Mazda Motor Co has been named as Manufacturer of the year from Automotive Management Magazine

• Automotive Management Magazine has named Mazda Manufacturer of the Year.
• Mazda took the title at AM’s annual award ceremony in London last week.
• 2017 sees the launch of the all-new Mazda MX-5 RF and the all-new Mazda CX-5.

Mazda has lifted the title of Manufacturer of the Year at the 2017 Automotive Management Awards.

Following the fourth-generation MX-5's unprecedented clean sweep of victories last year – taking the 2016 World Car of the Year, 2016 World Car Design of the Year and 2016 UK Car of the Year awards - it's clear that Mazda's driver-focused approach to its current model range is finding favour with judging panels and the general public alike.

In 2016 Mazda recorded 2.4 per cent year-on-year sales growth with retail sales increasing by 10 per cent in a UK market where total retail sales grew by just 2 per cent, while the launch next month of the all-new MX-5 RF Retractable Fastback will bolster the Mazda range to seven models, including the Mazda2, 2017 Mazda3, Mazda6, and both the CX-3 and CX-5 SUVs.

Mazda maintains a highly focused automotive philosophy which links every model in the company's new-generation line-up.  Its standout KODO - Soul of Motion design approach and its unique SKYACTIV Technology deliver entirely human-centred design and engineering ensuring Mazda’s customers benefit from elegant, refined and efficient cars whichprioritisethe Jinba-ittai car-and-driver-as-one driving experience exemplified by the MX-5.

Commenting on the Mazda brand, Automotive Management's panel of judges said: “They're now a brand of great cars, not just the one. Attractive, reliable and great to drive, if you weren't familiar with the brand, or it was hidden from you, you'd think you were driving one of the premium brands”.

Collecting the award Peter Allibon, Sales Director of Mazda UK said, “We are absolutely delighted to have our unique approach to automotive design and engineering recognised through the winning of such a prestigious award.'  And Jeremy Thomson, Managing Director Mazda UK added  “everything we do at Mazda is dedicated to making things better for our customers and our range of stylish, spirited and we are very happy that our great to drive cars continues to win praise from media and our customers alike.”

The Fiat 124 Spider has been named Best Convertible in yet another Car of the year awards ceremony.

The Fiat 124 Spider has been named Best Convertible by contracthireandleasing.com in their annual Car of the Year Awards.

A panel of judges, comprising of road testers and writers, honoured the roadster for its combination of good looks, engaging driving dynamics and comfort.

Announcing the award, Mike Best, head of sales at contracthireandleasing.com, said: “The Fiat 124 Spider is easy on the eye, effortless to drive and perfect for cruising in comfort – bringing classic looks and the laid-back sensibilities of the Mediterranean to UK shores.

“The Fiat 124 Spider has a unique character of its own and is a worthy winner.”

Sebastiano Fedrigo, country manager at Fiat and Abarth, said: “The new Fiat 124 Spider brings iconic Italian design, heritage and performance to a new generation. This award is testament that its combination of driving dynamics, technology and safety delivers the ultimate Italian roadster experience.”

The Fiat 124 Spider is available from £20,995 OTR, for a CLASSICA 1.4 MultiAir Turbo 140hp.

The SEAT Ateca has moved one step nearer to being named the 2017 UK Car Of The Year.

The Barcelona-based car brand’s first SUV has caused quite a stir since it launched last September, attracting plenty of plaudits, not to mention new homes and awards. 

Recognising the SEAT Ateca’s broad range of talents, the judges were quick to single out its rewarding driving experience and keen pricing, while among its glowing test reviews were, “Quite possibly the only family car you’ll ever need right now.” (Ollie Marriage, Top Gear magazine) and “For driver appeal, practicality and value, the Ateca is the new standard-setter in the crossover class.” (David Motton, Freelance Journalist).

The UK Car of the Year Awards are designed specifically for the UK car-buying public, highlighting and advising on the next new car on the market, with a rigorous judging process carried out on the same roads as a typical buyer. 

The judging panel comprises 27 experienced journalists, including some of the most respected names in motoring journalism, who cover all corners of the UK and often drive in excess of 300 cars per year.

As a result of its win, the SEAT Ateca will now progress to the final round of judging later this month, where it will take on 11 other category victors in a bid to secure the overall Car of the Year title.

The Seat Ateca takes it's first international award, the Best Buy car of Europe.

• AUTOBEST, with 31 countries represented in the jury, names SEAT Ateca as “Best Buy Car of Europe in 2017”

The Ateca has brought SEAT significant international acknowledgement as the “Best Buy Car of Europe in 2017” at the AUTOBEST 2017 awards, one of the most prestigious on the continent.

