WHAT CAR AWARDS - The Hyundai i10 takes two awards at the latest ceremony.

• 4th consecutive What Car? win for the multi award winning city car
• i10 Premium SE also wins “Best buy more than £10,000” in the city car category
• On sale from 12^th January with prices starting from £8,495*

The New i10 has been awarded What Car?’s Best City Car award for the 4^th consecutive year, holding off both a new challenge from the Suzuki Celerio and the established competition from the Skoda Citigo.

Steve Huntingford, What Car? Editor said: “We have no hesitation in singling out the i10 as our winner: it’s cheap to buy and to run, comfy, and easy to drive in town. But it also has luxuries that you rarely get in this class, plus a five-year warranty. 

The i10 feels like a class above the rest, with the most room, the smartest interior and the smoothest engine. 

The i10 is a proper, grown-up car, not just a mere runaround, and that’s why it’s our favourite city car.”

The New i10 1.2 Premium SE also won “Best buy for more than £10,000”. Huntingford commented: “we recommend top-spec Premium SE trim, which now gets class-leading infotainment on a 7.0 inch touchscreen, sat-nav, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth and a DAB radio. You also get climate control, heated seats and a heated steering wheel – all on a city car. The rest of the i10 remains as appealing as ever.”

Tony Whitehorn, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor UK said “Since its launch in 2014, i10 has continually received praise from both industry and buyers alike and has become one of the stalwarts of our range. For 2017, we have introduced New i10 which not only introduces a fresh new look but also brings technology to the segment that is usually only found in the classes above.”

AUTO EXPRESS AWARDS - Skoda takes three titles this year, Best Hatch, Best Estate and Best City Car.

• Superb scoops Best Family Car and Best Estate titles
• Citigo named Best City Car for the fifth year in succession
• ŠKODA winners praised for their outstanding value for money 

ŠKODA has continued its winning streak at the Auto Express Awards by clinching another trio of titles. The Citigo, Superb Hatch and Superb Estate were all named as the best in their sector at the 2016 awards ceremony in London.

The Superb took two awards - Best Family Car for the hatch version and Best Estate car. While the hatch repeated its success of 2015, locking out the competition for the second year in a row, the Estate took its firstAuto Express New Car Award, further highlighting its remarkable all-round ability.

Commenting on the Superb’s awards, Steve Fowler, Editor-in-Chief of Auto Express said: “Whether as a hatch or estate, the Superb offers a compelling blend of unbeatable practicality, first-rate quality and the tremendous value for money we've come to expect from ŠKODA. The fact that it now looks really sharp and drives so impressively is the icing on the cake.”

Completing ŠKODA’s triple awards win was the Citigo, which won the City Car category for the fifth year in succession – an Auto Express New Car Awards record for the category. Having first triumphed in 2012, when it was also named overall Car of the Year, the Citigo has proved unbeatable in this key market sector.

“The Citigo won because it continues to set the pace in the city car class. It rivals models from the sector above for space, feels mature and composed from behind the wheel and on the right road delivers plenty of fun, too,“ said Steve Fowler. “It's a tribute to how well thought out this car is that five years after launch it's still the best city car on sale.“

Duncan Movassaghi, Brand Director of ŠKODA UK, added: “We’re delighted to receive these key awards for the Citigo and Superb. They highlight the incredible strength and depth of the ŠKODA range, and showcase the Brand’s commitment to delivering brilliantly engineered cars with great design and exceptional value for money.”

The Citigo range starts from £8,275 OTR and includes the new Colour Edition models priced from £9,990 OTR. The new Superb line-up features hatch and estate variants, along with optional four-wheel drive and power output ranging from 110PS to 280PS. Prices for the Superb range start from £19,060 OTR.

Hyundai i10 recognised as fleet sector’s ‘Best City Car’ for second consecutive year.

• Hyundai i10 recognised as fleet sector’s ‘Best City Car’ for second consecutive year
• i10 enhances its position as the brand’s most-awarded car with top business recognition
• City car’s equipment, practicality, refinement and fuel efficiency continues to impress Fleet World judges

The Hyundai i10 has won ‘Best City Car’ at the 2016 Fleet World Honours for the second consecutive year. Praised for its practicality, generous equipment and competitive running costs, the Hyundai i10 reigned supreme in one of the most competitive categories. 

