Jeep Cherokee wins SUV Scottish Car Of The Year Award.

The all-new Jeep Cherokee has finished 2014 in some style – after winning an important SUV award from one of the UK’s leading motoring writers' associations.

Jeep’s iconic 4x4 scooped the SUV of the Year award in last Friday’s (28 November) Association of Scottish Motoring Writers (ASMW) Car of the Year 2014 awards, held at the Fairmont St Andrews Hotel, in Scotland.

Already the recipient of scores of awards in North America and Canada, it was only a matter of time before the accolades for Jeep Cherokee began in the UK. Launched here in the early summer, the Cherokee has quickly attracted acclaim from customers and the media alike.

Set apart from its rivals in these awards for its pedigree as a 4x4 vehicle, its design, increased levels of refinement and quality, and its tried-and-tested off road ability, the Jeep Cherokee was described by ASMW members as “a sure-fire winner”.

“Some cars look good. Some cars do the business off-road. Others do it on-road. For us, the 2014 Jeep Cherokee does all three,” says Alisdair Suttie, ASMW President. “This is a car with the ability to put Jeep back into the heart of a sector it once dominated.”

“Any award recognising our products is always welcome, but this one from a jury made up of leading motoring journalists is very good news,” says Damien Dally, head of brand, Jeep UK. “Cherokee is leading the way ahead for Jeep this year and we look forward to more great things from the brand in 2015 and beyond.”

The new Cherokee line-up comes in Longitude, Longitude+ and Limited trim levels, equipped with a new 2.0-litre MultiJet II turbo diesel delivering 170 horsepower (with the new nine-speed automatic gearbox) and 140 horsepower (six-speed manual).

The Jeep Cherokee range starts at £25,495 for the 2.0 Longitude 140 6 Speed Manual FWD, rising to £37,195 for the 2.0 Limited 170 Automatic 4x4 with Active-Drive II.

Suzuki SX4 S-Cross Wins Crossover Scottish Car Of The Year Award.

The SX4 S-Cross has been awarded Crossover of the Year by the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers at the annual Scottish Car of the Year awards ceremony, held at St Andrews over the weekend.

S-Cross was judged by the 15 members of the association, scoring the most points in the Crossover category and achieving the third award for Suzuki since the SCOTYs were launched.

Alisdair Suttie, President of the ASMW said “Suzuki’s SX4 S-Cross drew our eye with its good looks and sealed the deal with its excellent value for money, spacious cabin, engaging drive and generous equipment levels. The fact that it launched with class-leading emissions didn’t go unnoticed among the judges either.”

Dale Wyatt, Sales and Marketing Director, Suzuki commented “We are all delighted that the association have announced the SX4 S-Cross as their Crossover of the Year – The opinion of the Scottish media is very important to us, and it is great the SX4 S-Cross has been recognised with this prestigious award.”

The SX4 S-Cross range starts at £15,499 for the 1.6 SZ3 manual model; with seating for five, luggage capacity of 430 litres and a low cost of ownership with CO₂ emissions of 127g/km 1.6-litre petrol (manual transmission) and just 110g/km for the 1.6-litre DDiS model.

Lexus IS wins Executive Scottish Car Of The Year Award

Lexus IS named best executive car in the Scottish Car of the Year awards

The Lexus IS has been named the Executive Car of the Year in the Scottish Car of the Year Awards.

The luxury sports saloon took was handed the honour by the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers at the group’s annual presentation ceremony in St Andrews on Friday.

The hybrid-powered IS was praised for offering “something fresh and different” in part of the market that is otherwise dominated by conservatively styled diesels.

Alasdair Suttie, ASMW President, said: “In a marketplace dominated by German offerings, the Lexus IS delivers a unique take on the compact luxury theme. It feels fresh and different to the more obvious choices and the standard kit list is lengthier too.

“At its most desirable in hybrid form, this is a car that’s subtle and respectable. The hybrid drivetrain works well and offers a refined alternative to the usual diesel choices, while the low CO₂ is good news for company car drivers.”

