Top 10: Irish car sales 2011

Despite continued bleak economic conditions, the Irish car market managed to grow slightly during 2011. Figures released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry show that total registrations were 89,904, an increase of 1.7% compared to the previous year’s 88,373.



Around 12,000 of 2011’s sales were due to the scrappage scheme, which closed at the end of June. This gave Vehicle Registration Tax relief of €1,250 per new car, provided that the customer’s trade-in was at least ten-years-old.



While the Focus was the most popular model, Ford slumped to third place in the manufacturers’ rankings. That left Toyota to take the top spot, closely followed by Volkswagen.

Ireland's most popular car in 2011: The Ford Focus.

BMW slipped into the top ten, thanks mainly to 2,163 new 5 Series registrations. The entire Mercedes-Benz range combined couldn’t beat that performance, which contributed to BMW achieving a massive 37.7% year-on-year sales upsurge.



Even that wasn’t quite enough to beat rivals Audi, though, because it too experienced an impressive growth rate and ended the year with 3,464 registrations.



The other stand-out success was Hyundai, which posted 1,052 extra sales compared to 2010.

Top 10: Irish Car Sales 2011 - By Manufacturer
Position	Manufacturer	2011	2010	+/-	% +/-
1	Toyota	11,812	10,660	1,152	10.8%
2	Volkswagen	11,247	10,301	946	9.2%
3	Ford	10,519	11,215	-696	-6.2%
4	Renault	8,580	9,746	-1,166	-12.0%
5	Nissan	6,763	5,494	1,269	23.1%
6	Opel	6,387	6,603	-216	-3.3%
7	Škoda	4,651	4,915	-264	-5.4%
8	Hyundai	4,011	2,959	1,052	35.6%
9	Audi	3,464	2,723	741	27.2%
10	BMW	3,433	2,493	940	37.7%
Figures provided by SIMI Statistical Service

Top 10: Irish Car Sales 2011 - By Model
Position	Manufacturer	Model	Registrations
1	Ford	Focus	4,242
2	Volkswagen	Golf	3,980
3	Toyota	Avensis	3,661
4	Renault	Fluence	3,016
5	Volkswagen	Passat Saloon	2,975
6	Ford	Fiesta	2,953
7	Nissan	Qashqai	2,653
8	Toyota	Corolla	2,592
9	Renault	Mégane	2,530
10	Toyota	Yaris	2,311
Figures provided by SIMI Statistical Service

Related posts:

Top 10: UK car sales 2011
Top 10: Irish car sales 2010

2012 NACTOY winners

The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque has been declared the 2012 North American Truck of the Year.



Awarded 254 points by the jury of fifty automotive journalists from across Canada and the United States, the Evoque achieved an emphatic victory over the other two finalists. The second-place Honda CR-V scored 142, while the BMW X3 managed a modest 94.

2012 North American Truck of the Year: Land Rover Range Rover Evoque.

It was a much closer contest for the 2012 North American Car of the Year title. The Ford Focus and Volkswagen Passat secured 155 and 161 points respectively, but the Hyundai Elantra emerged as the eventual winner with a score of 174.

2012 North American Car of the Year: Hyundai Elantra.

Related posts:
2012 Euro COTY nominees
2012 NACTOY finalists
2012 Euro COTY candidates
Volt is Car of the Year

2012 Euro COTY nominees

The original thirty-five candidates for the 2012 European Car of the Year award have been whittled down to a list of seven nominees, following a first round of voting.

2012 European Car of the Year Nominees
Manufacturer	Model
Citroën	DS5
Fiat	Panda
Ford	Focus
Range Rover	Evoque
Toyota	Yaris
Vauxhall / Opel / Chevrolet	Ampera / Volt
Volkswagen	Up!

Given that there have been some dubious winners in the past (the Simca / Chrysler Horizon in 1979 and Fiat Bravo / Brava in 1996 are obvious examples), it’s good to see that the jury has decided on a strong group of finalists.



Perhaps the one exception is the Toyota Yaris, which really doesn’t deserve to triumph over any of the other six contenders. Arguably, the Citroën DS4 or even the Porsche 911 ought to have taken the Toyota’s place instead.



A second ballot will now take place to determine the overall winner, and the result will be revealed on 5 March 2012 at the Geneva Motor Show.



And which model should be named 2012 European Car of the Year? Either the Citroën DS5 or Range Rover Evoque.

Citroën DS5: 2012 European Car of the Year nominee.

Related posts:
2012 Euro COTY candidates
World Car Awards winners
Volt is Car of the Year
Leaf is Car of the Year

Top 10: UK car sales 2011

1,941,253 new cars were sold in the UK during 2011, according to figures just released by the SMMT.



As expected, that was down on 2010’s total of 2,030,846, but the 4.4% reduction wasn’t quite as bad as had been previously forecast.



