21 September 2011 SEMI-FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR WESBANK / SAGMJ CAR OF THE YEAR 2012

21 September 2011: The semi-finalists were announced today for the WesBank / South African Guild of Motoring Journalist’s Car of the Year 2012. The massive field that saw over 320 new model derivatives bidding for a place has been whittled down to only 26 hopefuls by the members of the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ) who cast their votes from the pool of vehicles launched between 1 October 2010 and 31 August 2011.

“As always, only the best that South Africa has to offer in this prestigious competition has made it through, from entry level and budget friendly cars, right up to the best that money can buy in Sports Utility Vehicles,” says Mark Jones, SAGMJ convenor of the competition

According to George Nyabadza, General Manager: Marketing at WesBank, South Africa’s leading asset-based finance and fleet management solutions provider, this is the first time that the semi-finalists have been announced publicly since the company initiated its sponsorship of the award over 27 years ago. “The announcement of the semi-finalists not only adds more transparency to the judging process, but also serves to add extra excitement among manufacturers and South African car enthusiasts alike”.

“From an automotive performance perspective, we would like to congratulate all the manufacturers who have being acknowledged as best in their individual categories. We wish them all of the best as the judging continues and culminates in the announcement of the overall winner early next year,” says Nyabadza.

The most challenging work for the WesBank / South African Guild of Motoring Journalist’s Car of the Year 2012 selected jury starts now as the 26 vehicles get voted on by the who’s who of the South African motoring journalism scene in order to establish a final list that will make it to the track judging days at Gerotek in February 2012.

The announcement of the winner will only come after this stringent voting process has been completed and the physical testing of the eligible cars is completed.

“Once again, and for the second year running, there is no undisclosed judging and scoring as, in Europe. The SAGMJ jury members will be given 25 points in total to allocate to no more than five of the finalists and no less than three. With all the scores and the judge’s comments being open for scrutiny from the moment the winners are announced, it is going to be another close but open race to see who comes out tops this year,” says Jones.



The finalists will be revealed at the Johannesburg International Motor Show on 6 October 2011 and the vehicles will remain on display for the duration of the show.

“The WesBank / South African Guild of Motoring Journalist’s Car of the Year 2012 competition is about automotive excellence and the winning vehicle must score highly in its own class, not against each other as is often thought, but across a variety of categories, including those which reflect value for money, safety, dynamics, technology and aesthetics, to name but a few,” concludes Jones.

Semi-finalists per category

Entry Level
Kia Picanto 1.2 EX
Nissan Micra 1.2 Visia+

Hatchback
Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 125 kW MultiAir Distinctive
Audi A1 1.4 TFSI Attraction S Tronic
Citroen DS4 THP 200 Sport
Ford Focus 2.0 GDI Sport Hatch
Kia Cerato Hatch 2.0 SX Man
Suzuki Swift 1.4i GLS Man

Sedan
Audi A6 3.0 TDI Quattro S tronic
Ford Focus 2.0 TDCI Trend Sedan Powershift
Honda Ballade 1.5 Elegance
Honda Insight 1.3 Litre Hybrid
Hyundai Elantra 1.8 GLS
Renault Fluence 2.0 16v Privilege
Suzuki Kizashi 2.4 SDLX Man
VW Jetta 1.4 TSI 118 kW Highline
Grand Tourer
Audi A7 3.0 T FSI Quattro S tronic
Cabriolet / Convertible
Mercedes Benz SLK 350 BlueEFFICIENCY
Sports Car / Coupe
Mercedes Benz C Class Coupe 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY
Station Wagon
Volvo V60 T5 Powershift

Multi Purpose Vehicle ( MPV ) / Crossover
Chevrolet Orlando 1.8 LT
Peugeot 5008 2.0 HDi Active Man
Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV)
BMW X3 xDrive35i
Porsche Cayenne Diesel
Toyota FJ Cruiser 4.0 V6 4x4
VW Touareg 3.0 V6 TDI BlueMotion Technology
The COTY competition is sponsored by WesBank, with support sponsorship from Total South Africa and Hollard Insurance.

-ends-

Notes to editors:
The SAGMJ has run the South African Car of the Year competition since 1986;
WesBank has sponsored the competition since inception;
Previous winners:

1986 Toyota Corolla Twin Cam 1987 Mercedes Benz 260
1988 BMW 735i 1989 Toyota Corolla GLi Executive
1990 BMW 525i 1991 Opel Monza 160 GSi
1992 Nissan Maxima 300 SE 1993 BMW 316i
1994 Opel Kadett 140 1995 Opel Astra 160iS
1996 Audi A4 1.8 1997 BMW 528i
1998 Ford Fiesta Fun 1999 Alfa Romeo 156 T-Spark
2000 Renault Clio 1.4 RT 2001 BMW 320d
2002 Audi A4 1.9 TDI 2003 VW Polo TDI
2004 Renault Megane 1.9 dCi 2005 Volvo S40 2.4i
2006 Audi A3 Sportback 2.0T 2007 Honda Civic 1.8VXi Sedan
2008 Mazda2 1.5 Individual 2009 Honda Accord 2.4 Executive
2010 VW Golf 6 1.4 TSI 2011 BMW 530d / VW Polo 1.6 TDI