Launched in 2013, the latest IS displays the cutting edge styling that sets today’s Lexus models apart from the crowd. It is also the first generation of the compact saloon to adopt Lexus’s hybrid technology, delivering higher efficiency, impressive reliability and – crucial in a segment where business car users predominate – lower tax and fuel bills.

These qualities go hand-in-glove with the hallmark Lexus attributes of luxury, attention to detail and the application of user-friendly advanced technologies. Lexus IS ownership also brings with it customer service that is independently recognised as the best in the business.

AUDI A3 wins Best Drop Top at Scottish Car Of The Year Awards.

Drop-top honours go to the Audi A3 in annual awards presided over by the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers

• Audi A3 wins drop-top category in 2014 SCOTY awards
• A3 range now comprises three-door, Sportback, Saloon and Cabriolet variants, all of which are also available in 300PS S3 form
• A3 Cabriolet prices from £26,085 OTR to £35,265 OTR, S3 Cabriolet from £39,205 OTR

Attributes that proved impressive enough to earn the Audi A3 hatchback the title of World Car of the Year 2014 have also helped the latest Cabriolet variant to shine in the annual Scottish Car of the Year Awards, in which it has been pronounced Drop-top of the Year.

Presented last night at a high profile ceremony in St Andrews, the coveted Drop-top of the Year award is allocated based on the collective nominations of the ASMW, whose members test dozens of new cars each year and report their findings in the country’s key national and regional titles.

Commenting on the class victory Alisdair Suttie, President of the Association, said: “The Audi A3 Cabriolet’s main purpose in life might be to let the sunshine in, but it won over our judges with fabulous looks and a fun drive. The A3 Cabriolet also displays plenty of other winning traits, such as its rock solid quality and a superb range of efficient engines. Add in a roof that keeps even the Scottish weather at bay and you have a cabrio for all seasons.”

Ben Fish, Product Marketing Manager for Audi UK, added: “The fact that experts from the country that can arguably lay claim to the most testing weather conditions in the UK feel 1/!3 that an Audi should be the cabriolet of choice north of the border really speaks volumes. The open-air A3 is of course in its element in the sunshine, but with strong, frugal engines, the option of quattro all-wheel-drive and refinement and rigidity that run a saloon close, it can also cope admirably with whatever Scottish roads throw at it.”

An Audi A3 for all seasons and all reasons

In the extensive A3 range customers now have a choice of three or five-door hatchback, four-door saloon or cabriolet, all of which can also be enjoyed in 300PS S3 form. Drivers who favour frugality can choose a 1.4 litre TFSI petrol engine with Cylinder on Demand technology which is capable of up to 60.1mpg, or opt for one of three TDIs, the entry level 1.6 TDI combining the potential for up to 74.3mpg with CO₂ emissions of just 99g/km. The more powerful petrol and TDI engines in each range are also available with the added reassurance of quattro all-wheel-drive.

The A3 Cabriolet is available in SE, Sport and S line specification priced from £26,085 OTR to £35,265 OTR, and at the head of the range the S3 Cabriolet slots in at £39,205. All versions feature alloy wheels, a fully automatic fabric hood, air conditioning or climate control, light and rain sensors, navigation preparation and an MMI radio complemented by the Audi Music Interface, a DAB radio receiver and an electrically powered retractable 5.8-inch colour monitor.

Jaguar Wins twice at Annual Scottish Car Of The Year Awards.

• Jaguar F-TYPE wins best Coupé award and is dubbed “an outstanding category winner”
• New Jaguar XE is named the first winner of new SCOTY category: “Best Design and Innovation”

Jaguar was named a winner in two prestigious categories of the Scottish Car of the Year Awards 2014, held in St. Andrews at the weekend.

The Jaguar F-TYPE sports car beat stiff competition in the Coupé category, with the award presented to Jaguar Land Rover Head of Global PR Communications, Fiona Pargeter,  by Association of Scottish Motoring Writers President, Alisdair Suttie.

Alisdair Suttie said:

“This is a car that puts Jaguar right at the very top of the sector where it belongs.  With jaw-dropping looks, great driving dynamics, and a hard top to keep off Scotland’s winter weather, the F-TYPE Coupé is a clear judges’ favourite, an immediate modern classic and a truly outstanding category winner.”