Some manufacturers did buck the trend though, recording some healthy percentage increases. The biggest winners were Infiniti, Lexus, Alfa Romeo and the rejuvenated MG, but all are comparative minnows with a combined market share of just over 1%.

Of more significance were the rises of 14.2% and 14.0% achieved by Mini and Audi respectively, with the latter also managing the highest unit growth - 13,969 - of any marque. Indeed, Audi finished the year with 113,797 sales, tantalisingly close to archrival BMW’s figure of 116,642.



Needless to say, for many firms it wasn’t a good year. Unsurprisingly, neither Daihatsu nor Saab did well, but shockingly Smart saw its sales slashed by over a third and Mazda’s decrease was of a similar magnitude.

Renault suffered the largest volume drop, with 27,159 fewer registrations compared to 2010. Perhaps that massive 28.4% reduction goes some way to explaining the company’s decision to decimate both its model range and dealer network in the UK?



Despite all the year-on-year movements, there was little change at the head of the manufacturers’ league table, as Ford, Vauxhall, Volkswagen and BMW retained the top four spots.

Top 10: Cumulative UK Car Sales Q4 2011 By Manufacturer
Position 2011	Manufacturer	Registrations	Position 2010	Movement
1	Ford	265,894	1	-
2	Vauxhall	234,710	2	-
3	Volkswagen	179,290	3	-
4	BMW	116,642	4	-
5	Audi	113,797	6	+1
6	Nissan	96,269	8	+2
7	Peugeot	94,989	5	-2
8	Mercedes-Benz	81,873	10	+2
9	Toyota	73,589	9	-
10	Citroën	68,464	11	+1

Ford also excelled in the individual models’ chart, with the Fiesta and Focus occupying the first two positions (as they did throughout 2011).

Top 10: Cumulative UK Car Sales Q4 2011 By Model
Position	Manufacturer	Model	Registrations
1	Ford	Fiesta	96,112
2	Ford	Focus	81,832
3	Vauxhall	Corsa	77,751
4	Volkswagen	Golf	63,368
5	Vauxhall	Astra	62,575
6	Vauxhall	Insignia	46,324
7	Volkswagen	Polo	45,992
8	BMW	3 Series	42,471
9	Nissan	Qashqai	39,406
10	Mini	Hatchback	35,845

Related posts:
Top 10: Car sales Q3 2011
Top 10: Car sales Q2 2011
Top 10: Car sales Q1 2011
Top 10: UK car sales 2010

2012 NACTOY finalists

A panel of fifty automotive journalists from across the United States and Canada has decided the finalists for the 2012 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards.



In the North American Car of the Year category, the jurors selected the Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and Volkswagen Passat from a shortlist of seventeen models, all of which had to be new or substantially changed in the past twelve months.

Ford Focus: 2012 North American Car of the Year finalist.

Those contenders that didn’t make it through to the finals were the Audi A6, Audi A7, Buick Verano, Chevrolet Sonic, Chrysler 300 / SRT-8, Fiat 500, Hyundai Accent, Hyundai Veloster, Kia Rio / Rio 5, Scion iQ, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius V and Volkswagen Beetle.



The 2012 North American Truck of the Year title will go to the BMW X3, Honda CR-V or Land Rover Range Rover Evoque. There were only seven vehicles to choose the three finalists from though, with the Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Mini Countryman, Nissan Quest and Saab 9-4X being the unsuccessful nominees.

BMW X3: 2012 North American Truck of the Year finalist.

A second round of voting is now going to take place to determine the outright winners for each award. The results will be announced on 9 January 2012 in Detroit.



Related posts:
2012 Euro COTY candidates
Volt is Car of the Year

What Car? CotY contenders

For the first time, What Car? magazine has published a list of candidates for its annual Car of the Year Awards.



Two new categories have been added this year - City Car and SUV - and there will also be special awards for safety and security.



The results are going to be announced at a ceremony on Wednesday, 11th January. Between now and then the judges will have to decide on the individual group winners, as well as the model that deserves to take the overall 2012 What Car? Car of the Year title.



The contenders are:



City Car

· Fiat 500

· Hyundai i10

· Kia Picanto

· Seat Mii

· Škoda Citigo

· Volkswagen Up!

2012 Škoda Citigo.

In its debut year, this category features three essentially identical cars - the Mii, Citigo and Up! Out of that trio, it’s the Škoda that should win, simply because it’s likely to be the cheapest.



Supermini

· Audi A1

· Chevrolet Aveo

· Ford Fiesta

· Hyundai i20

· Kia Rio

· Renault Clio

· Volkswagen Polo



The A1 won last year, the most expensive model on this year’s supermini shortlist.



