MUMBAI: CNBC-TV18 in association with Autocar magazine today announced the winners of the fourth CNBC-TV18 Autocar Auto Awards 2005, which was held in Mumbai. Hyundai Getz won the 'Car of the Year Award 2005' among heavy weight contenders like Skoda Superb, Chevrolet Tavera, Hyundai Elantra, Ford Fusion and Nissan X-Trail, while Honda Unicorn bagged the 'Bike of the Year Award'.
Some of the other winners at the CNBC-TV18 Autocar Auto Awards 2005 included:
Best Value for Money Car: Hyundai Elantra
Most Technologically Advanced Car: Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
Best Design and Styling: Skoda Superb
Manufacturer of the Year: Maruti Udyog
Best Driver's Car: Ford Fusion
Import Car of the Year (NEW): Audi A8L
Best Variant of the Year (previously called 'Most Improved Car of the Year'): Skoda Octavia RS
Viewers Choice Award (CNBC-TV18): Skoda Superb
Auto Component Manufacturer of the Year: Bharat Forge Ltd.
Some of the big names that attended the awards were Narain Karthekeyan, Sachin Tendulkar, Raymond MD Gautam Singhania and Former UK Deputy PM Michael Heseltine. The Pakistani band - Strings performed at the awards.
CNBC-TV18 Autocar Auto Awards 2005 witnessed top cars being put through the ultimate test and evaluated by a panel of experts which included - India's leading auto stylist and designer Dilip Chhabria, Autocar India editor Hormazd Sorabjee, National Rally Champion and Asia Pacific Rally Championship driver Naren Kumar, Former Rally Champion Rajeev Khanna, Autocar India associate editor Shapur Kotwal, Auto Historian Manvendra Singh and former Rally champion and host of Speed Auto Show Renuka Kirpalani.
Speaking on the occasion, CNBC-TV18 CEO Haresh Chawla said, "The year 2004 has been an exhilarating year for the automobile and ancillary industries. It has witnessed record passenger vehicle production and auto component exports firmly crossing the billion-dollar mark. Several launches have taken places both in the four-wheeler and two-wheeler categories over the last year with price bands expanding both ways. Adding to the expertise of Autocar is CNBC-TV18 which has used its in-depth knowledge to ascertain the standing of each company from the macro-economic point of view while at the same time analysing every car manufacturer's commitment to the Indian market and its unique environment. We at CNBC-TV18 are pleased to honor the achievements of the various auto manufacturers for striving in the world's second fastest growing economy for automobiles."
CNBC-TV18 vice president sales and marketing B Sai Kumar said, "With our association with Autocar, CNBC-TV18 Autocar Auto Awards now stands as the most prestigious awards for the automotive industry. Through these awards we aim to encourage innovation in the automotive sector because we believe that the growth of this industry will contribute to India's industrial development while at the same time promote consumer dynamism in the country."
