UKCOTY - McLaren Automotive celebrates as the 570S Coupe takes best performance car award.

As the covers are removed from the 570GT at the Geneva Motor Show, the model that launched the Sports Series – the 570S Coupé – has been named ‘Best Performance Car’ in the 2016 UK Car of the Year Awards (UKCotY). Since launch, the first model in the Sports Series has received wide-spread praise and won accolades from media the world over. 

This prestigious award was judged by an independent judging panel of 27 leading UK media, and is a significant milestone for the 570S Coupé. The Sports Series will play a key role in increasing global sales during 2016.

Now in its third year, the Awards are designed to highlight and advise on the best new cars on the market specifically for UK customers.

On selecting the 570S Coupé as the Best Performance Car of 2016, freelance journalist and UKCotY jury member Richard Bremner commented: ‘The 570S is McLaren’s best car yet – a sensational blend of all that you want from a supercar, including a drivetrain that’s not overpowered. Easier to live with than many of its rivals, too.’ 

Fellow juror Simon McBride added: ‘This may be a niche car when it comes to UK sales but that is not the point. The McLaren a masterpiece, it has serious road presence while its head-turning ability is undoubted. This is what makes Britain great - it is an engineering triumph.’

Guy Bird, regular contributor to CAR, CarDesignNews and Wallpaper* concluded: ‘McLaren has called the 570S: “the most important car in our short history”. We agree.’

Andy Palmer, Director of Sports Series at McLaren Automotive explained: ‘The launch of the Sports Series has been one of the biggest challenges for McLaren. It has opened up a new market segment for the brand, which is dominated by well-established and extremely strong rivals, but the 570S Coupé has proved to be up to the challenge. 

It was important that the 570S, and the Sports Series as a whole, lost none of the excitement or engagement that marks out a McLaren as a McLaren. This latest award is testament to the team behind the car, who have designed and developed a true British sports car.’ 

The 570S Coupé is powered by a 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 generating 570PS (562bhp) and 600Nm (443 lb ft) of torque. Acceleration from 0-100km/h (0-62mph) takes 3.2 seconds, 0-200km/h (0-124mph) in 9.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 328km/h (204mph). 

Weighing more than 140kg less than its nearest rival, at just 1,313kg (2,895lbs), thanks in part to the unique lightweight carbon fibre MonoCell II chassis, the 570S Coupé boasts a power-to-weight figure of 434PS, while benefitting from a luxuriously equipped interior tailored towards day-to-day usability and optimised access.

Pricing for the Sports Series in the UK starts from £126,000, while the 570S Coupé is available from £143,250, available from the network of five retailers: Ascot, Birmingham, Glasgow, London and Manchester.

Jaguar's last hurrah XK wins best performance car at Driver Power awards.

TMW THOUGHTS

Now, if I was to state that this award was well deserved, it would them look like i was biased against the MG6 winning theirs, but on this occasion the XK can quite honestly be given this award, without the knowledge of it being pushed to this position by fanboi's, The MG6 has no doubt been given a leg up by its fans, but the Jag, its not really the sort of things a Jaaaagg owner does, is it ! This award is well deserved and can be given, because this car quite simply is the best.

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• Jaguar XK rated as Best Performance Car in nation’s biggest motoring customer satisfaction survey
• Owners praised build quality, ride quality, ease of driving and handling of XK
• More than 46,000 car owners took part in the 13^th edition of the Auto Express Driver Power survey

The Jaguar XK picked up a coveted Driver Power Award at a ceremony in Buckinghamshire today after it was rated the best performance car in the nation’s biggest motoring customer satisfaction survey.

The Jaguar XK is a Grand Tourer with the soul of a sports car, and it is the XK’s performance characteristics that truly define this stunning Jaguar. Thanks in part to its acclaimed 5.0-litre V8 engine, available in normally-aspirated 385 PS or supercharged 510 PS and 550 PS guises, performance has always been the XK’s strong suit – a fact the British motoring public recognises, highlighted by this latest award.

Auto Express Editor-in-Chief Steve Fowler said: “The Jaguar XK has once again proved to be a big hit among owners for its performance. But it’s not all about how fast it can go from 0-62mph, as it’s also praised highly for its build quality, ease of driving and ride quality. This is proof the Jaguar XK is an excellent all-rounder, and a great car to live with day-to-day.”

 

The XK achieved superb ratings in a number of critical categories. It was rated highly for build and ride quality, won plaudits for ease of driving, and was commended for its handling characteristics – all helping to cement the XK’s position as one of the nation’s favourite sports cars.  

Driver Power – compiled by Auto Express and now in its 13^th year - is a comprehensive survey that delves into every aspect of what a car is like to live with. With more than 46,000 UK car owners taking part in the 2014 edition, it is the nation’s biggest motoring customer satisfaction survey.  

With two new special edition models – XK Signature and XK Dynamic R - launched earlier this year, the stunning Jaguar XK now offers greater levels of style, luxury and technology than ever before. Also included in the current Jaguar XK line-up is the awesome, high-performance XKR-S derivative, available in Coupé and Convertible body styles.

New Fiesta ST3 expands the popularity of the ST series.

Ford has launched a new flagship version of its multi-award-winning Ford Fiesta ST.

The new Fiesta ST3 builds on the specification of the ST-2 by adding desirable features including:

• Keyless entry
• Sony DAB radio/CD with navigation system
• Cruise control
• Automatic headlights
• Rain sensing wipers
• Auto-dimming rear view mirror
• Power-fold door mirrors with puddle lamps
• Electronic automatic temperature control

The Ford Fiesta ST-3 goes on sale just one year after the current Fiesta ST’s debut.  Since then over 6,250 have been sold – 20 per cent more than forecast.

Priced at £19,250, the Ford Fiesta ST3 responds to demand for a higher series model in addition to the previous two specification line-up, with the ST-2 accounting for over 90 per cent of sales.

Powered by the same highly efficient petrol engine that has proved so popular with Ford customers – the 1.6-litre EcoBoost 182PS unit with six-speed manual transmission – the Ford Fiesta ST-3 will maintain the car’s ‘hot hatch’ performance, reaching 62mph time in 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 139mph. Official fuel economy on the combined cycle is 47.9mpg, with CO₂ emissions of only 138g/km.

Five vibrant exterior colours are available – Frozen White, Race Red, Panther Black, Spirit Blue and Molten Orange. They are matched to one of two striking interior colour themes, Molten Orange or Smoke Storm, depending on the paint finish chosen.

Rear parking sensors are introduced as an optional extra on the ST-3 (and ST-2), costing £250.

The Ford Fiesta ST was launched to critical acclaim and has gone on to win almost 25 award honours including:

• Car of the Year – Top Gear Magazine Awards
• Best Hot Hatch – Auto Express Awards
• Best Hot Hatch – Scottish Car of the Year Awards
• Car of the Year – The Scotsman Motoring Awards
• Best Performance Car – UK Car of the Year Awards