Small Family Car

· BMW 1 Series

· Chevrolet Volt

· Ford Focus

· Hyundai i30

· Nissan Leaf

· Škoda Octavia

· Vauxhall Ampera

· Vauxhall Astra GTC

· Volkswagen Golf



This group includes some very strong newcomers, among them the Focus, 1 Series and Astra GTC. Surely one of these will be deemed good enough to steal the category title from the Golf?



Family Car

· Ford Mondeo

· Mazda 6

· Mercedes-Benz B-Class

· Peugeot 508

· Škoda Superb

· Volkswagen Passat



The big surprise here is that the Vauxhall Insignia hasn’t made the list, especially as it comfortably outsells its Passat, Mondeo (last year’s winner) and 508 competitors in the UK.



Estate

· Audi A6 Avant

· BMW 5 Series Touring

· Ford Focus Estate

· Ford Mondeo Estate

· Hyundai i40 Estate

· Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate

· Škoda Octavia Estate

· Volkswagen Passat Estate



The Mondeo might have won last year, but the Octavia is an impressive estate car package that deserves to be recognised.



MPV

· Citroën C3 Picasso

· Ford Galaxy

· Ford S-Max

· Peugeot 5008

· Renault Grand Scenic

· Seat Alhambra

· Volkswagen Sharan



This category is made somewhat dull by the lack of new models. Seat’s Alhambra is the current title holder.



Hot Hatch

· Mini Cooper S

· Renault Clio Renaultsport 200 Cup

· Renault Mégane Renaultsport 250 Cup

· Renault Twingo Renaultsport 133 Cup

· Suzuki Swift Sport

· Volkswagen Golf GTI



It’s hard to envisage Renault not retaining this particular title, but will the Clio or Twingo manage to take over from the Mégane as the best hot hatch?



Coupé

· Audi A5 Coupé

· Audi TT

· BMW 3 Series Coupé

· BMW 6 Series

· Jaguar XK

· Mini Coupé

· Volkswagen Scirocco

2012 Mini John Cooper Works Coupé.

The Audi TT won in 2011, but could the new Mini Coupé be victorious this year?



Open Top

· Audi A3 Cabriolet

· Audi TT Roadster

· Bentley Continental GTC

· BMW 6 Series Convertible

· BMW Z4

· Mazda MX-5

· Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet

· Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet



This class spans a huge price range, so deciding on a winner is going to be one tough job. BMW’s Z4 is the reigning champ.



Performance Car

· Audi R8 Spyder

· BMW M5

· Ferrari 458 Italia

· Lamborghini Aventador

· Lotus Evora

· McLaren MP4-12C

· Porsche 911

· Porsche Cayman R



Some very strong contenders here - can the McLaren snatch the title from its archrival, the 458 Italia?



SUV

· Audi Q3

· BMW X3

· Hyundai Santa Fe

· Land Rover Discovery

· Nissan Qashqai

· Peugeot 3008

· Range Rover Evoque



If the Evoque doesn’t win this category, it’ll be a major shock.



Executive Car

· Audi A6

· Audi A7 Sportback

· BMW 3 Series

· BMW 5 Series

· Citroën DS5

· Jaguar XF

· Mercedes-Benz C-Class

· Porsche Panamera



Both new BMW models have to be favourites to win, but will they be judged good enough to take the title from the Jaguar?



Luxury Car

· Audi A8

· Bentley Mulsanne

· Jaguar XJ

· Mercedes-Benz S-Class

· Range Rover

· Rolls-Royce Phantom

2011 Jaguar XJ.

The S-Class might have won last time but, with its combination of lightweight construction and striking design, the Jaguar ought to be victorious for 2012.



Low-Carbon Award

· Alfa Romeo – Biggest improvement in CO2 in the past year.

· BMW – New 3 Series and 520d Efficient Dynamics.

· Fiat – Lowest CO2 range average.

· General Motors – Range-extender technology.

· Kia – Rio 1.1 CRDi 85g/km.

· Nissan Leaf – Last year’s winner.

· Porsche – Lowest average CO2 per 100bhp.



BMW’s Efficient Dynamics programme continues to impress, however GM’s range extender technologies combine the environmental benefits of electric cars without any of the range anxiety.



Related posts:
2012 Euro COTY candidates
World Car Awards winners

Top 10: Car sales Q3 2011

The very capable Ford Fiesta remains the best-selling car in the UK. Data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders shows that Ford’s supermini has notched up 77,198 registrations to the end of the third quarter, which equates to just under 5% of the 1,553,094 market total.

Ford Fiesta: Still the UK's best-selling car.

Car registrations in September - the second most important month behind March, thanks to the registration plate change - ended up at 332,476. Encouragingly, that was just 0.8% behind the same month last year, but again it’s the comparatively healthy fleet and business sectors that are preventing a larger decline.



However, continued volatile economic conditions mean that the SMMT is predicting a difficult fourth quarter, and a total of 1.92 million cars are now expected to be registered during 2011.



