300C Wins Best New Luxury Car in Canada

[RTMagnum]

Automobile Journalists Association of Canada announces 2005 Canadian Car of the Year Award Winners

TORONTO, Dec. 7 /CNW/ - Twelve 2005 Canadian Car of the Year Award
category winners were announced today by the Automobile Journalists
Association of Canada (AJAC) during a press conference at the Holiday Inn
Select Airport in Toronto, Ontario.

The Canadian Car of the Year (CCOTY) Awards are an annual AJAC event that
have a significant influence on Canadian consumers. Survey results of previous
Car of the Year buyers determined almost 70% (69.6 %) were influenced to
purchase their car because it was chosen the "Canadian Car of the Year".

This year's category winners represent the best among an excellent group
of new cars and trucks for 2005, as selected by a professional GROUP of
automotive experts who test drive, and report on, new vehicles in various
media.

Every year, this GROUP of automotive experts meet at Shannonville
Motorsport Park near Belleville, Ontario, for a four-day automotive "TestFest"
based on "real-world" back-to-back testing to SELECT the best new vehicles in
various categories as well as an overall Car of the Year and Truck of the
Year. A "Best New Technology" award and the "Best New Design" award are also
chosen.

Unlike American or European car awards, our Canadian program follows a
sophisticated and rigorous testing process. To quote Car of the Year Director
Laurance Yap, "A record number of 64 vehicle entries were performance-tested
for acceleration, braking and passing times, at least four times each. In
addition, journalists were running an average of 10 driving loops a day during
team and individual testing over the 4 day period."

The 2005 category winners are:
Best New Economy Car: Kia Spectra Sedan LX
Best New Family Car: Mazda6 Sport
Best New Luxury Car: Chrysler 300 C
Best New Sport Utility Vehicle: BMW X3 3.01i
Best New Crossover: Hyundai Tucson
Best New Sport Compact: Volvo S40
Best New Sports/Performance Car: Ford Mustang
Best New Minivan: Honda Odyssey
Best New Station Wagon: Mazda6 Sport Wagon
Best New Pick-up: Toyota Tacoma
Best New Convertible: Mercedes-Benz SLK 350
Best New Alternative Power: Honda Accord Hybrid

The overall Canadian Car and Truck of the Year will be announced on
February 16th, 2005 in conjunction with the official opening of the 2005
Canadian International Auto SHOW in Toronto, Ontario. The Best New Design and
Best New Technology winners will also be declared at that time.

To obtain a copy of the comparative test and performance DATA as well as
the actual "Best New" vote results, please visit our web-site at www.ajac.ca
or contact the AJAC office at 1-800-361-1516.

[IDSmoker]

So, how did the Mazda6 Sport Wagon manage to beat the Magnum RT? That's what I want to know!!! <grin>

[jeddy]

maybe it had something to do with fuel economy etc etc....looking at the other cars in that category, maybe the sxt was a better fit?
I don't mind those mazda 6 wagons...second best looking wagon out there

[markyneutron]

Just in case anybody was looking to keep score that is eleventeen awards for the LX's. Fairly confident that the 300 will win all out AJAC car of year in Feb to make it twelve unless something else comes up first