cost of ownership that we associate with frugal superminis."
Because the small car’s edge over big vehicles is fuel consumption, Owen explained that fuel prices did not belong to the critearia of the panel of critics.
"Sure, the Mazda2 earned the highest score of the ten finalists for environmental impact, but winning this award required it to do a lot more than that. It needed to be a delight to drive on the road, and a thrill to chuck around on the track. In short, it needed to exhibit the pizzazz that most ‘sensible' cars lack."
The Best Technology of the Year award was received by Hyundai of New Zealand for making the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system standard in all their vehicle models. The ESC system helps reduce fatalities and injuries in collision accidents.
"There were plenty of new technologies released this year, but most had an emphasis on in-car entertainment or convenience. With this bold marketing step, Hyundai have set an example that we hope the rest of the New Zealand motor industry will follow. Stability control systems are proven life-savers on the road, but they need to be made more accessible to consumers to have an effect."
Judges picked the minute Mazda against its behemoths which includes the Holden VE ute, Subaru Impreza, Ford Mondeo, BMW X5, Mercedes Benz C-Class, Lexus LS460, Audi R8, Toyota Highlander and the Audi TT Roadster.
"Mazda's engineers obviously know that every gram saved is one less that engine has to motivate, one less that a chassis must control in corners, and one less that the brakes have to arrest. They designed the new Two with this always in their minds, and the result is a car that effectively demonstrates that less really does equal more.
"Our judges were highly impressed with the way this car performed throughout the two-day judging process. It is a car that makes no apologies for being small, and combines a fun driving experience with the usual low cost of ownership that we associate with frugal superminis."
Because the small car’s edge over big vehicles is fuel consumption, Owen explained that fuel prices did not belong to the critearia of the panel of critics.
"Sure, the Mazda2 earned the highest score of the ten finalists for environmental impact, but winning this award required it to do a lot more than that. It needed to be a delight to drive on the road, and a thrill to chuck around on the track. In short, it needed to exhibit the pizzazz that most ‘sensible' cars lack."
The Best Technology of the Year award was received by Hyundai of New Zealand for making the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system standard in all their vehicle models. The ESC system helps reduce fatalities and injuries in collision accidents.
"There were plenty of new technologies released this year, but most had an emphasis on in-car entertainment or convenience. With this bold marketing step, Hyundai have set an example that we hope the rest of the New Zealand motor industry will follow. Stability control systems are proven life-savers on the road, but they need to be made more accessible to consumers to have an effect."
posted by Rocky at 11:33 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home