The ten most popular models, and their order in the league table, are unchanged since Q2.

Top 10: Cumulative UK Car Sales Q3 2011
Position	Manufacturer	Model	Registrations
1	Ford	Fiesta	77,198
2	Ford	Focus	67,672
3	Vauxhall	Corsa	60,959
4	Volkswagen	Golf	50,013
5	Vauxhall	Astra	49,042
6	Vauxhall	Insignia	38,386
7	Volkswagen	Polo	36,655
8	BMW	3 Series	33,650
9	Nissan	Qashqai	30,763
10	Mini	Mini	28,097

Related posts:
Top 10: Car sales Q2 2011
Top 10: Car sales Q1 2011
Top 10: UK car sales 2010

2012 Euro COTY candidates

The candidate list for the 2012 European Car of the Year award has been published.



Thirty-five models are included, with eligibility being determined by two factors. Firstly, the vehicle must be available now (or by year end) in at least five European countries; secondly, each must have the expectation of achieving at least 5,000 annual sales.

2012 European Car of the Year Candidates
Manufacturer	Model
Audi	A6
Audi	Q3
BMW	1 Series
BMW	6 Series
Chevrolet	Aveo
Chevrolet	Orlando
Citroën	DS4
Citroën	DS5
Fiat	Panda
Ford	Focus
Honda	Civic
Hyundai	i40
Hyundai	Veloster
Kia	Picanto
Kia	Rio
Lancia	Ypsilon
Lexus	GS
Mazda	CX-5
Mercedes-Benz	B-Class
Mercedes-Benz	ML-Class
Mercedes-Benz	SLK
Peugeot	3008 Hybrid4
Peugeot	508
Porsche	911
Range Rover	Evoque
Renault	Fluence Z.E.
Renault	Kangoo Z.E.
Ssangyong	Korando
Toyota	Yaris
Toyota / Subaru	Verso S / Trezia
Vauxhall / Opel	Zafira Tourer
Vauxhall / Opel / Chevrolet	Ampera / Volt
Volkswagen	Beetle
Volkswagen	Jetta
Volkswagen	Up!

A first round of jury voting will reduce the original list down to seven nominees, and the result of this is due to be announced on 9 January 2012.



An overall winner will then be revealed on 5 March 2012 at the Geneva Motor Show, following a second ballot.

The previous generation Fiat Panda was European Car of the Year in 2004.

Will its successor be given the same accolade in 2012?

The 2011 European Car of the Year was the Nissan Leaf, with the runners-up slots being taken by the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and Vauxhall / Opel Meriva.



Related posts:
World Car Awards winners
Volt is Car of the Year
Leaf is Car of the Year

Russian buys Think Global

After filing for bankruptcy for the fourth time in its history last month, electric car manufacturer Think Global AS has been bought by Russian investor Boris Zingarevich.



Think North America and Think UK, which remained solvent throughout, have also been acquired as part of the transaction.



The new Norwegian-registered company has been named Electric Mobility Solutions AS, although vehicles will continue to be marketed under the Think brand. Production is scheduled to restart during the first quarter of 2012, and a new sales and service network is due to be announced soon.



And sorting out the distribution channels is important, because previously the vehicles were only available in Norway, the United States, Austria and the Netherlands. Undoubtedly having such a limited market presence contributed to a measly and financially unsustainable 1,043 unit sales in 2010.

The Think City N van was launched in January 2011.

Importantly, the deal includes a memorandum of understanding with key suppliers Valmet Automotive and lithium-ion battery maker Ener1 regarding their co-operation on the re-launch of Think. Both firms, which were creditors of the firm at the time of the last bankruptcy, are also negotiating equity stakes in the new operation.



Commenting on the purchase, Boris Zingarevich said: “Having achieved the position of one of the world’s most highly regarded electric vehicle products, the Think brand is a valuable asset that deserves to continue its key role in the global shift to electrification. With the potential of working with the leading American automotive lithium-ion battery maker and Europe’s top automobile engineering and manufacturing company, I believe we could have exactly the right combination and value chain to ensure that the brand will be increasingly competitive in the worldwide electric vehicle market.”



Indeed, that is the nub of the issue: Can a comparatively tiny concern like Think compete on price, range and performance in an increasingly crowded electric vehicle marketplace, especially one that’s now starting to attract mainstream manufacturers?



Related post:

Think launches City van

Top 10: Car sales Q2 2011

Figures just published by the SMMT show that 1,029,638 cars were sold in the UK to the end of Q2 2011, a reduction of 7.1% compared to the same period last year.



Despite the overall drop, the fleet sector remains fairly buoyant, with registrations up by 3.4% versus 2010. Combined fleet and business sales now account for just over 57% of the market.