Hyundai’s strong fleet proposition is founded on low BIK banding and competitive P11D levels, areas in which the i10 excels boasting 16% BIK for its SE Blue 1.0 model.  

Guy Pigounakis, Fleet Director, Hyundai Motor UK, said, “We are immensely proud that the Hyundai i10 continues to impress the fleet industry judges winning the city car category for the second time. Our designers and engineers created a stylish, comfortable and economical city car, which uniquely combines the agility of a small car with the features from the segment above. Reinforced by our 5 Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty, the i10 is a car that continues to prove a hit with our fleet and retail customers alike.”

Alex Grant, Deputy Editor, Fleet World Group said, “The city car segment is one of the most challenging, but the i10 exceeds expectations. It’s chic and fun to drive, yet also well-equipped, practical and offers class-leading refinement. Operators benefit too, with a long warranty, competitive pricing and efficient engines returning up to 65.7mpg. In a tough part of the market, it remains the car to beat.”

Judged entirely by the Fleet World Group editors, the Fleet World Honours are highly regarded by the business community. Fleet managers and user choosers look to the Honours listings to discover the cars that offer the value, comfort and refinement expected by business drivers.

The stylish i10 is available in seven trim levels with a choice of 1.0 or 1.2 petrol engines. The highly efficient 1.0 Blue model boasts combined fuel economy of 65.7mpg and just 98g/km CO₂ emissions. Cruise control is fitted as standard on SE models and above, while range-topping models feature Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition, plus steering wheel audio and phone controls.

WHAT CAR AWARDS - Hyundai takes a two awards, the i10 retains best City car and the ix35, the Technology Award

• New Generation Hyundai i10 wins ‘Best City Car’ for third consecutive year
• Best buy between £10,000-11,000 for 1.2-litre SE model
• “Easier to live with and better to drive” than its competitors
• Technology Award winner (in association with Stuff) for the Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell

New Generation Hyundai i10 has retained its position at the top of its class after being named What Car? ‘Best City Car’ for the third consecutive year, along with ‘Best Buy between £10,000-11,000’. Praised for its refined cabin, smooth engine, extensive kit list and practicality, i10 continues to hold off competition from the likes of VW Up and Skoda Citigo.

Jim Holder, Editorial Director, Autocar, Pistonheads, and What Car? said: “In 2014, the i10 managed the remarkable feat of knocking the superb Volkswagen Up off the top spot. Despite facing new or updated rivals, it retained its position in 2015 and has come out on top again in 2016. Like the Skoda Citigo and VW Up, the i10 is a comfortable and nippy city car that’s easy to park and cheap to run. However, it offers a more refined cabin, a smooth engine, an extensive kit list and far greater practicality. Those factors combined result in a car that’s easier to live with and better to drive.”

Hyundai’s ix35 Fuel Cell - the world’s first commercially available fuel cell vehicle - also won the Technology Award (in association with Stuff), alongside the Toyota Mirai.  Hyundai was praised for “its bravery in trying to force change”.

Holder continued: “Supporters say hydrogen fuel cell technology holds the key to the future of sustainable motoring. Critics point out that there is next to no recharging infrastructure, that developing it will be hugely costly and that the fuel cell technology itself is far too complex and expensive to hold any mass appeal. Our judges’ counter to that was that all-new technologies need early champions, and that Hyundai’s bravery in trying to force change is to be applauded.”

Tony Whitehorn, President & CEO, Hyundai Motor UK said: “Winning Best City Car for the third consecutive year is a huge accolade for the cleverly-packaged i10.  It continues to be our best-selling model despite it now being the oldest car in our product line-up.  The fact that it was only launched in 2014 shows just how far the Hyundai brand has evolved and continues to evolve – we have the one of the youngest ranges in the industry and a firm eye on the future with the world’s first commercially available hydrogen-powered vehicle available to buy right now!”