The award, the first major international title for the high-selling Ateca, is testament to the considerable efforts put into consolidating SEAT’s presence in one of the most important markets. It’s also ideal timing, as the Barcelona-based brand ramps up its largest ever product offensive. 

Ateca is already selling exceptionally, and is soon to be joined by three further model launches in the next 12 months: New Leon, reaching showrooms in early 2017, the fifth-generation of the Ibiza and the new SEAT Arona crossover, which will also be coming next year.

“Ateca is meant to create an inflection point for SEAT. We are entering a new segment with a product that offers an excellent mobility experience for our customers and truly represents our very DNA. Ateca is positively contributing to taking the brand to the next level. 

This award confirms that we are on the right track,” says Luca de Meo, SEAT President.

In its sixteenth edition, the AUTOBEST jury pinpointed several factors that make the Ateca stand out, principally; design, comfort, easy to drive, value for money and quality sales and service network.

After testing in Italy at the end of November, the Ateca was chosen as the winner over the four other finalists by a jury of specialised journalists representing 31 countries in the final vote of these influential European awards.

Dr. Matthias Rabe, SEAT Vice-president for Research and Development comments: “The SEAT Ateca perfectly combines design, comfort and technology. It is perfect for the urban jungle and its on- and off-road capabilities ensure a spectacular driving experience in all kind of journeys. That is why we truly believe that Ateca is set to become a reference in the segment.”

The Ateca, also leader in urban mobility

SEAT’s first compact SUV is currently exceeding all expectations and is a crucial model for the brand, not only because it has opened the door to one of the largest market growth segments, but because it is the vehicle the company aims to use in facing such important challenges as the future of urban mobility, which will require new solutions and technologies.

Wide range for all needs

The Ateca range’s versatility was one of the most highly rated factors by the AUTOBEST jurors. Its petrol turbo TSI and diesel turbo TDI engines offer between 115 PS and 190 PS, allied to manual or DSG-auto gearboxes, plus, the option of SEAT’s 4Drive four-wheel-drive system. The numerous options across the line-up include Full LED headlights, to a wide variety of driver assist systems, such as Traffic Jam Assist, and new Emergency Assist and Front Assist, plus, state-of-the-art infotainment with eight-inch touchscreens and Full Link connectivity.

USA - Motor Trend has named the Chevrolet Bolt Electric Vehicle as its 2017 Car Of The Year.

MOTOR TREND has recognized the Chevrolet Bolt EV — the all-new affordable electric vehicle offering an EPA-estimated 238 miles of range on a full charge — as its 2017 Car of the Year^®.

The editors based their selection on the Bolt EV’s performance in six evaluation categories: advancement in design, engineering excellence, efficiency, safety, value and performance of intended function.

“Chevrolet is the fastest-growing full-line retail brand in the industry thanks to an exceptional vehicle lineup, which includes ground-breaking products like the Bolt EV,” said Alan Batey, president of GM North America and Global Chevrolet brand chief. “Being recognized once again as MOTOR TREND Car of the Year is a great honour for the entire Chevrolet team.”

It is the fourth MOTOR TREND award for Chevrolet in three years, with the Camaro recognized as the 2016 Car of the Year and Colorado named the 2015 and 2016 Truck of the Year.

“Chevrolet is on a roll with new and compelling vehicles that have reset the bar for trucks in 2015, trucks and sports cars in 2016, and for 2017, electric cars,” said Ed Loh, MOTOR TREND Editor-in-Chief. “The Bolt EV is certainly a game changing vehicle and we look forward to seeing whether we’ll be recognizing another Chevrolet next year in our annual awards.”

USA - The Mazda MX-5 Miata takes the Best Convertible to buy award from The Car Connection.

The Mazda MX-5 Miata has been named the Best Convertible to Buy for 2017 by the editors of The Car Connection. The editorial team at the automotive news and vehicle reviews website agreed that the lightweight MX-5 roadster is a standout in its class, outperforming its competitors with a driving experience that only the world’s best-selling roadster can deliver.

“We’ve owned them, raced them, test-driven them. Year after year, the Mazda MX-5 Miata reminds us that less does indeed equal more,” said Marty Padgett, editorial director for Internet Brands Automotive, the parent company of The Car Connection. 

“It’s a welcome diversion from the horsepower arms race, with its light weight, sharp handling and stylish body. It’s the very essence of the classic two-seat sports car.”

The MX-5 embodies Mazda’s commitment to pure driving enjoyment and its spirit lives in every vehicle it sells. Earlier this year, the 2016 MX-5 was awarded as the first vehicle to ever win World Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year in the same year. Globally, there have been more than one-million MX-5s built, speaking to the loyal following it has earned throughout the past three decades from daily drivers, to weekend warriors to racers to parent-child project cars, alike.