As a result of that mix, almost half of all cars sold so far this year have been diesels. In turn, the shift away from petrol power will have undoubtedly contributed to average new car CO2 emissions falling to 138.9 g/km during Q2 2011. That’s the first time ever that a figure of less than 140 g/km has been achieved.



The ten most popular cars haven’t changed much since Q1, with the league table once again headed by the Ford Fiesta and Focus. Whether it’s a situation that will continue in the longer term remains to be seen though, as reports suggest Ford is prepared to sacrifice its top seller position in order to be more profitable.

Ford Fiesta: Still the UK's most popular car.

Top 10: Cumulative UK Car Sales Q2 2011
Position	Manufacturer	Model	Registrations
1	Ford	Fiesta	51,643
2	Ford	Focus	43,825
3	Vauxhall	Corsa	38,597
4	Volkswagen	Golf	33,118
5	Vauxhall	Astra	32,883
6	Vauxhall	Insignia	25,950
7	Volkswagen	Polo	22,897
8	BMW	3 Series	21,866
9	Nissan	Qashqai	19,992
10	Mini	Mini	18,619

Related posts:

Top 10: Car sales Q1 2011

Top 10: UK car sales 2010

Toyota is top car brand

Toyota has beaten BMW to become the number one car brand in the BrandZ™ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands 2011, as compiled by MillwardBrown.



That was achieved despite the extensive and high profile recalls for many of the company’s vehicles over the past year. However, the introduction of extended warranties, as well as independent experts finding that driver mistakes were responsible in the majority of incidents, clearly helped to minimise any damage. Toyota also topped the rankings for offering the best value, a measure of desirability versus price.

Toyota: Most valuable car brand 2011

Runner-up BMW was cited as being the most recommended automotive brand, while third-place Mercedes-Benz is the most trusted.



Eighth-place Ford was the only one of the ‘big three’ American manufacturers to make the top ten, which was due in part to it rejecting government bail-out money, unlike GM and Chrysler. Indeed, Ford made its highest profits for ten years, while launching attractive models that people actually want to buy and supporting them by innovative marketing approaches.



Heading the overall Top 100 listing was Apple, followed by Google and IBM.

BrandZ™ Top 10 Most Valuable Global Car Brands 2011
Ranking: Cars	Brand	Brand Value (US$ M)	Change	Ranking: Overall Top 100
1	Toyota	24,198	11%	27
2	BMW	22,425	3%	30
3	Mercedes-Benz	15,344	12%	50
4	Honda	14,182	-1%	56
5	Porsche	12,413	3%	66
6	Nissan	10,072	17%	88
7	Volkswagen	7,408	6%	N/A
8	Ford	7,394	5%	N/A
9	Audi	3,808	5%	N/A
10	Lexus	3,648	N/A	N/A

World Car Awards winners

Last November it was declared the 2011 European Car of the Year, and now the Nissan Leaf has been named 2011 World Car of the Year at the New York International Auto Show. Occupying the runners-up slots were the two other short-listed models, the BMW 5 Series and Audi A8.

Nissan Leaf: 2011 World Car of the Year

2011 World Performance Car winner was the Ferrari 458 Italia, an unsurprising victory even though it was up against the talented Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and Porsche 911 Turbo.



Another predictable (but deserved) result was that the 2011 World Car Design of the Year title went to the Aston Martin Rapide, which beat the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and Ferrari 458 Italia.



The Nissan Leaf was also a finalist in the 2011 World Green Car category. However, it lost out to the Chevrolet Volt which, with its range-extender technology, is undoubtedly a much more practical proposition for many drivers. Even so, the Leaf’s environmental credentials must have helped it to secure the main prize, so perhaps the outcome seems rather inconsistent? The third finalist for this award was the BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition.



Related posts:

World Car Awards top three

World Car Awards finalists

Leaf is Car of the Year

i-MiEV joins Hertz fleet

Hertz has started to offer the Mitsubishi i-MiEV to its customers in the UK. For now, two of the all-electric cars are available to members of the ‘Connect by Hertz’ car sharing club in London, but the plan is to add more of the Mitsubishis to rental fleets across the country.



To support the initiative, Hertz has set up charging stations at Heathrow Airport, London City Airport, Marble Arch, Old Kent Road, Russell Square and Uxbridge. Drivers will also be able to use the Source London network of public charging points, which is currently being established across London.

President of Hertz International, Michel Taride, said: “Our partnership with Mitsubishi Motors in the UK to provide i-MiEV cars to our Connect by Hertz members and Hertz customers in the UK is a vital part of our global Electric Vehicle and sustainability initiatives. We are excited that from today, our customers can experience the joy of 100% electric driving with the i-MiEVs, which offer surprising power and a smooth, quiet ride.”



The i-MiEV features a 66 bhp (49 kW / 66 PS) motor that’s powered by a 16 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Range is 93 miles (150 km), which should be plenty for predominantly city centre journeys.



