SOUTH AFRICA - AutoWeek magazine awards the Alfa 4C as its Drivers Car Of The Year 2015

South African newspaper AutoWeek has voted the Alfa Romeo 4C as its Drivers car of the year for 2015.

The 4C emerged victorious over a group of finalists including fourteen new performance-oriented cars launched in the past year and subjected to to an intensive three-day shootout on the road and around a secret test track to ascertain which of those was the most pleasing to drive.

AutoWeek’s Drivers car of the year split the fourteen finalists into three groups: hot hatchbacks, sedans and sportscars to determine a winner of each group; with each winner going through to the podium and the final shootout.

The podium saw the Volkswagen Golf R emerging as AutoWeek’s Drivers hatchback of the year, the BMW M3 selected as the AutoWeek Drivers sedan of the year and the Alfa Romeo 4C chosen as the AutoWeek Drivers sports car of the year.

A further shootout between the three saw the Alfa Romeo 4C emerge as the overall AutoWeek Drivers car of the year 2015.

“None of its rivals came close to 4C’s charm and allure, its cheeky, busy noise and a feeling you will only otherwise get inside a Ferrari 458,” AutoWeek editor Michele Lupini reported.

“But when you take it out on a racetrack and drive it to the absolute limit, there is nothing that comes near. The 4C was the only car that was still beckoning for more – taunting us to seek out the limits.

“This is Drivers car of the year, so a less than genteel entrance or exit to or from a slightly crab-like driving position, or a little extra leather lining make little difference; as much as a questionably sculpted centre console corner and a lack of ultimate build quality don’t really matter either.

“What does matter is how this Alfa Romeo talks to the driver, how you feel when driving it – especially at the limit and how it performs and behaves on the road,” Lupini concluded. “And this little Alfa does all that brilliantly.”

AutoWeek newspaper is on sale as usual throughout South Africa from Thursday 18 December and is also available as a digital issue

USA - Volkswagens 7th Generation Golf GTI wins Autoweeks Best of the Best/Car award.

The seventh-generation “hot-hatch” is recognized for its perfect combination of performance, economy, fit and finish, design and value

Volkswagen of America, Inc. is proud to announce today that the 2015 Golf GTI has wonAutoweek’s annual “Best of the Best”/Car award. The all-new Golf GTI was evaluated against every new or significantly updated model throughout the year, prior to competing against three other finalists for the overall honor. In winning, judges praised the “hot-hatch” for its thoughtful design, superb handling, quality and value.

“Featuring Volkswagen’s improved 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine and a choice of two great gearboxes, the Golf GTI is an approachable, practical performance car,” said Dutch Mandel, Publisher, Autoweek. “The car satisfies on every level and the new chassis makes it a blast to drive on the track or the street. It's a car any driver can have fun with."

“Our team is very excited to be named the Autoweek “Best of the Best”/Car for 2015,” said Michael Horn, president and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. “It’s an honor to receive this award from a publication whose readership has the same kind of passion about driving and performance as we have at Volkswagen.”

Autoweek selects its annual “Best of the Best” based on performance, economy, fit and finish, design, value, and personal taste as well as statistical data and consumer conversation. Alongside the Golf GTI, finalists for the 2015 Car award included the Alfa Romeo 4C, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Ford Mustang.

Equipped with a sophisticated EA888 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct-injection TSI® engine, the 2015 Golf GTI delivers 210 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque—an increase of 10 hp and 51 lb-ft from the previous generation. The optional Performance Package ups the ante with 220 horsepower, a torque-sensing electronically-controlled limited-slip differential and larger brakes.

Despite increased horsepower and torque, the new Golf GTI is also more fuel efficient than its predecessor. When equipped with the six-speed manual transmission, the Golf GTI records an EPA estimated fuel economy rating of 25 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway—a 4 mpg city and 3 mpg highway improvement from the previous-generation GTI.

Thanks to Volkswagen’s versatile modular transverse matrix (MQB) vehicle platform, the 2015 Golf GTI retains the classic design cues of the Mk1 and Mk4 models, while gaining a more upscale appearance and added utility, including increased cabin and trunk space. Pricing for the all-new Golf GTI starts at $24,395 for the entry-level S trim in two-door form with the six-speed manual transmission.

USA - GMC Canyon today was named Autoweek’s Best of the Best/Truck for 2015.

All-new premium midsize pickup wins with style, utility and ‘near-luxury’ experience

GMC Canyon today was named Autoweek’s Best of the Best/Truck for 2015. Editors praised the all-new premium midsize truck for its design, utility, features and “perfect size.”

“It’s truly a truck in the most honest sense…but refuses to forego the requirements a modern buyer has in a vehicle: refinement, modern conveniences and amenities, high-quality build, practicality and style,” said Autoweek’s editors, who also noted the Canyon is “brimming with a near-luxury experience.”

Autoweek’s annual Best of the Best awards are based on the evaluations of eight vehicle finalists selected for their performance, design, build quality, value and significance. A three-day test session at Michigan International Speedway by the editors determined the awards, which include one car and one truck.

“Of the hundreds of vehicles Autoweek tests each year, only a relative few truly stand out from the rest,” said Autoweek editor Wes Raynal. “The GMC Canyon is not only one of the best new vehicles on the market, it’s one of the most important, signaling an exciting return to the mid-sized truck segment.”

Said Duncan Aldred, vice president of GMC Sales and Marketing: “Delivering class-leading capabilities with GMC’s signature refinement was our goal for Canyon from Day One and Autoweek’s recognition affirms our instincts. It’s an efficiently sized, maneuverable package for those who want the cargo-hauling and trailering versatility of a pickup, combined with modern amenities and connectivity today’s customers tell us they expect.”

Canyon starts at $21,880 and is available in base, SLE and SLT models, and in extended cab and crew cab body styles. It offers the segment’s best horsepower and EPA-estimated fuel economy: 200 horsepower (149 kW) and 27 mpg highway (2WD) from a standard 2.5L I-4; and 305 horsepower (227 kW) and 26 mpg (2WD) from an available 3.6L V-6.

The V-6 engine enables a segment-leading 7,000-pound trailering rating.

Canyon is the only truck in the segment to offer AutoTrac automatic four-wheel drive, which allows the driver to select manual or automatic 4WD engagement. It also offers the G80 locking rear differential, for sure-footed traction in slippery conditions and when trailering.

Additionally, OnStar with 4G LTE and its standard built-in Wi-Fi hotspot provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected. The hotspot is on whenever the vehicle is on and comes with a three-month/three-gigabyte data trial, whichever comes first.