Polo, Twister bag top honours at annual auto showcase

German-engineered compact car Volkswagen Polo today bagged the Business Standard Car of the Year award, while Honda’s economy motorcycle Twister was chosen Bike of the Year.

The Business Standard Motoring awards were given away at a glittering function attended by industry leaders in Mumbai. Adding a shot of glamour was actor Chitrangada Singh.

The awards, decided by a Jury comprising the Business Standard Motoring team and an external jury of motoring experts and motorsport drivers, past and present.

Competition within the new car segment, among all models launched in 2010, was the most intense with as many as 10 contenders for the top spot.

Launched in February last year, the Polo five-seat premium hatchback beat the Ford Figo, Toyota Etios, Nissan Micra, Tata Aria, Volkswagen Vento, Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, Chevrolet Beat, Skoda Yeti and BMW 5.

The Polo, with a sticker price of Rs 4.54 lakh, is Volkswagen's maiden attempt to break into the compact car segment, dominated by market leader Maruti Suzuki.

Honda’s 110cc entry-level CB Twister pipped to the post the TVS Motor Jive, a motorcycle with an auto clutch mechanism, and the Yamaha SZ-X. Formula-1 driver and motorsport personality Karun Chandhok handed over the award to Naresh K Rattan, general manager — sales & marketing, HMSI.

TVS Motor did not return empty handed. Its new launch, the 110cc automatic geared Wego bagged the Scooter of the Year award. Vinay Harne, president, new product initiatives, TVS Motor, received the trophy from one of the world’s most influential motorcycle journalists, Alan Cathcart, from the magazine Motorcyclist.

Chennai-based Ford Motor India received a Jury Special award for its volume-generating Figo compact car. The Jury Special award is given to the most significant car launch. Nigel Wark, executive director - marketing, sales & service, Ford India, collected the trophy from Chandhok.

The sports utility vehicle segment, which has seen a jump in domestic demand over the past two years, saw more additions last year. Hyundai’s most expensive model in India, the Santa Fe, walked away with the SUV of the Year award. Arvind Saxena, director - marketing & sales, Hyundai Motor India, received the award from Diwakar Gupta, executive director, State Bank of India.

The award for the Import Bike of the Year went to Harley-Davidson’s XL 1200N Nightster. The heavy-duty cruiser from the iconic American company had to battle it out against tough contenders like the Honda VFR 1200F, Suzuki GSX R-1000 and Bandit 1250S and the Yamaha FZ1.

After being on top of the sales charts for most of the year, German luxury carmaker BMW collected the Premium Car of the Year award for the 5 Series executive sedan. Rodney Woods, director-finance, BMW India, collected the trophy from A N Jha, general manager, Indian Oil Corporation.

While the title of Premium Sports Utility Vehicle of the Year was awarded to Porsche’s Cayenne, another German automaker, Mercedes Benz, bagged the Performance Car of the Year for the SLS AMG.

Volkswagen Motorsport won the Motorsport Excellence award for bringing about a degree of professionalism and popularising motorsport in India. Chacko of VW Group India and Prithviraj Siddappa, head of VW Motorsport, received the trophy from Cathcart, who is also a renowned motorcycle racer.

Paul de Voijs, managing director, Volvo Auto India, collected the Automotive Pioneer of the Year award for the XC60 SUV from SBI’s Diwakar Gupta. The SUV features an array of safety features rarely seen in cars sold in India.