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2013 AJAC Awards - HONDA ACCORD SEDAN NAMED 2013 CANADIAN CAR OF THE YEAR

TORONTO,(Ontario) Thursday, February 14, 2013 –   In an early morning press conference at the opening of the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, the Honda Accord Sedan was declared the 2013 Canadian Car of the Year (CCOTY) by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).

"We are extremely proud to see the Accord recognized by so many of Canada's top journalists as Canadian Car of the Year and we thank AJAC for this great honour," said Takashi Sekiguchi, President and CEO, Honda Canada. "The Accord is one of our most important vehicles, so we're thrilled to receive the great feedback that we're continuing to raise the bar in the family car category."

The Honda Accord Sedan was also the winner of the "Best New Family Car (under $30,000) class.  Eleven "Best New" category winners were eligible to compete for the top honours of being either overall Canadian Car of the Year or Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year.  The category winners were announced last October during the association's annual vehicle evaluation event known as "TestFest."

Eighty of Canada's top automotive journalists spent four intensive days in Niagara-on-the-Lake conducting back-to-back comparative testing of 180 "all new" or "significantly new" 2013 vehicles.  This was no easy task.  Their vote results were determined from more than 40,000 individual data points established in the testing program.  And, before submitting their ballots, the AJAC journalists completed almost 2,000 individual road-tests during TestFest, comparing vehicles back-to-back on the same roads under the same conditions.  These tests were conducted as part of AJAC'S mission to serve consumers by providing them with factual, objective information, versus just personal opinion. Shell Canada is the official fuel supplier of the event

The journalists' vote results were then compiled on-site by the international accounting firm KPMG and kept confidential even from AJAC until the winners' press conference today.

Need to compare a Dodge Dart to a Nissan Sentra, or a Chevrolet Malibu Eco to the Ford Fusion or the Honda Accord?  How about a BMW 3 Series to a Lexus ES 350 or a Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG with a Porsche Boxster?  Look no further than the AJAC website where all of this year's comparative data, and vote results, are posted:  www.ajac.ca.  All 60 entries (180 vehicles) in the 2013 Canadian Car of the Year Awards program are listed..

PORSCHE 911 CARRERA S WINS AJAC'S BEST NEW DESIGN AWARD FOR 2013

TORONTO(Ontario) Thursday, February 14, 2013 –   In an early morning press conference at the opening of the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, the Porsche 911 Carrera S was declared the 2013 Best New Design by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).

"We are delighted that the 911 was recognized for its design," said Joe Lawrence, President & CEO of Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd. "Although all-new, this latest generation of the iconic sports car is still very much recognizable by its unmistakable silhouette, one of its many defining traits since its introduction 50 years ago."

The top three finalists for the 2013 Best New Design award were the Cadillac ATS, Porsche 911 Carrera S and the Porsche Boxster.

The Porsche 911 Carrera S was also the winner of AJAC's "Best New Prestige and Performance Car (over $75,000)" class when the Canadian Car of the Year category winners were announced in October 2012.

The intent of the AJAC Best New Design award is to identify and reward the vehicle that exhibits the best balance of form and function.  Accordingly, the AJAC journalists selected the winner based on a combination of aesthetics, function, and brand essence.   The aesthetics component reflects the sheer beauty of the design.  The function component assesses the manner and degree to which it accommodates the practical requirements of the vehicle type.   And brand essence considers its success in conveying the image, heritage, and values of the specific brand.

AJAC's annual Canadian Car of the Year awards program was created in 1985 with the purpose of providing consumers with sound, comparative information on vehicles that are new to the market.

For that reason, the vote results that determined today's winners are available to consumers as a resource buying guide on the AJAC web site.   Also available are the comparative test data derived from the journalists' extensive four day evaluation of 180 new vehicles in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario in October.   This annual event is known in the industry as "TestFest".  Shell Canada is the official fuel supplier of the event.

HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2.0 T DECLARED 2013 CANADIAN UTILITY VEHICLE OF THE YEAR

TORONTO (Ontario) Thursday, February 14, 2013 –  In an early morning press conference at the opening of the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, the Hyundai Santa Fe 2.0 T was declared the 2013 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).

 "The Santa Fe is one of our most important vehicles in this market. So, when Hyundai decided to redesign the vehicle, we really wanted to get it right," said Steve Kelleher, President and CEO, Hyundai Auto Canada Corp.  "The Santa Fe competes in Canada's growing crossover segment, so for it to win Canadian Utility of the Year is vindication for all the effort Hyundai designers and engineers invested into the project. The Santa Fe trades on the latest Hyundai hallmarks, including great styling, fuel efficiency, quality, value and safety. We couldn't be more proud of the award AJAC has honoured us with today."

The Hyundai Santa Fe 2.0 T was also the winner of the "Best New SUV / CUV ($35,000 - $60,000) class".  Eleven "Best New" category winners were eligible to compete for the top honours of being either overall Canadian Car of the Year or Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year.  The category winners were announced last October during the association's annual vehicle evaluation event known as "TestFest."

Eighty of Canada's top automotive journalists spent four intensive days in Niagara-on-the-Lake conducting back-to-back comparative testing of 180 "all new" or "significantly new" 2013 vehicles.  This was no easy task.  Their vote results were determined from more than 40,000 individual data points established in the testing program.  And, before submitting their ballots, the AJAC journalists completed almost 2,000 individual road-tests during TestFest, comparing vehicles back-to-back on the same roads under the same conditions.  These tests were conducted as part of AJAC'S mission to serve consumers by providing them with factual, objective information, versus just personal opinion.  Shell Canada is the official fuel supplier of the event.

The journalists' vote results were then compiled on-site by the international accounting firm KPMG and kept confidential even from AJAC until the winners' press conference today.

Need to compare a Dodge Dart to a Nissan Sentra, or a Chevrolet Malibu Eco to the Ford Fusion or the Honda Accord?  How about a BMW 3 Series to a Lexus ES 350 or a Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG with a Porsche Boxster?  Look no further than the AJAC website where all of this year's comparative data, and vote results, are posted:  www.ajac.ca

Still looking to buy a 2012, 2011, 2010, or even an older vehicle?  AJAC archives the comparative test data and vote results from previous years on its website.

For more information on the 2013 Canadian Car of the Year Awards you can either visit our AJAC website, call the AJAC office at 1.705.924.3444