Mazda 6 2.3L: Car of the Year

April 04,2006

FORD GROUP PHILIPPINES BAGGED FOUR AWARDS, including the prestigious Car of The Year Philippines (COTY-P) award, during the Second Car of The Year Awards held March 31, 2006 at the Rockwell Tent in Makati City.

In an event that could be arguably described as “the Oscars” of the Philippine motoring industry, The Mazda 6 2.3L won both the Car of the Year and the Executive Car of the Year awards. Its Mazda Tribute 3.0L V6 got the Best Entry-Level SUV (sport utility vehicle), while the Ford Ranger XLT successfully defended the title as Best Pickup which it won last year. The Car of the Year trophy was received by Don Gelinas, Ford Group’s Vice-President for Finance from racing legend Pocholo Ramirez, SGV and Co. chairman and managing partner David L. Balangue and Car Awards Group executive director Armin Amio.

The strictly formal event featured the presence of several prominent personalities in the auto industry. CATS Motors, Inc. (sole distributor of DaimlerChrysler products in the country) fell one trophy short of Ford’s four-trophy haul. The Chrysler 300C V6 landed the Best Luxury Car award, while the Mercedes Benz ML 350 was given the Best Ultra -Luxury SUV award. The Stuttgart pride radiated in the Rockwell Tent a third time when the Mercedes Benz S 350 was awarded the vehicle as having the Best in Safety Package special citation.

Not to be left out, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, BMW Philippines and Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation each took home two awards. The Mitsubishi Grandis won for Best Luxury MPV (multipurpose vehicle), while the Mitsubishi Lancer MX Limited won the Best Compact Car award. The BMW 530i Sport won the Best Ultra-Luxury Car award, while the BMW X3 2.0L Diesel SAV (sports activity vehicle) won a special citation for Best in Technological Innovation. Toyota’s Innova took home two awards – the Best Entry-Level MPV award and a special citation for being the Best Value for Money.

Hyundai’s 1.1L Getz took home the Best Subcompact Car award, while Volvo won the Best Luxury SUV for its XC70 Cross Country crossover vehicle. Audi’s A6 (with Multitronic Fuel Injection) took home the Best Overall Design Award.

Major category winners were based on the Car Awards Group Inc.’s (CAGI) test fests held in January to February at the Forest Hills Golf and Country Club in Antipolo, all based on price following feedback from manufacturers, distributors and the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines.

With the conclusion of the 2005 COTY-P Awards Night (sponsored by the Manila International Auto Show, Rockwell Land Corp., Philippine Allied Enterprises Corp. [official distributor of Bridgestone tires in the country, Petron Corporation, SGV and Co. BPI Family Savings Bank, Federal Express, Petron and EStandard Insurance, Automobile Association Philippine, San Miguel Corp. and Fusion R Motorsports,), motoring enthusiasts will now look forward to the public unveiling of the Mazda 6 2.3L at the opening of the Manila International Motor Show on April 6, 2006 at The World Trade Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.

By Jude Morte | Photos By Ulysses Ang and Jude Morte

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