In a newly introduced category for the motor industry’s best design and innovation, the Jaguar XE, launched this year and on-sale from Spring 2015, was named the winner.  The award was presented to Jaguar Design Director Ian Callum.

Association of Scottish Motoring Writers Secretary Stephen Park said:

“It takes something special to raise the game in the fast paced automotive world, and that’s exactly what the Jaguar XE does. A clear winner of the Best Design and Innovation Award, it is a car that delivers endless style on the outside and a multitude of intelligent technical advances under the skin – the XE ticks all the boxes.”

Jaguar Design Director Ian Callum said:

“I am extremely proud of what the Design team has achieved with the XE.  It looks fast and its design is extremely seductive, which is a formidable combination together with the innovative engineering that features throughout the XE.”

Mazda3 wins Best Family Car at the Scottish car Of The Year Awards.

• All-new Mazda3 wins SCOTY Awards 'Family Car' category
• Judges praise styling, driving dynamics, quality, performance and efficiency
• All-new Mazda3 2.2-litre Diesel runner-up in 'Diesel' category

The all-new Mazda3 has made a dominant showing at the ‘2014 Scottish Car of the Year’ (SCOTY) awards ceremony last night (28 November 2014), winning the hotly-contested 'Family Car' category and, in its 2.2-litre Diesel iteration, taking the runner-up position in the 'Diesel' category.

Mazda is no stranger to the SCOTY awards, held this year at the Fairmont St Andrews with over 200 guests, including all 15 SCOTY jury members, in attendance. In 2012, the Mazda CX-5 won the 'Safety' award, and in 2013 the Mazda6 2.2-litre topped the 'Eco' award honours list.

This year's battle for 'Family Car' honours was amongst the closest in SCOTY history, with three all-new cars from popular brands -the all-new Mazda3, Citroen Cactus and Peugeot 308- finishing within a handful of points of one another.

Ultimately, however, it was the superior design, quality, driving dynamics, performance and efficiency of the all-new Mazda3 -a car which made its UK debut in Scotland- which placed it ahead of the pack.

“Mazdas have always been a big hit with private buyers in Scotland,” said Association of Scottish Motoring Writers (ASMW) President Alisdair Suttie, “and the ASMW jury believes that the new Mazda3 has the style and dynamic prowess to put the company back into the heart of this highly-competitive segment.”

“Both the Hatchback and Fastback models impress,” he continued. “The interior's by far the best of any Mazda to date, new SKYACTIV engines deliver strong performance with low emissions, and the diesel is exceptional.”

Its victory in one of the most significant categories in the SCOTY awards reinforces just how compelling a proposition the all-new Mazda3 makes for both private buyers and company car drivers in Scotland.

With a 36-strong model range priced from £16,995 to £23,745 on-the-road (OTR), the new Mazda Hatchback/Fastback combines striking, KODO design with highly-advanced SKYACTIV engineering. The premium quality, ergonomically-superb interior sets new standards for mobile connectivity with the debut of Mazda's MZD Connect system, which works with compatible smartphones to seamlessly integrate online social media and internet radio using Aha; a cloud-based app with a wide range of free, web-based, infotainment content*.

A choice of 1.5-litre 100ps petrol engine or 2.0-litre with either 120ps or 165ps power output, and a 2.2-litre 150ps turbodiesel provides an ideal blend of power and frugality. The powertrains' advanced and lightweight SKYACTIV technologies deliver up to 72.4mpg in the combined cycle, whilst generating emissions as low as just 104g/km**.

Citroen C4 Grand Picasso wins Best MPV at the Scottish Car Of The Year Awards.

• New Citroën Grand C4 Picasso wins the MPV category at Scottish Car of the Year Awards
• Award presented by Association of Scottish Motoring Writers at prestigious ceremony in St. Andrews
• New Citroën C4 Cactus & New C1Airscape are runners-up in the Family & Drop Top categories respectively

Citroën’s Grand C4 Picasso has been named ‘Best MPV’ at this year’s Scottish Car of the Year awards. Building on the success the model has achieved since its launch in January this year, the Grand C4 Picasso was crowned by an expert judging panel made up of members of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers (ASMW). 

