AUTO EXPRESS AWARDS - Mitsubishi takes the title of Best Pick Up Of The Year with the L200.

Auto Express, the UK’s most popular automotive weekly publication, has awarded the Mitsubishi L200 ‘Pick Up of the Year’ for the second year running at an illustrious award ceremony in London last night.

Auto Express’ Editor-in-Chief, Steve Fowler, explained;

"As you'd expect the L200 is a typically robust pick-up, but its superior refinement marks it out from other contenders, making it more car-like to drive. With all the carrying capacity you could want and decent performance, it all adds up to an all-round package that can't be beaten."

 The Managing Director of Mitsubishi Motors UK, Lance Bradley, said;

“We are delighted to receive this award again this year. The iconic Mitsubishi L200 pick-up is a huge success story for us.  To have retained this award, in light of an ever expanding sector, really extols the virtues of the L200. We believe this latest accolade to be a just reward for what is a fantastic vehicle.”

Auto Express is Britain's biggest selling weekly motoring magazine, with a print circulation of 45,150 and a website attracting four million unique users a month.

A constant presence at top of the UK’s pick-up sector for decades, the L200 is a fundamental part of Mitsubishi Motors presence in the UK and at the end of June sales were up 23 percent versus the same period last year. 

AUTO EXPRESS AWARDS - Honda takes the Design award for the tenth generation Civic.

The 10^th generation Civic, due in showrooms from spring 2017, has won its first UK gong at the 2016 Auto Express Awards last night.

Picking up the coveted Design Award, which was voted for by readers of autoexpress.co.uk, the Civic fended off 14 competitors to the top spot.

The car is proving to be a much anticipated arrival on to UK forecourts next year with the new Civic claiming almost a fifth of the entire vote.

With the production version set for global unveil at the Paris Motor Show at the end of September; the concept was unveiled at March’s Geneva Motor Show to critical acclaim.

Produced at Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) in Swindon, the car will be exported to global markets, including the US.  The design of the prototype heralds a significant step-change from previous versions of Honda’s core European model, focusing on provocative design and rewarding driving dynamics.

The all-new Civic hatchback will be 30 mm wider, 20 mm lower and 130 mm longer than the current generation. New larger and wider wheels and tyres give a feeling of an assured stance, while the long wheelbase, short overhangs and sleek cabin area further add to the dynamic feel of the exterior.  The all-new Civic Hatchback will feature a range of three powertrain options: 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre VTEC TURBO petrol engines, and a revised 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel unit. Civic will be the first European model to feature the two all-new petrol engines.

Phil Webb, Head of Cars at Honda UK, commented: “This time last year we were starting to refresh the range.  Since then, we have significantly increased our market share, expanded our offering and started to win awards again.  

“This Design Award for the next generation Civic is all the more significant because it is voted for by readers.  It’s a sign of things to come and we expect big things for this car.”

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.

AUTO EXPRESS AWARDS - Volvo takes the Best Large SUV for teh second year running with the outstanding XC90.

• Repeat victory for Volvo’s highly acclaimed seven-seat SUV
• Praised for its style, quality, efficiency, space – and, of course, safety
• Available with diesel, petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains, priced from £46,850
• Innovative T8 Twin Engine sits in 7% Benefit-in-Kind company car tax band

The Volvo XC90 has been named ‘Best Large SUV’ at the Auto Express New Car Awards – for the second year in a row. The XC90 beat new competition from Audi, Jaguar, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz to claim the award, which was presented at a prestigious ceremony held at the Grand Connaught Rooms, London, on Tuesday 5^th July 2016.

Commenting on the award, Auto Express’s editor-in-chief, Steve Fowler, said: “Last year’s Auto Express Car of the Year wins its category once again, in spite of strong competition. The Volvo XC90 is a fantastic SUV with its combination of style, quality, space and efficiency. It has all the safety kit you’d expect from a Volvo, but also a level of kit that you might not – it’s a seriously advanced car, which keeps it on top of the class.”