Related posts:

Nine electric cars get grant

Mitsubishi i-MiEV costs

UK i-MiEV prices slashed

Daimler and Bosch EV JV

Daimler AG and Robert Bosch GmbH are working on forming a joint venture to make motors for electric vehicles. The plan is for the operation to commence production in 2012, with the motors initially being used in Mercedes-Benz and Smart models.



However, it’s intended that the technology will also be made available to other manufacturers. Any such sales are going to be handled by Bosch.

The electrically-powered Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-CELL

Related post:

SLS AMG E-CELL is go

Top 10: Car sales Q1 2011

UK car sales in the first quarter of 2011 fell 8.7% to 558,336, according to figures released by the SMMT.



With the fleet and business segments showing slight increases on 2010, the decline was due to 57,769 fewer private registrations. However, given the scrappage scheme that was running last year, such a drop was expected.



Probably reflecting those reduced private sales, the proportion of petrol-powered cars dipped to just over 50%. Consequently, average new car CO2 emissions were 140.3g/km, a 3.4% reduction compared to 2010.



The Ford Fiesta retained its position as the most popular car in the UK. Further down the chart, a D segment model from a mainstream manufacturer actually managed to outsell the ubiquitous 3 Series, with the Vauxhall Insignia achieving 11,904 registrations compared to the BMW’s 10,141.

Top 10: UK Car Sales Q1 2011
Position	Manufacturer	Model	Registrations
1	Ford	Fiesta	27,924
2	Ford	Focus	24,435
3	Vauxhall	Corsa	20,536
4	Vauxhall	Astra	17,250
5	Volkswagen	Golf	17,101
6	Volkswagen	Polo	12,214
7	Vauxhall	Insignia	11,904
8	Peugeot	207	10,335
9	BMW	3 Series	10,141
10	Nissan	Qashqai	9,253

Related post:

Top 10: UK car sales 2010

2011 Fleet News Awards

Following a strong showing at the Business Car Awards in January, BMW has been similarly rewarded by the 2011 Fleet News Awards. As well as being voted manufacturer of the year, it also secured four individual vehicle accolades.



There’s no doubt that the combination of badge appeal, driving dynamics and strong residuals make the honours deserved, but surely such ever increasing popularity amongst fleet users risks eroding the exclusivity of the brand?



However, BMW didn’t get everything its own way. The new Ford C-Max / Grand C-Max scooped the company car and people carrier prizes, the former being voted for by Fleet News readers.



Meanwhile, Volkswagen Group secured wins for its Polo, Golf and Superb, while the Kia Sportage was declared the best crossover.



2011 Fleet News Awards winners



Voted for by Fleet News readers



New company car of the year: Ford C-Max / Grand C-Max

Fleet manufacturer of the year: BMW

Fleet News Hall of Fame: Phil Redman

New company car of the year and best people carrier: Ford C-Max / Grand C-Max

Voted for by Fleet News jurors



Manufacturer Awards



Best small car: Volkswagen Polo

Best lower-medium car: Volkswagen Golf

Best upper-medium car: Skoda Superb

Best people carrier: Ford C-Max / Grand C-Max

Best estate car: BMW 5 Series Touring

Best SUV: BMW X3

Best premium car: BMW 3 Series

Best boardroom car: BMW 5 Series

Best crossover: Kia Sportage

Most improved fleet manufacturer of the year: Renault

Green fleet manufacturer of the year: Peugeot

Best boardroom car: BMW 5 Series

Supplier Awards



Environment: The Miles Consultancy

Customer service: Leaseplan

New product / service: Arval

Safety award: Peak Performance

Short-term rental company of the year: Hertz

Leasing company of the year: Arval

Fleet supplier of the year: The AA

Fleet manager of the year: Val South, Xerox



Fleet Awards



Fleet initiative of the year: Balfour Beatty

Fleet of the year (under 250 vehicles): The Independent Group

Fleet of the year (251-500 vehicles): Iron Mountain

Fleet of the year (501-1,000 vehicles): Kelly Communications

Fleet of the year (>1,000 vehicles): Johnson & Johnson



Related posts:

2011-12 company car tax

Business Car of the Year

World Car Awards top three

Following the announcement of the World Car Awards finalists at the beginning of February, the jurors have voted once again to decide the top three candidates in each category.



There’s now a short wait until the New York International Auto Show, which begins on 22 April, to find out the winners.



The three models up for each award - in alphabetical order - are:



2011 World Car of the Year



· Audi A8

· BMW 5 Series

· Nissan Leaf

BMW 5 Series Saloon

The outsider here is probably the Audi, but whether enough jurors have been swayed by the Leaf remains to be seen. Many might have been reluctant to give their votes to the Nissan because, despite its green credentials, it nevertheless represents first generation electric car technology which comes with associated issues of purchase price, recharging time and range.