Taking on one of the toughest categories in the awards, the New Citroën Grand C4 Picasso triumphed over tough competition including the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer and the Volkswagen Golf SV.

The Citroën Grand C4 Picasso has already been named BBC TopGear Magazine ‘Family Car of the Year 2013’ and What Car? ‘MPV of the Year 2014’.

In addition to scooping the coveted MPV award, the New Citroën C4 Cactus was a runner-up in the ‘Family Car’ category. The New Citroën C1Airscape was also a runner-up for the ‘Drop Top’ award.

The Grand C4 Picasso stood out thanks to its best-in-class combination of versatility and elegance. The judges said; “MPVs arguably face the toughest life on the road of any car. They need to combine the efficiency of a family hatchback, but with the ability to swallow huge loads or up to seven occupants with ease. We believe this year’s victor does this better than most, as well as doing so with real charm and style.”     

Alisdair Suttie, President of the ASMW, explained that; “There is no prettier vehicle of this type in existence. Citroën has been upping its game across almost all segments and this Picasso is the best example yet of the improvements taking place at the French firm. The interior is comfortable and spacious, with the car’s ride and handling being perfectly agreeable. Economy is class-leading and the seven seat configuration is brilliantly executed.”

James Parfett, Communications Director at Citroën UK, added; “The Picasso range, including the multi-award-winning Grand C4 Picasso, is now the market leader in the European MPV segment and this latest award confirms its broad appeal. The positive reception for this model from the public and press alike is testimony to the bold approach taken with the Grand C4 Picasso to offer modern families a versatile and practical family vehicle.

“The Grand C4 Picasso features class-leading cabin space, record-low emissions from just 98g/km and a five star EuroNCAP safety rating, whilst its stylish design and array of technology means we are able to offer families a vehicle that suits their changing needs without sacrificing desirability. I would like to thank the ASMW judges on behalf of everyone at Citroën UK for this recognition.”

SEAT Leon wins Scottish Estate Car Of The Year Award.

• SEAT Leon ST lands best ‘Estate’ gong at prestigious “SCOTY” Awards 2014
• Judges hail everything from Leon ST’s price, running costs and style to its driving experience and load-swallowing ability
• Third prestigious award for Leon ST in matter of months and only one year on from Leon SC 2.0 TDI 184 PS storming off with best ‘Diesel Car’ award at the same event
• Leon CUPRA 280 also Runner Up in hot hatch category

There will be a few weary SEAT souls north of the border this morning, after the sporty Spanish brand toasted success at the Scottish Car of the Year Awards overnight with a few wee drams.

At a glittering bash at the St. Andrew’s Hotel, the Barcelona-based firm’s new Leon ST (Sports Tourer) fended off fierce competition from the Honda Civic Tourer and Peugeot 308 SW to win the Estate category. In fact, it was quite a coup for the svelte load-lugger, triumphing on its debut, having only been in UK showrooms since January. Its potent Leon CUPRA 280 sibling also scooped Runner Up in the hot hatch category.

In fact, it’s going to need every inch of its cavernous 587-litre boot if its list of admirers keeps on growing at the current rate. It’s the Leon ST’s third coveted title within just a few months, having already found homes in the bulging trophy cabinet for Auto Express magazine’s ‘Best Estate 2014’ and Caravan Club’s ‘Towcar of the Year 2014’.

Introducing its stunning victory at the first time of asking, Alisdair Suttie, President of the ASMW (Association of Scottish Motoring Writers) commented, “The compact estate market has never been healthier and this was one of our hardest-to-pick categories. However, the winner’s blend of pace, space, excellent value for money and sharp styling made it an immediate front runner.  Throw in a wide range of engines and fantastic economy and it became impossible for our judging panel to overlook.”

Rounding off the plaudits for the high-selling Leon ST, the judges summed up its effortless victory on Scottish soil simply, “The SEAT Leon ST is not only well priced, but it’s a good looker too, while the most frugal models cost buttons to run. Its gigantic boot and fine road manners made it our judges’ favourite in a category which includes some tough opposition.”