The XC90 set a new standard for Volvo cars. Not only was it the first car to use Volvo’s all-new SPA (Scalable Product Architecture) platform, it heralded a new design direction for the company and set new benchmarks in the class for connectivity, safety and efficiency.

The SPA platform is designed to offer the highest levels of technological sophistication and safety, while being developed from the outset for electrification means that the petrol-electric T8 Twin Engine version retains all the seven-seat versatility and practicality of the petrol and diesel versions, despite also housing the hybrid powertrain’s batteries and electric motor.

Every XC90 is luxuriously equipped as standard, including a nine-inch touch screen control system that provides access to the internet and a range of cloud-based apps, two-zone climate control with Volvo’s ground-breaking CleanZone air-filtration system, LED headlights and a tailgate that you can open simply by waving your foot beneath the bumper.

The amount of safety equipment is equally impressive. As standard, every XC90 comes with Pilot Assist – Volvo’s semi-autonomous drive technology, which takes care of the steering, accelerator and brake inputs to keep the car in its lane up to 80 mph – and fully automatic emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and large-animal detection.

Jon Wakefield, Acting Managing Director of Volvo Car UK, said: “To be awarded the Best Large SUV title at the Auto Express New Car Awards is a huge achievement – but to win it for the second year running is a testament to the XC90’s continuing excellence. The XC90 is a hugely important car for Volvo, both in terms of what it shows we are capable of and where the company is headed, and for the car to win this prestigious award again demonstrates just how exceptional the first of the new generation of Volvo models really is.”

AUTO EXPRESS AWARDS - Mazda MX-5, the worlds biggest selling roadster takes the Best Roadster title this year.

• The all-new Mazda MX-5 has been named Best Roadster at the 2016 Auto Express New Car Awards.
• Adds to an award tally that includes the 2016 World Car of the Year title.
• The all-new Mazda MX-5 Icon special edition is on sale from 1^st August.

The all-new Mazda MX-5 has once again been recognised by Auto Express in their annual awards. Taking the Best Roadster title at the Auto Express New Car Awards for the second year in succession, the MX-5’s latest accolade adds to an award tally that includes 2016 World Car of the Year, 2016 UK Car of the Year and 2015/16 Japan Car of the Year titles.  

The lightest MX-5 since the iconic original, the all-new Mazda MX-5 is shorter, lower and wider than the car it replaced. With the smallest overhangs and lowest centre of gravity yet, its dynamic proportions and Mazda’s KODO: Soul of Motion styling reflects its focus on driving pleasure in an unmistakably contemporary and dynamic way. 

With perfect 50:50 weight distribution and more technology than ever before, the all-new MX-5 has firmly re-established Mazda’s dominance of the affordable sports car sector.

Featuring Mazda’s award-winning SKYACTIV technology, the all-new MX-5’s ultra-efficient petrol engines and lightweight chassis ensure new levels of performance and economy. 

Agility and driver engagement is unmatched, while at the same time the latest MX-5 meets ever-increasing safety requirements and delivers substantially improved refinement.

Commenting on the MX-5’s success, Auto Express Road Test Editor James Disdale said, “No other car embodies the fun-loving spirit of a roadster better than the Mazda MX-5. 

Combining beautifully balanced rear-wheel drive handling and head-turning looks with an affordable price tag, the Mazda brings wind in the hair thrills to the masses. Yet the MX-5 isn't just for high days and holidays, because its classy cabin, decent practicality and low running costs mean its as comfortable on the daily commute as it is blasting down back roads."

With the one-millionth MX-5 having rolled down the production line on the 22^nd April 2016, the world’s best-selling two-seater sports car continues to win the hearts of drivers across the globe, while the eagerly awaited launch of the all-new Mazda MX-5 RF sees the next chapter of the MX-5 success story about to be written.  

