Hyundai Getz, HM Lancer, Honda Unicorn bag auto awards
By Our Corporate Bureau | 19 Jan 2005
Hyundai Getz has won the CNBC-TV18-Autocar Auto Award as 'Car of the Year — 2005', while Hindustan Motors' Lancer has been adjudged as the best car in the mid size diesel and petrol segment in the 'TNS voice of the customer awards'. Honda Unicorn bagged the CNBC-TV18-Autocar 'Bike of the Year Award'.
Hyundai Getz won over the Skoda Superb, Chevrolet Tavera, Hyundai Elantra, Ford Fusion and Nissan X-Trail.
Other winners at the CNBC-TV18 Autocar Auto Awards 2005 included:
| Hyundai Elantra: | Best Value for Money Car |
| Toyota Land Cruiser Prado: | Most Technologically Advanced Car |
| Skoda Superb: | Best Design and Styling |
| Ford Fusion | Best Driver's Car |
| Audi A8L | Best Imported Car (new) |
| Skoda Octavia RS | Best Variant (previously 'Most improved car of the year') |
| Skoda Superb | Viewers' Choice Award (CNBC-TV18) |
| Maruti Udyog : | Best Manufacturer |
| Bharat Forge Ltd | Best Auto Component Manufacturer |
Racing champ Narain Karthekeyan, Sachin Tendulkar, Raymond's managing director Gautam Singhania and former UK deputy PM Michael Heseltine attended the awards. Pakistani band 'Strings' performed live on the occasion.
The cars were evaluated by a panel of experts which included India's leading auto stylist and designer Dilip Chhabria, Autocar India editor Hormazd Sorabjee and associate editor Shapur Kotwal, national rally champion Naren Kumar former rally champion Rajeev Khanna, auto historian Manvendra Singh and former rally champion Renuka Kirpalani.
Meanwhile, Hindustan Motors' Lancer was adjudged as the best car in the mid size diesel and petrol segment in the 'TNS voice of the customer awards'. A study by TNS, a leading research organisation, showed Hindustan Motors' Lancer was rated highest among several parameters. The study was conducted from July 2003 to September 2004, across 21 cities, with a customer base of 7,000, judging 40 models.
All cars in the mid-segment were put under a rigorous evaluation test on the basis of parameters such as sales satisfaction, product quality, vehicle performance and design, after sales service, brand image and cost of ownership. The results of the study revealed that the industry average in the mid size segment for petrol cars was 87 points, while Lancer had scored 91 points. Against an average of 88 points in the diesel segment, Lancer scored 93.