The Ford Galaxy Takes The Scottish MPV Of The Year Award with the S-Max and C-Max taking 2nd and 3rd.

All-new Ford Galaxy claimed overall “MPV of the year” at the 2015 Scottish Car of The Year awards. S-MAX and C-MAX were placed second and third in this highly competitive segment. All-new Ford Galaxy was praised by judges for its space and practicality, as well as high level of technology available.

Alisdair Suttie, President, Association of Scottish Motoring Writers, said: “If you’re looking for a large people carrier that’s fun to drive, seats seven, and is packed with the latest technology the Ford Galaxy is very hard to beat. It combines family practicality with premium quality in a package that’s top of its class.”

New Ford Galaxy boasts Ford’s SYNC 2 connectivity system with voice control; Front Wide View camera enabling you to better navigate tight corners; Intelligent Speed Limiter helping drivers avoid exceeding speed limits and incurring costly penalties; and new segment-first ability to raise and fold the third-row seats at the push of a button.

This fourth generation model from Ford offers a sophisticated exterior with slim-line headlamps, raised beltline and a large glass area. The stylish interior features a retractable panoramic glass roof and eight-way adjustable Multi-Contour seats.

Galaxy also delivers a refined driving experience with new integral link rear suspension offering a smoother and quieter ride, and range-topping manoeuvrability and precision with new Adaptive Steering option. The Galaxy tops a totally renewed MPV range this year, with fresh S-MAX and C-MAX also debuting in dealerships.

Andy Barratt, chairman and managing director, Ford of Britain, said: “This award for the new Galaxy and recognition of Ford’s newly revised MPV range is testament to the ongoing investment Ford is making across its product portfolio. This wave of brand new, high-tech family cars alongside our award-winning small car range, dominant commercial vehicle line-up and spine-tingling performance cars in Focus RS and Mustang is excellent news for Ford’s UK business and its dealers.”

Ford Galaxy first arrived in dealerships in 1995 and since then more than 186,000 have sold in the UK.

Land Rover takes it's turn with the Scottish car of The Year Awards taking a couple too.

• New Discovery Sport is named Best Diesel
• Judges praise Discovery Sport’s ability, refinement and efficiency
• Best Used Car prize goes to Land Rover Defender

Land Rover has secured a brace of accolades in the prestigious Scottish Car of the Year Awards, with Discovery Sport named Best Diesel of 2015 and Land Rover’s evergreen Defender model claiming the award for Best Used Car. The annual awards are decided by an expert panel of judges from the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers (ASMW).

Announcing the Land Rover Discovery Sport 2.0 Litre TD4 as Best Diesel, ASMW President Alisdair Suttie said: “With its launch powertrain, our winner demonstrated a huge breadth of ability and the arrival of an all-new diesel engine in September has really put this vehicle on a pedestal. Hushed, frugal and low on emissions, our diesel champion’s engine is also British-built.

“Scotland’s challenging terrain means we always look forward to the launch of a new SUV and the Discovery Sport is one of the best in the business. No other seven-seater can deliver a blend of ability, refinement and efficiency like this one.”

Discovery Sport’s new 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium diesel engine is designed to deliver class-leading torque and power outputs, combined with excellent refinement, reduced CO₂ emissions and lower fuel consumption thanks to its lightweight construction, stiff cylinder blocks and decoupled injectors, which ensure low levels of vibration and noise intrusion. Built at Land Rover’s new state-of-the-art £500m Engine Manufacturing Centre in the West Midlands, the EU6 compliant Ingenium engine is available in 150PS and 180PS variants, the former offering up to 57.7mpg and CO₂ emissions from 129g/km.

Discovery Sport is equipped with a range of class-leading safety features, such as a pedestrian airbag, Autonomous Emergency Braking and a suite of driver assistance features, all of which have helped it earn a Five Star Euro NCAP rating.

On the road prices start at £30,695 for the manual gearbox model with five-seat SE specification. With range service intervals extended from 16,000 to 21,000 miles, the new Discovery Sport offers significantly lower whole-life running costs in addition to lower taxation and reduced fuel costs.

As a salute to the Land Rover Defender, which celebrated 67 years of production earlier this year with the minting of its 2,000,000th example, the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers declared it Best Used Car. “Our top used choice is a vehicle that has kept countries mobile during times of disaster,” said ASMW Secretary Stephen Park. “No other vehicle in history has managed to withstand the test of time like the Land Rover Defender. The current model’s family resemblance to the 1948 original is immediately obvious yet one of the oldest automotive designs is one of the best at retaining its value. Buy almost any Defender, from a 1990 example to a nearly new model, keep it in top condition, and there’s every chance you will enjoy depreciation-free motoring.