In addition, from the 1^st August the all-new Mazda MX-5 Icon joins Mazda’s award-winning sports car line-up. Based on the 131ps SE-L Nav, it’s the first special edition fourth-generation MX-5 with the 1.5-litre SKYACTIV-G engine.

With a choice of free-of-charge Meteor Grey Mica or Crystal White Pearlescent paint, the £20,995 on-the-road Icon is marked out by its contrasting design cues and enhanced standard equipment. Visually the Icon makes a bold statement with its Soul Red Metallic wing mirrors, rear spoiler, side stripe decals (not pictured) and front skirt. 

The unique look is further boosted by 16-inch Gunmetal alloy wheels, while the increased equipment tally also includes black leather seats, rear parking sensors, dusk-sensing lights and rain-sensing wipers.

Collecting the Auto Express award, Mazda Motors UK Managing Director, Jeremy Thomson said, “We’re thrilled with both the customer and media response to the all-new MX-5. The MX-5 is the definitive example of how our SKYACTIV Technology and KODO design philosophy help us create stylish, spirited and great to drive cars.

This roadster has strengthened the bond between Mazda and its customers for more than a quarter of a century, and since its UK launch in 1990, over 120,000 MX-5s have been sold to British driving fans.”

Adding, “And with a bumper year of MX-5 convertible sales to come, plus with pre-order open for the all-new Mazda MX-5 RF ahead of its arrival in dealerships next year, I’m sure we’ll be attracting even more people to the MX-5 family over the next 12 months."

AUTO EXPRESS AWARDS - Jaguar takes the Compact Executive Car of the Year for the XE Sports Saloon.

• The game-changing Jaguar XE has been crowned Auto Express Compact Executive Car of the Year for the second year running
• It’s the 47^th major global award for the XE, which has repeatedly triumphed over its established German rivals in the segment
• In a hat-trick of wins for Jaguar, the F-PACE won the biggest award of the evening, as it was named Auto Express’ Car of the Year 2016 as well as Compact SUV of the Year
• The XE, the most advanced, efficient and refined sports saloon that Jaguar has ever produced is priced from £26,990, available to specify at www.jaguar.co.uk   

The Jaguar XE has picked up its 47^th major global award, winning the prestigious Auto Express Compact Executive Car of the Year title for the second year running.  The XE continues to disrupt the premium compact executive sector in a way that no other recent model has managed. 

In fact, before the XE’s arrival, the last time a non-German manufacturer won Auto Express’ Compact Executive title was more than a decade ago.

Jeremy Hicks, Jaguar Land Rover UK MD, said: “To win the Compact Executive Car of the Year for a second year in a row just proves what a special car the XE is. Since it last won, we’ve seen brand new rival models from our competitors, but the XE’s mix of desirable styling, incredibly low running costs and engaging handling has ensured it has come out on top again. It’s really disrupted the premium executive class, not only for awards wins but also for sales both in the UK and across the world.”

Using Jaguar’s advanced Lightweight Aluminium Architecture, and high-tech Ingenium engines, the XE is the most efficient non-hybrid car in its class with fuel economy of up to 75mpg and CO₂ emissions as low as 99g/km. As well as its business-friendly emissions the XE also boasts the highest three-year/60,000-mile residual value* in the segment.

As a result XE has contributed to the doubling of Jaguar’s share of the corporate market since its introduction, and disrupted the premium executive market in a way that no other competitor has managed. Earlier this year it picked up the Game Changer award from Britain’s oldest motoring magazine, Autocar, for setting new standards and defying conventions by turning the established order on its head.

Steve Fowler, Editor-in-Chief of Auto Express, said: “There’s no doubting the Compact Executive award is one of the most hotly contested, but the Jaguar XE just stacks up every possible way you look at it. It’s stylish and luxurious, but it’s also a joy to drive and makes a great deal of sense to fleet buyers, too. The XE disrupted a run of more than a decade of continuous German wins in this category, and it’s going to take something very special to topple it.”  

