This year’s test course was laid at the spacious Amby Valley airstrip, near Lonavala in Maharashtra. Keeping in mind our enthusiast focus, the course would bring out the contenders’ abilities in all dynamic areas. The 1.2km course included a tight and twisty handling section, corners, two braking areas, one double lane change, two extended acceleration areas and a slalom. A rapid run through the course would give our judges the space to analyse every aspect of a car’s dynamics. With all the contenders assembled, fuelled and ready to run, our judges went to work.
Each judge was given a maximum of 25 points per category for their evaluation. The scientifically designed, internationally recognised methodology ensures not only that all the cars get their due, but that impartiality is central to the scoring. Each judge can give a maximum of ten points to his favourite car and there cannot be a tie for their pick of the categories cars. The judge must also ensure that at least four cars per category receive points. Scoring for each judge is confidential and our validation partners Ernst & Young observe the entire judging process before whisking away the scoresheets to their supersecret facility for final tabulation.
Two factors further the cause of a well-rounded, impartial judgement. Firstly, the judges are picked to represent a wide spectrum of automotive expertise. In addition to Overdrive’s own quartet of prolific testers we have racing drivers from tarmac and off-road disciplines and two highly experienced testers who are stalwarts in the field of actual automotive testing as well as excellent racing drivers with impressive records in motorsport in India and abroad. The combination ensures that scoring is based on defined parameters designed to reflect our market. Which means how relevant a car is to our market, whether it is value for money or not and sheer superiority in its segment are given weightage in addition, of course, to the various performance and dynamics aspects.
Well, all that is now behind us. The exhaustive and rather enjoyable process is complete. Overdrive presented the awards to the winners at a well-attended event on January 9, 2009 in Mumbai. And now, allow us to offer a round of applause for all the winners. Click here to meet the jury And here are the awards winners... Car of the Year: Skoda Fabia
The fundamental question – what is the Car of the Year award all about? It is not, as is often assumed, to highlight cars that are incrementally better than the ones they replace. Nor is it to pick out the best small car in India, simply because Indians buy small cars. What we’re looking for is the one car that has radically altered the dynamics of the Indian auto scene in general and its segment in particular. And that’s why the Skoda Fabia is the 2009 car of the year.
Not since the Swift has a car turned accepted rules on its head. This might be a small car in size (and boot space) but in all other respects (including price) this is a car knocks the wind out of most sedans’ sails. The interiors are a class apart – in quality, space and design. The dynamics, especially ride, are brilliant. And crucially when you drive a Fabia it makes you feel good about owning it, and not that you couldn’t afford a bigger, more expensive car. Considering where our country is heading – towards increased congestion, fuel prices and pollution – here’s a car that address all of these issues while not leaving you shortchanged. |