Oh, how right they are too. With sparkling performance, enviable quality and kit levels, the Leon ST really puts the boot in with its keen pricing and affordable quality. Its prices start from £17,110 on-the-road, with the SCOTY award-winning FR 2.0 TDI 184 coming in at an extremely palatable £23,815.

One minute, the Leon ST FR is a comfortable motorway mile-eater and family car, the next it’s a bona fide hot hatch chaser. It can shift from zero to 62 mph in only 7.8 seconds before going on to hit 142mph. If you ever wanted it to, of course. Even more impressively though, its potent performance won’t punish you at the pumps. It’ll sip fuel at the rate of 65.7 miles per gallon on the combined cycle, and only emits 112 grams per kilometre of CO₂, meaning road tax is exactly zero in the first year and a measly £30 every year thereon.

It’s got plenty of kit too. Ranging from 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control and SEAT Drive Profile which allows the driver to alter the car’s throttle and steering responses, right through to sportier front seats, suspension and front and rear styling touches.

Commenting on the company’s latest trophy, SEAT UK’s Head of Press & PR, Juliet Carrington, who collected the award at the glittering bash said, “We’re over the moon with our stunning Leon ST’s latest award. It’s on a real roll, winning car magazine group tests and racking up prestigious awards along the way. It’s clearly struck a chord with buyers up and down the country, as it’s selling at more than twice the rate we forecast. This latest award from the Association is a great early Christmas present for us, as well as our colleagues in Spain, and with a bit of luck, we’ll be celebrating a SCOTY hat-trick next year!”

Until the end of the year, SEAT is still offering its highly prized Technology Pack free on all new Leon range retail orders. The tempting package bundles striking full-LED headlights, satellite navigation and DAB digital radio, which would normally cost £1,930 if the items were bought separately. Which is likely to prove even more of a winner with the canny Scots.

The VW Golf R wins Scottish Hot Hatch Of The Year Award.

The most powerful production Volkswagen Golf, the Golf R, has been named Hot Hatch of the Year in the 2014 Scottish Car of the Year awards.  The award was presented at a ceremony held at St. Andrews on Friday 28 November.

The awards are judged by all 15 members of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers, who represent publications and websites from across the country.

Commenting on the win, President of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers, Alisdair Suttie, said: ‘Quick off the mark and with the grip and finesse to handle its power, the Volkswagen Golf R sets a new benchmark in affordable, practical performance motoring.  Perfect poise from its standard four-wheel drive allied to precise steering and a hefty punch from its 2.0-litre turbo engine means it is the hot hatch for all seasons and all reasons.’

The Golf R, which went on sale in the UK in March uses a version of Volkswagen’s four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbocharged EA888 TSI petrol engine from the Golf GTI, but developed to produce maximum power of 300 PS and 380 Nm (280 lbs ft) of torque.  Zero to 62 mph takes 5.1 seconds or 4.9 seconds with optional DSG gearbox.  The top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.  Despite this performance, the Golf R has a combined fuel consumption of 39.8 mpg (40.9 mpg DSG), and CO₂ emissions of 165 g/km (159 g/km DSG).

Director of Volkswagen, Alex Smith, said: ‘The Golf was crowned overall Scottish Car of the Year in 2013, so I’m delighted that the R is continuing the success of the range and has been awarded the Hot Hatch accolade.  This car competes in a hotly contested class, but it’s the blend of performance and practicality allied with comfort and value for money which gives it a unique edge over its competitors.  Thanks go to the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers for recognising these qualities.’

Volkswagen has 19 franchised sales outlets in Scotland, including flagship 17 car showrooms in Glasgow and Edinburgh which were opened in 2013 and 2014 respectively

Prices for the range-topping Golf R start at £29,345 for the three-door model with six-speed manual gearbox.  For more details on the car or to find your nearest Volkswagen Retailer, visit www.volkswagen.co.uk.

The Hyundai i10 takes Scottish Car Of The Year award.

New compact model is also one of 15 category winners

Hyundai’s i10 small car has won the big trophy at the 2014 Scottish Car of the Year Awards.