The ix35 Fuel Cell is fitted with a 100 kW (136 PS) electric motor, allowing it to reach a maximum speed of 100mph. It produces no harmful emissions during driving, with only water vapour coming from the tailpipe. The official driving range on a single tank of hydrogen is almost 370 miles, providing range in line with a conventionally-powered car.

The introduction of the ix35 Fuel Cell to market forms part of Hyundai Motor Group’s vision to become a leading environmentally-friendly carmaker by 2020, with the goal of introducing 22 low-emission models by 2020, including 12 hybrids, six plug-in hybrids, two electric vehicles and two hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.

The Fiat 500 takes Best City car in The Sunday Times Top 100 cars list 2015.

• FIAT 500 wins its category in the prestigious and influential Sunday Times Top 100 Cars 2016
• Judges praised the FIAT 500 for its charming looks, spirited driving characteristics and new technologies
• The FIAT 124 Spider is also named in The Sunday Times list of most eagerly awaited models of 2016

The new FIAT 500 has won the City Car category in the Sunday Times Top 100 Cars 2016 awards. Benefiting from 1,900 revisions, all designed to enhance the ownership experience and refine its inimitable style, the new FIAT 500 has been well received by the preeminent experts at The Sunday Times.

Columnist Giles Smith wrote, following the FIAT 500’s launch in Turin in July, “People love this car as hard as they’ve loved pretty much anything on four wheels in the 21st century,” while Jeremy Clarkson described it as "a hoot” when he test drove the car in the UK in November.

The judges noted that the new FIAT 500 is “still charming enough buyers to make it one of Britain’s bestselling cars,” complimenting its appearance, its new touch-screen technology and broader colour palette, not to mention its “…youthful enthusiasm in turns and the fun, lively 0.9-litre TwinAir engine, both of which bring joy to city driving.”

The new FIAT 124 Spider was also named by The Sunday Times as one of most eagerly awaited models of 2016.

Commenting on the win, Sebastiano Fedrigo, head of brand FIAT UK, said, “We’re delighted to kick off 2016 with a category win in the prestigious and influential Sunday Times Top 100 Cars. 

It’s wonderful that the experts appreciate the enhancements that we made to our iconic city car, which were introduced to keep the FIAT 500 ahead of the pack in terms of connectivity and technological features while also evolving its unmistakable style and broadening its appeal even further.”

The new FIAT 500 went on sale in the UK in September with revised exterior style including new bumpers, front and rear light systems and new colour options. Cabin comfort was also enhanced, headlined by the new Uconnect infotainment systems with optional DAB and TomTom satellite navigation. 

The engine range offers more efficiency and eco-friendliness for 2016 and there are even more personalisation possibilities thanks to a new range of expressive Second Skins.

Prices for the FIAT 500 TwinAir 85hp start at just £13,065 OTR, with prices for the FIAT 500 starting from just £10,890 OTR for the 1.2 litre Pop. The FIAT 124 Spider will launch in the UK in the second half of 2016.

FLEET WORLD HONOURS - Hyundai takes the Best City Car award for the great little i10.

• “Hyundai is leading the pack with New Generation i10” – Alex Grant, Fleet World
• i10 contributing to strong true fleet growth for Hyundai in Q1 2015

Hyundai Motor UK is celebrating yet another accolade for New Generation i10 after the remarkable car was hailed ‘Best City Car’ at the 2015 Fleet World Honours. The award was presented this morning at the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, with judges praising the i10 for its desirability and low running costs.

Steve Moody, Editor, Fleet World, said: “The smallest sector of the market is also the most demanding, and Hyundai is leading the pack with New Generation i10. 

Sales of 25,000 units in its first year set a new record for a Korean car, and take-up is heavily weighted towards top trim levels. It’s a sign that demand is driven by desirability as well as low running costs.”

Martin Wilson, Fleet Director at Hyundai Motor UK, added: “This award from Fleet World reinforces i10 as an extremely attractive proposition. The car’s sophisticated looks, refined interior and best in class space proves to be a winning formula with fleet and retail customers alike.”