“Moreover, such a lengthy production run means there’s a huge choice available to suit every budget. Project cars start from a couple of grand, a solid and presentable runner with the famed 300 TDI engine is a sound investment at £5k while upwards of £20,000 buys the very best available.”

Next month in London, Defender 2,000,000 will go under the hammer at Bonhams. Featuring a bespoke design and built with the help of an all-star cast of lifelong Defender fans led by adventurer Bear Grylls, the unique Defender is expected to raise many thousands of pounds for Land Rover’s humanitarian and conservation partners, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Born Free Foundation.

The Scottish Car of the Year Awards were accepted by Jaguar Land Rover’s UK Managing Director, Jeremy Hicks, who said: “There is probably not another car manufacturer in the world whose oldest and newest models can win awards in the same contest, and such a feat underlines Land Rover’s unique position in the motoring world. It is particularly pleasing for our products to be recognised in this way in Scotland, where Land Rover has always enjoyed a special relationship with buyers seeking the ultimate in all-wheel-drive capability.”

The Jaguar XE also takes a couple of awards at the Scottish car Of The Year Awards.

• Jaguar XE crowned ‘Best Executive Car’ in the Scottish Car of the Year awards
• New Jaguar sports saloon also named ‘Fleet Car of the Year’ in the Association of Car Fleet Operators awards 

The Jaguar XE has added to its already impressive trophy cabinet with major wins at two prestigious award ceremonies in November.

The XE was crowned ‘Best Executive’ in the Scottish Car of the Year awards. Alisdair Suttie, President of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers, said: “With its fine lines penned by Scotsman Ian Callum, the Jaguar XE is as good looking as executive saloons come. It has abilities to match its looks, with first rate ride, refinement, driving dynamics and efficiency.”

The Jaguar XE took the Scottish Car of the Year award for ‘Best Design and Innovation’ in 2014.

Jaguar Design Director Ian Callum collected the award. Ian said: “Even though we launched the XE into one of the most competitive segments in the car industry, we were quietly confident that we had a winner on our hands. It looks exactly the way a Jaguar sports saloon should: stylish, sporty and fast even when it’s motionless. I’m honoured that the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers has recognised it as best in its class.”

Earlier in the month, the Jaguar XE also took home the top award from the Association of Car Fleet Operators (ACFO). ACFO’s award-winners are decided by votes from its members – which include most of Britain’s major fleets – and who this year made the XE its ‘Fleet Car of the Year’.

Jaguar Land Rover Managing Director Jeremy Hicks said: “We had fleet owners and fleet drivers very much in mind when we created the Jaguar XE - it’s a car that offers all the sporting and luxury appeal that people expect of a Jaguar while also offering best-in-class running costs. It’s fantastic to see that our customers are so pleased with the finished product.” 

The new Volvo XC90 wins the 2015 Scottish Best SUV of the year award.

• Volvo’s seven-seat SUV wins Best SUV Award
• Honoured for “setting new standards in the SUV class”
• XC90’s technology, efficiency, style and safety also praised

The Volvo XC90 has been voted the Best SUV at the 2015 Scottish Car of the Year Awards. The award ceremony was held at the Dalmahoy Marriott hotel and country club, Edinburgh, on Friday 27^th November 2015.

The XC90 beat stiff competition in the form of the Audi Q7, Kia Sorento and Land Rover Discovery Sport to win the coveted award.

Commenting on the XC90, Alisdair Suttie, the president of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers, said: “We had to wait a very long time for this one, but when it finally came along it was more than worth it. Our winner not only sets new standards for its manufacturer, but for the SUV class itself, taking big strides forward in terms of technology, efficiency, style and – of course – safety.”

Nick Connor, Managing Director of Volvo Car UK, said: “It’s fantastic that the XC90 has won such a prestigious award. It’s testament to the quality and ability of the car – and everyone involved in its existence – that it is held in such high regard by the Scottish motoring press.”

With its striking design, luxurious seven-seat interior, cutting-edge connectivity features and class-leading safety, the XC90 is the finest car Volvo has ever built. It is the first car to use Volvo’s all-new SPA (Scalable Product Architecture) platform, and is offered with a range of efficient diesel, petrol and plug-in petrol-electric hybrid drivetrains.  Prices start from £46,250.