2011 World Performance Car



· Ferrari 458 Italia

· Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

· Porsche 911 Turbo

Ferrari 458 Italia

It’s difficult to foresee the Ferrari not winning this category.



2011 World Car Design of the Year



· Alfa Romeo Giulietta

· Aston Martin Rapide

· Ferrari 458 Italia

Aston Martin Rapide

Perhaps the surprise here is that the Citroën DS3, which was in the top ten shortlist, hasn’t make it through to the top three. Naturally this is a very subjective category but, from an aesthetic perspective, surely the Aston Martin just about beats the other contenders?



2011 World Green Car



· BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition

· Chevrolet Volt

· Nissan Leaf

Chevrolet Volt

This award is hard to predict, because the three finalists represent three very different technologies: internal combustion, range extender and pure electric. However, because the Volt combines the benefits of battery power with a total absence of range anxiety, it deserves to clinch the title.



Related post:

World Car Awards finalists

World Car Awards finalists

Sixty-six jurors from across the world have completed a first round of voting to determine the 2011 World Car Awards finalists.



With four different awards up for grabs, the shortlist models - in alphabetical order - are:





2011 World Car of the Year

• Audi A1


• Audi A8


• BMW 5 Series


• BMW X3


• Jaguar XJ


• Jeep Grand Cherokee


• Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG


• Nissan Leaf


• Porsche Cayenne


• Volvo S60 / V60

Obviously, this is the big prize. Each of the finalists will be judged on ‘overall merit, value, safety, environmental responsibility, emotional appeal and significance’, a combination that has lead to some previous winners being very worthy but also just a bit dull.



What’s striking is that 2011’s entire crop is from premium or, in the case of the Volvo and Jeep, semi-premium manufacturers. Even the Nissan isn’t exactly mainstream, given its relatively high price.

The Leaf could well repeat its 2011 European Car of the Year victory, but it does tend to divide opinion. There are those who believe it almost makes petrol or diesel cars obsolete, while others won’t back an all-electric car until both battery range and the recharging infrastructure improve.







It’s hard to see either the SLS AMG or Cayenne winning, given their comparative lack of environmental responsibility. The BMW 5 Series has to be a contender given its all-round ability, but it would be good to see the Jaguar XJ clinch it, simply because it represents such a brave departure from previous generation XJ models.



Audi’s A1 probably ticks all the boxes. However, it’d be a shame for it to win because it’s essentially a tarted-up version of last year’s World Car of the Year, the Volkswagen Polo.





2011 World Performance Car

• Aston Martin Rapide


• Audi RS 5 Coupe


• Cadillac CTS-V Coupe


• Ferrari 458 Italia


• Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera


• Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG / CL 63 AMG


• Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG


• Porsche 911 GT2 RS


• Porsche 911 Turbo


• Renault Mégane Renaultsport 250

This category is wide open, as it includes everything from a compact hot hatch to numerous supercars for the jurors to choose from. Audi has won the performance car award three times in the past five years, but it’ll be a surprise if the feat is repeated with the RS 5.









2011 World Car Design of the Year

• Alfa Romeo Giulietta


• Aston Martin Rapide


• Audi A7


• Citroën DS3


• Ferrari 458


• Honda CR-Z


• Kia Sportage


• Nissan Juke

There were originally fifty-one candidates in this category, which is expected to ‘highlight new vehicles with innovation and style that push established boundaries’ - a demanding set of criteria.

On that basis, the Aston Martin would seem to be a strong challenger, but arguably it’s the Nissan Juke that truly stands out as a unique design.



The shortlist was decided by a panel of five design experts but, as with all of the other awards, it’s now solely up to the jurors to arrive at a winner.







2011 World Green Car

• BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition


• Chevrolet Volt


• Hyundai Sonata Hybrid


• Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell


• Nissan Leaf


• Smart electric drive

Three environmental experts were asked to draw up the finalists for this award based on emissions, fuel consumption and the power plant technology employed.

Perhaps the Leaf stands a stronger chance of winning this category, but it may be the case that more jurors consider the Volt’s range extender concept as being more practical for everyday use.







But with its 109 g/km and combined cycle 68.9 mpg (4.0 l/100km), the 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition proves that cars with a traditional internal combustion engine can still be impressively green.







The next stage is that during February the jurors will vote again, but this time just on the finalists.



Following that ballot, the top three cars in each category will be announced at the Geneva International Motor Show on 1st March.



Then, bringing the process to a close, the 2011 World Car Awards winners will be declared during the New York International Auto Show in April.

DS4 is Most Beautiful Car

Citroën’s DS4 has been declared Most Beautiful Car of the Year 2011 at the International Automobile Festival, which is currently taking place at the Hôtel des Invalides in Paris, France.