Hyundai has seen a strong start to fleet sales in the first quarter of 2015, with true fleet registrations up 15% versus Q1 2014 and outpacing the market average of 12%. 

With the strength of the Hyundai range catering for all sizes of business, a key area of growth for Hyundai UK has been its Hyundai Contract Hire operation, which serves the SME market. 

Over the same period, the brand’s Motability sales recorded a 22% rise as buyers responded to the company’s mix of efficient, comfortable and flexible vehicles, including New Generation i10.

Hyundai accepts another award for its tiny, but amazing i10 City car.

• Hyundai i10 continues winning streak with latest accolade
• A-segment model stood out thanks to affordability and practicality
• Hyundai ‘highly commended’ in Most Improved Fleet Manufacturer category for third consecutive year

The Hyundai i10 continues to be recognized by industry experts, as it receives the prestigious ‘Best City Car’ title from one of the UK’s leading fleet publications, Fleet News.  

i10 impressed judges thanks to its high quality interior, low running costs and the added bonus of Hyundai’s industry-leading five-year unlimited mileage warranty.

Tony Whitehorn, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor UK, commented: “Fleet plays an important part in our sales strategy in the UK, so it’s vital for us to make sure our models are attractive from both a consumer and business perspective. This award is testament to our ongoing success in the fleet market, and our ability to appeal to new audiences.”

Stephen Briers, editor of Fleet News magazine, commented: “i10 is low in cost but far from low in quality. Practical for its size and with an interior quality that is among the best in the sector, the i10 shows that Hyundai can compete within the mainstream when it comes to fleet appeal. 

Running costs, especially SMR, are very low and fleets have the added reassurance of Hyundai’s excellent five-year unlimited mileage warranty.”

Since going on sale in January 2014, i10 has proved to be a huge sales success for Hyundai in the UK. Last year Hyundai became the first Korean manufacturer to sell 25,000 units of one model in a year in 2014.

Most recently, Hyundai added the ‘Premium SE’ model to the i10 line-up. The new model will benefit from heated seats and steering wheel, 15” alloys, electric tilt and slide sunroof, rear parking sensors, smart key stop and start with chrome effect exterior door handles and climate control.

Hyundai’s dramatic achievements in the fleet arena were also recognised at the 2015 Fleet News awards. The brand was ‘Highly Commended’ for the third consecutive year in the ‘Most Improved Fleet Manufacturer’ category, recognising the continued inroads made over the past 12 months.

Renault's City Car, the Twingo, wins big at the GQ car awards ceremony.

• Twingo wins Best City Car at the 2015 British GQ Car Awards
• Latest major award for All-New Twingo  

The All-New Renault Twingo has been awarded the title of “Best Answer to the City Car Dilemma” in the 2015 British GQ Car Awards. 

Renault’s recently-launched city car is one of just eight production cars to pick up an award and, at a third of the price of the base model of the next most affordable car, the stylish and practical Twingo looks perfectly at home amongst its supercar and exotica peers.

GQ said of the Twingo: “There’s more to the Twingo than the de rigeur small-car visage and graphics.  It’s powered by a frothy little rear-mounted, three-cylinder turbocharged engine; an unusual setup that improves interior space and adds a welcome USP.  Fun, in a nutshell.”

Commenting on the award, Ken Ramirez, Managing Director, Renault UK said: “All-New Twingo represents a bold innovation in the city car category with its clever rear-engined layout.  We were always confident that our latest Twingo would prove to be a hit so everyone at Renault is thrilled to see our newest city car recognised at the 2015 GQ Car Awards, especially alongside such sports cars and exotica.”

All-New Twingo has now picked up several major awards including ‘City Car of the Year’ in the 2014 TopGear Magazine Awards, ‘City Car of the Year’ in the UK Car of the Year Awards and ‘Best City Car’ in the Daily Express 2014 Motoring Oscars.

The All-New Twingo went on sale in the UK in September 2014 winning critical praise for its charm, looks, clever packaging and innovative rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive layout.      

The Twingo, now in its third generation, is available with a choice of two efficient petrol engines, three trim levels, including many personalisation options and is priced from £9,495.