As well as winning the Compact Executive Car of the Year award, Jaguar also won the biggest award of the night, with F-PACE being named as the Auto Express Car of the Year 2016, as well as the Compact SUV of the Year.

Ian Callum, Jaguar Design Director, and the man who styled both the XE and F-PACE, said: “What an incredible evening for us; we’ve got two cars competing in the most highly sought-after categories and not only have we won them both, but F-PACE is Car of the Year, too. As ever, I’m amazed by, and proud of, what the Jaguar team is capable of.”

*KeeResources March 2015

• The Jaguar XE is built at Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull Advanced Manufacturing Plant, alongside the Land Rover Discovery, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Jaguar F-PACE
• The Solihull Advanced Manufacturing Plant was recently transformed into one of the most advanced car manufacturing facilities in the world, thanks to a £1.5bn investment – it can build an XE every 78 seconds
• The XE, the most advanced, efficient and refined sports saloon that Jaguar has ever produced is priced from £26,990, available to specify at www.jaguar.co.uk   

AUTO EXPRESS AWARDS - And the overall winner of Car of the Year, this year goes to........

• The Jaguar F-PACE has been named Car of the Year by the UK’s best-selling weekly car magazine, Auto Express, as it also picked up the Compact SUV of the Year title
• Anthony Joshua, recently crowned World IBF Heavyweight Champion, congratulated Jaguar on its latest title, as he took a closer look at the F-PACE
• The F-PACE is already the fastest-selling Jaguar ever
• Completing a hat-trick of wins, the Jaguar XE also picked up the Compact Executive Car of the Year title for the second year running at the Auto Express Awards
• The Jaguar F-PACE is the most practical sports car on the road, combining maximum driving exhilaration with efficiency and space, starting from £35,020

Boxing world champion, Anthony Joshua, has been spending time with another newly-crowned British champ, the Jaguar F-PACE, after it was named Car of the Year 2016 by Auto Express. The F-PACE was also awarded Compact SUV of the Year by the team at Auto Express, the UK’s biggest-selling motoring weekly magazine.

Anthony Joshua, IBF heavyweight champion, said: “I have a Jaguar XJR at the moment but after the team showed me around the F-PACE I might make a change! I love the way it looks but for me the additional space is the key element, especially with all the kit I have to transport. The Activity Key wristband is a great idea, too; I’m always switching bags and changing gear for training so being able to not worry about where my car keys are would be so helpful. Congratulations to the team on the Car of the Year title; I love seeing Brits taking on the world and coming out on top.”

The Auto Express Car of the Year award is the latest major success in an incredible launch for Jaguar’s first ever SUV, which immediately became the brand’s fastest ever selling model.

Jeremy Hicks, Jaguar Land Rover UK MD, said: “The response to F-PACE around the world has been absolutely sensational, both in terms of critical acclaim and sales, and for it to be named Car of the Year by the UK’s biggest-selling weekly motoring magazine is a real honour. The team behind F-PACE was set on creating a car that was more desirable, great to drive, and better value than anything else in its class – we didn’t want to just be a part of the performance SUV market, we wanted to own it. This award is the proof that we’ve succeeded, and we intend to carry this momentum into all our future products.”

The F-PACE uses Jaguar’s Aluminium Lightweight Architecture to create a light, stiff body structure, allowing for great performance and emissions across the range. A rear-wheel-drive 180PS diesel F-PACE emits just 129g/km, while the 380PS supercharged V6 model is capable of 0-60mph in 5.1 seconds. With chassis technology developed for the F-TYPE, the F-PACE is the sports car that all others look up to, starting from £35,020.

The F-PACE comes with a selection of high-tech equipment, too, including the Activity Key; a wristband that allows owners to leave their traditional key inside the car if they’ll be taking part in activities like swimming or running. There’s also a wi-fi hotspot in the car, allowing eight separate devices to connect, and an InControl app, which lets owners remotely access functions on the F-PACE, like pre-heating, checking the fuel status or even location.

