The phenomenal Ford Figo has been choosen as the Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) 2011 yesterday, getting the India's top most car award in the fiercely competitive and fastest growing Indian auto market. Now in its sixth year, the ICOTY has awarded this to Ford Figo after comprehensive testing by a judges of leading journalists of
cars in India.
The President and managing director of Ford India, Michael Boneham, accepted this award from vice chairman and managing director, JK Tyre & Industries, Dr. R.P. Singhania, at a ceremony in Mumbai today.
The 2011 Indian Car of the Year award caps off a terrific year for the phenomenal Ford Figo, said Michael Boneham. Recognised by some of Indias most respected and influential automotive reporters further reinforces the reputation of Ford Figo as an excellent-designed, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive car that delivered exceptional value-for-money for thousands of new car buyers across India. He added that, On behalf of all people working at Ford India, they are extremely thankful to the jury members and to our customers for choosing the Ford Figo.
In the list of all cars in the Indian auto market, the winner is determined by a MPVS [Multi-Point Voting System] modeled on the selection process which is currently used by the the judges of European Car of the Year Award. The eleven judges of 2011 ICOTY jury includes : Srinivas Krishnan and Pablo Chaterji from Business Standard Motoring; Yogendra Pratap and Vikrant Singh from Auto Bild; Gautam Sen and Bob Rupani from Auto India; Girish Karkera and Sriram Narayanan from BBC TopGear; Aspi Bhathena from Car India; and Sirish Chandran and Bertrand DSouza from Overdrive.
We know that Ford had a potential winner on its hands even as we lined up the contenders. The crisp driving dynamics, two fuel-efficient engine options, cheerful styling and interiors and, of course, its terrific pricing, simply propelled the Ford Figo into the top of the honours list. Its only appropriate that the Ford Figo has won the Indian Car of the Year 2011 award, because Ford engineered the car specifically to cater to the needs of the Indian market, said Srinivas Krishnan, editor, Business Standard Motoring and Chairman, ICOTY 2011.
The prestigious ICOTY (Indian Car of the Year) award is the latest of many accolades the Ford Figo has received since its launch in 10 months back. More than 60,000 units of Ford Figo have been sold since last year March, setting a new sales record for a single nameplate in India. Ford Figo has become one of Indias best selling car consolidating Fords position in the Indian automotive sector. From January to November 2010, Ford India sold 79,586 units across its lineup, an increase of 185 percent compared to the same period last year.
The Ford Figo is being exported to South Africa, and is a finalist for the South African Car of the Year award, which will be announced in early 2011. The Ford Figo is also exported to Nepal and in 2011 an additional 48 international auto markets would start selling the popular small car.
Anyone can ask his/her queries at upcoming auto portal CarKhabri. CarKhabri is going to be launched in the month of May and it will provide the most exclusive news. In the mean time the auto expert sitting behind the curtain are ready to answer all your
car questions on
cars in India.
