10May
Before the end of the millennium, the American Car Manufacturer, Ford ,was able to produce the European Car of the Year for 1999: The Ford Focus.
The Focus was considered as a car that would not just edge out any competition in the European Market, it would totally blast them away. The car interior was radical in the sense that it had a lot of curves and sweeping lines. One of the reasons for its classy handling is the Control Blade: a fully independent multi-link rear suspension. Not only was it fast, but it was also safe. The Focus received a 4 out of 5 stars for occupant safety, and a 2 out of 4 for pedestrian safety by the EuroNCAP tests.
That was the Ford Focus, fast, innovative, smooth-sailing, and safe.
Source
10Apr
Picture via (motorbase.com)
One of the first known recorded (in their website at least)European Cars of the Year was the Rover 2000. Although don’t be fooled by the number attached to the name, it went into production in 1963. Yes, this 4-door Saloon was Car of the Year of 1964, folks.
Just one of the reasons that it won was because of its radical design. During its time, it was considered to have a “futuristic” look similar to the Gas Turbine prototypes by Rover in the 50’s. The body used a base unit bodyshell with unstressed body panels bolted on it for quicker repair.
Source
10Oct
Volvo released photos of the new XC60 Concept, a car they intend to produce in 2009 to compete in the growing “premium utility vehicle” in the market. Designed to be the next popular style for the Volvo buyer after the C30, it combines all the sporty nature of the C30 with added practicality.
20Aug
Image source: www.thetorquereport.com
Way back in the 1970’s, the first Volkswagen Scirocco was introduced and just a racy skin draped over the framework of the then-new Rabbit S er, Golf. This year Volkswagen repeated that same method with the introduction of a new front-drive Scirocco that, under the skin, is basically a Golf S er, Rabbit.
The new Scirocco is currently VW’s only coupe and, thanks to an aggressively sculpted body and a particularly wide-looking nose, it’s a truly stunning machine. It backs up those looks with engines culled from the Golf range < a 197-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four is the most powerful option and a 138-hp common rail 2.0-liter turbodiesel, the most economical. Transmission choices are a conventional six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch “DSG” paddle-shifted, automated manual. Even the sportiest Scirocco is reported to get somewhere near 37 mpg while topping out at 146 mph.
26Apr
The retro-ish Fiat 500 takes the trophy as Car of the Year (2008). The reason the jury chose the car because of nostalgia and charm. Besides being a practical urban car, it also had great public appeal.
“This cute car copies the aesthetics of the legendary 500 of half a century ago, but it is a modern vehicle in functionality and safety features, reasonably roomy for its size and shape, and with efficient engines that provide performance and economy.”
First runner up went to Mazda2 (finished with just 60 points shy) and Second runner up went to the Ford Mondeo.
Source