Steve Fowler, Editor-in-Chief of Auto Express, said: “Jaguar last won our overall Car of the Year award in 2008, with the XF – a car that heralded a forthcoming range of excellent Jaguar models. With the F-PACE you get the sense that Jaguar is on a roll again; the XE, XJ, all-new XF and F-TYPE are all world-class models. But it’s the F-PACE that really stands out for us – it’s a worthy winner of our 2016 Car of the Year title.

As well as winning the overall Car of the Year award, Jaguar also took home the Compact Executive Car of the Year title for the second year running. Before the XE first won the award, it had been more than a decade since a non-German manufacturer had been named Compact Executive Car of the Year.

Ian Callum, Jaguar Design Director, and the man who styled both the F-PACE and XE, said: “What an incredible evening for us; we’ve got two cars competing in the most highly sought-after categories and not only have we won them both, but F-PACE is Car of the Year, too. As ever, I’m amazed and proud by what the Jaguar team is capable of.”

• The Jaguar F-PACE is built at Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull Advanced Manufacturing Plant, alongside the Land Rover Discovery, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Jaguar XE
• The Solihull Advanced Manufacturing Plant was recently transformed into one of the most advanced car manufacturing facilities in the world, thanks to a £1.5bn investment – it now covers an area equivalent to 22 football pitches
• The Jaguar F-PACE is the most practical sports car on sale, priced from £35,020 – for further details go towww.jaguar.co.uk
• The F-PACE First Edition, strictly limited to 2,000 units globally, sold out in record time as buyers raced to own one of the very first F-PACE models. With a design inspired by the C-X17 concept and packed full of high-tech features as standard, the First Edition is the ultimate F-PACE.
• F-PACE’s range of efficient and powerful engines include the 3.0-litre V6 380 PS Supercharged Petrol and the new 2.0-litre 4 cylinder 180PS Diesel Ingenium engine, which can achieve 57.7mpg and CO₂ emissions as low as 129g/km - the lightest, most efficient vehicle in the segment.
• F-PACE gives you state-of-the-art technology, such as the optional Head-up Display and Activity Key, as well as advanced driving aids to make every journey easier and more relaxing. 

AUTO EXPRESS AWARDS - Mercedes takes two awards and one highly commended at this years ceremony.

Mercedes-Benz has scooped two awards at this year’s Auto Express New Car Awards in London. The S-Class has once again been named ‘Best Luxury Car’, while the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class has won the ‘Best Executive Car’ title. The GLC was also highly commended in the Compact SUV segment.

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The S-Class, which has held the ‘Best Luxury Car’ title for three consecutive years, was recognised for its ‘cutting-edge tech’, ‘effortless comfort’ and ‘beautifully crafted cabin’.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class, which has been on sale in the UK since February, beat the competition thanks to its stylish looks, advanced technology and driving characteristics. The E-Class was also awarded five out of five in Auto Express’s full review.

Steve Fowler, Editor-in-Chief, Auto Express, commented: “Mercedes-Benz has moved the goalposts in the executive market with the new E-Class. It offers imperious quality and refinement, stylish looks, advanced tech and is great to drive, too, marking itself out as an unbeatable package for executive car buyers.”

On the S-Class’s reign as ‘Best Luxury Car’, Steve added: “The S-Class remains the benchmark for all other luxury cars to aspire to. The combination of cutting-edge tech, effortless comfort and a beautifully crafted cabin makes it a deserving winner of our award for the third year in a row.”

Collecting the awards on behalf of Mercedes-Benz, Gary Lee, Head of Product Management, said: “The E-Class is at the heart of the Mercedes-Benz model range, and it’s fantastic to see this car getting the recognition it deserves. The new E-Class is the most technologically advanced executive car on the market. The S-Class sets the benchmark for luxury saloons, and we’re delighted that Auto Express agrees.”