The decision was based solely on a public internet ballot, with voters allowed to choose from a shortlist of seven different models. None of the candidates could have a retail price tag exceeding €50,000.



Emerging as a clear winner, the DS4 received 45% of all the hundreds of thousands of votes cast.



Of course, beauty and good design are subjective things, but it’s arguable that the opposition wasn’t exactly strong. Indeed, although some of the cars on the shortlist could be described as ‘elegant’, ‘striking’ or even ‘purposeful’, ‘beautiful’ is possibly too strong an adjective for any of them.

Most Beautiful Car of the Year 2011
Position	Model
1	Citroën DS4
2	BMW 5 Series Saloon
3	Honda CR-Z Hybrid
4	Renault Wind
U	Mini Countryman
U	Infiniti M37
U	Volvo V60
U = Unclassified

As well as the Most Beautiful Car award and an exhibition of concept cars, the International Automobile Festival also sees Jury Grand Prizes being given to reward artistic automotive creations:



Most Beautiful Concept Car of the Year



Nominees

Kia Pop

Jaguar C-X75

Renault DéZir

Bertone Pandion



Winner

Jaguar C-X75



Most Beautiful Interior of the Year



Nominees

Honda CR-Z Hybrid

Citroën DS4

Mini Countryman

Infiniti M37



Winner

Citroën DS4



Most Beautiful Book of the Year



Nominees

Gotha de l'Automobile Française - E-T-A-I - Laurent Friry and Claude Rouxel

Joyaux Automobiles des Maharadjahs - E-T-A-I - Gautam Sen

Carrosserie, une histoire de style - La Martiniere - Serge Bellu

60 voitures des années 60 - DUPUIS - Jidéhem



Winner

Gotha de l'Automobile Française - E-T-A-I - Laurent Friry and Claude Rouxel



Most Beautiful Photo of the Year



Nominees

‘Jump’ - Jari Matti Latvala in a Ford Focus. WRC 2010 Rally New Zealand, 09-05-2010 - François Baudin (Agence DPPI)

‘Etincelles’ - Dario Franchitti (Ganassi). Indycar race at Homestead, Miami, USA, 02-10-2010 - Jean-François Galeron

‘Marchand de Sable’ - Nasser Al Attiyah, Volkswagen race Touareg, Kalmoukie desert, Silk Way Rallye 2010, Dakar series 2010 - Eric Vargiolu (Agence DPPI)

‘La Dolce Vita’ - Jaguar Type C, 1000 Miglia. Tuscany, Italy, 07-05-2010 - Cathy Dubuisson



Winner

‘Marchand de Sable’ - Eric Vargiolu



Most Beautiful Advertising Film of the Year



Nominees

Fiat: ‘Brainstorming’ - Marcel Paris (France)

Mercedes-Benz: ‘The Best or Nothing’ - Jung von Matt / Alster Hamburg (International)

Citroën: ‘Dog’ - Agence H (France)

Alfa Romeo: ‘Uma Thurman’ - Leo Burnett, USA (International)



Winner

Mercedes-Benz: ‘The Best or Nothing’



Top Prize for Design



Winner

Bertone



Top Prize for the Environment



Winner

BMW Efficient Dynamics



Top Prize for Art



Winner

BMW M3 GT2 Jeff Koons Artcar



Top Prize of the Festival



Winner

Mercedes-Benz CLS



Jury’s Special Top Prize



Winner

Adrien Maeght



The Palme d’Or



Winner

Red Bull Racing - Dieter Mateschitz / Sebastian Vettel / Adrian Newey





Related post:

Citroën DS4 revealed

Business Car of the Year

UK publication Business Car has announced the winners of its 2011 Awards, which were voted for by readers rather than being decided by a jury.



It was a successful haul for the BMW Group as it took top honours in six out of the thirteen vehicle categories, as well as being declared overall manufacturer of the year. Clearly desirability, solid residuals, decent fuel economy and low CO2 emissions are all attributes that continue to keep both drivers and fleet managers happy.





Business Car Awards 2011 winners



Vehicle categories



Manufacturer of the Year: BMW



Business Car of the Year: BMW 5 Series

Green Model of the Year: BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics

City Car: Fiat 500

Supermini: Mini

Lower Medium: Audi A3

Upper Medium: BMW 3 Series

Executive: BMW 5 Series

Luxury: Jaguar XJ

Large 4x4: BMW X5

Small 4x4: Audi Q5

Mini-MPV: Volkswagen Touran

MPV: Ford S-MAX

Sporting Car: Audi R8



Service supplier categories



Service Supplier of the Year: Lex Autolease



Accident Management: The AA

Daily Rental: Enterprise

Fast-Fit: Kwik-Fit Fleet

Insurance: Aviva

Leasing and Fleet Management: Lex Autolease