It may be one of the smallest contenders in the awards presented by the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers (ASMW), but the Hyundai i10 scored the biggest hit with the expert panel of judges to lift the coveted winner’s quaich at the renowned event at the Fairmont St Andrews. It is also the first car to lift the all-new Scottish Car of the Year trophy, designed and supplied by the Bridge of Weir Leather Company.

Hyundai fought off tough competition to win the Small Car category, which then saw the i10 beat winners from the other tightly contested categories. The category winners come from the following sectors: Small, Family, MPV, Executive, Estate, Crossover, SUV/4x4, Sports, Coupe, Drop-Top, Hot Hatch, Design and Innovation, Electric, Diesel and Used Car.

The evening was a double celebration for BMW, which collected trophies for the 220d in the Diesel category, while the brilliant i3 won in Electric Car.

Demonstrating the breadth of talent among the new cars considered by the judges, no other manufacturer won more than one award. British car makers were represented in fine style by the Jaguar F-TYPE that won the Coupe title, while the stunning McLaren 650S outpaced its rivals to win the Sports award.

Mazda lifted the cup for the Family category with its Mazda3, while the SEAT Leon ST impressed the judging panel with its space and practicality to be voted Estate winner. Citroën’s versatile and attractive Grand C4 Picasso earned the MPV winner’s award, while the Suzuki S-Cross was another car with the right mix of talents to beat all-comers in the Crossover category.

Jeep proved its mix of off-road and on-road abilities was more than enough for the Scottish conditions to win the SUV and 4x4 category. Another all-wheel-drive car to impress was the Volkswagen Golf R, crowned best Hot Hatch.

It may be winter in Scotland, but that didn’t stop the Audi A3 Cabriolet from winning the judges’ hearts to lift the Drop Top title. In the Executive sector, Lexus saw off strong challenges from a number of rivals for its IS to come out on top.

There are two other categories for Scottish Car of the Year which are not eligible for the overall winner’s title. They are the Design and Innovation award and the newly created Used Car award.

Picking up the Design and Innovation award, a category sponsored by the organisers of next year’s Concours of Elegance event in Edinburgh, is the new Jaguar XE. The vehicle was praised for its appearance, extensive use of aluminium and all-new low emissions engines.

The inaugural winner of the ASMW’s Scottish Used Car of the Year award is the Ford Focus, which in its original guise was named as the recipient of the very first Scottish Car of the Year title in 1998. As a used car the current version offers buyers on any budget a superbly practical family car with low running costs and plenty of driving fun.

Alisdair Suttie, President of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers, said: “Looking at the list of nominees and category winners, it’s clear it would take something special to win overall and the Hyundai i10 has everything. Great value, practical, affordable to own and hugely enjoyable to drive, it’s the perfect small car. Hyundai can feel justifiably proud of themselves to have won Scottish Car of the Year.

“All of the other category winners can also give themselves a well-earned pat on the back as the judges are a tough bunch to please. Whether it’s a supercar or used car, the ASMW members are always looking for the car that best suits the needs of its owner.’

Receiving the award for Hyundai, Tony Whitehorn, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor UK, added: “i10 has gone from strength to strength in 2014, impressing previous generation owners whilst simultaneously attracting new customers in the 11 months it has been on sale. I would like to thank the Scottish Group of Motoring Writers for recognising i10 as the overall Scottish Car of the Year – it is a privilege to accept this award for the first time in the history of Hyundai Motor UK. It’s a testament to the brand’s progress in the last five years and a huge boost at the end of a remarkable year.”

The SCOTY Hall of Fame

1998: Ford Focus

1999: Jaguar S-Type

2000: Audi A2

2001: Jaguar X-Type

2002: Mazda6

2003: Volvo XC90

2004: Peugeot 407

2005: BMW 3 Series

2006: Jaguar XK

2007: Ford Mondeo

2008: Ford Fiesta

2009: Land Rover Discovery 4

2010: Kia Sportage

2011: Range Rover Evoque

2012: Dacia Duster

2013: Volkswagen Golf

2014: Hyundai i10