With a starting MSRP[1] of $24,915, the 2016 MX-5 Miata adopts Mazda’s full suite of SKYACTIV Technology and KODO—Soul of Motion design language. The pricing and packaging on one of the torchbearers for the Mazda brand provides owners with superb value at every price point, keeping the MX-5 Miata top-of-mind as one of the world’s most beloved convertibles. In 2017, the MX-5 family will grow with the inclusion of the MX-5 RF retractable fastback convertible.

Volvo has been named as Car Tech Brand of the Year at the first Car Tech Awards ceremony.

• Vauxhall Astra and Volkswagen Passat named Tech Cars of the Year

Volvo has been named Car Tech Brand of the Year and the Vauxhall Astra and Volkswagen Passat as Tech Cars of the Year at the first Car Tech Awards.

The Car Tech Awards recognise and celebrate the best use of tech in new cars covering areas as diverse as self-parking, audio, connectivity and driver assistance. Born out of a collaboration between leading tech and car buying websites www.alphr.com and www.carbuyer.co.uk, the Car Tech Awards are the first to recognise the importance of technology in the automotive industry. 

The Awards were judged by a team of experts from across the Alphr.com and Carbuyer.co.uk teams, who tested 45 different cars to find their winners in each category.

Steve Fowler, editor-in-chief of Carbuyer, said: “Over recent years the importance of car tech has risen dramatically. Where this used to just be a nice-to-have, the technology used in a car can make or break a potential customer’s buying decision.

“From sat nav to parking assistance and self parking to connectivity the consumer wants the very best. Alphr.com and Carbuyer are both experts in their fields, so who better to join forces to create these brand new awards to celebrate the very best technology available in cars today.”

Judges praised Volvo for the way it’s using technology to deliver on its promise of zero deaths or serious injuries in a new Volvo by 2020, its superb Sensus infotainment system and its strategic cooperation with Uber to further develop autonomous cars.

The British-built Vauxhall Astra was named Tech Car of the Year in the sub-£25,000 category. The judges were impressed by the availability of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across the range and the safety and convenience of Vauxhall’s excellent OnStar system.

“The Astra’s tech is extremely well thought-out,” said Steve Fowler. “All of the systems are easy to use, and the standard audio system shamed those fitted to far more expensive models.”

There was an equally clear winner in the Tech Car of the Year over £25,000 category, too. The Volkswagen Passat was one of the few cars to challenge for top honours in almost every category.

“We love the Passat’s crystal-clear Active Info Display, which replaces the car’s traditional analogue, and there’s great integration of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The self-parking systems are superb, too,” said Steve Fowler.

The Tech of the Year award went to Audi’s Virtual Cockpit – a system that’s hard to overlook if you’re buying a new Audi, not least because it’s priced so competitively. Like VW’s Active Info Display, Virtual Cockpit replaces the car’s standard instruments with a huge full-colour screen. One quick drive with the full-screen navigation screen activated and it’s hard not to be won over.

The full list of winners is as follows:

Tech Brand of the Year - Volvo

Tech Car of the Year - over £25,000

Winner - Volkswagen Passat

Tech Car of the Year  - under £25,000

Winner - Vauxhall Astra

Tech of the Year - Audi Virtual Cockpit

Best audio system – under £25,000

Winner – Volkswagen Golf Dynaudio

Highly commended – Skoda Fabia

Best audio system – over £25,000

Winner – Volvo XC90 Bowers and Wilkins

Highly commended – Mercedes S-Class Burmeister

Best in-car connectivity – under £25,000

Winner – Audi A3

Highly commended – Ford Kuga SYNC 3

Best in-car connectivity – over £25,000

Winner – Volkswagen Passat

Highly commended – Volvo XC90

Best sat-nav – under £25,000

Winner – SEAT Ibiza

Highly commended – Vauxhall Astra

Best sat-nav – over £25,000

Winner – Volkswagen Passat

Highly commended – BMW 3 Series

Best autonomous drive

Winner – Tesla Model S

Highly commended – Mercedes E-Class

Best self-parking system – under £25,000

Winner – Vauxhall Astra

Highly commended – Citroen C4 Picasso

Best self-parking system – over £25,000

Winner – Mercedes C-Class

Most user-friendly tech – under £25,000

Winner – Audi A3

Most user-friendly tech – over £25,000

Winner – Volvo XC90

Best safety innovation – under £25,000

Winner – Vauxhall Astra – OnStar

Best safety innovation – over £25,000

Winner – Ford S-MAX Intelligent Speed Limiter