Now in their 38th year for the 2015 competition, the Irish Car of the Year Awards organised by the members of the Irish Motoring Writers Association are sponsored by Continental, the tyres and automotive technology multinational.
The sponsorship came under the Continental brand for the ICOTY 2010 Awards, prior to that it had been under the Semperit brand owned by Continental.
The full field of candidates for the Continental Irish Car of the Year 2015 are as follows:
Alfa Romeo 4C, Audi S1, Audi A8, BMW i3, BMW X5, BMW 2 Series, BMW 2 Series Tourer, BMW X4, BMW M4, Citroen C1, Citroen Grand C4 Picasso, Citroen Cactus, Dacia Logan MCV, Ford Tourneo Connect, Ford EcoSport, Hyundai i10, Jaguar F-Type, Jeep Cherokee, Kia Soul, Lexus NX, Mazda3, Mercedes-Benz GLA, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, New Mini, Nissan Qashqai, Nissan X-Trail, Nissan Pulsar, Peugeot 308, Peugeot RCZ R, Renault Zoe, Renault Twingo , Seat Leon Cupra, Skoda Octavia RS, SsangYong Rexton, SsangYong Rodius, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Aygo, Volkswagen Golf SV.
Austin Shinnors, Chairman of the IMWA, commented: “The number of models may have dropped year on year (down from 51 last year), but I am very pleased to say that one thing that has not suffered is the quality of the cars in the running for our awards – everything from exciting city cars, to family saloons packed with technology, to luxury/sport models and some cutting edge alternative fuel models, they are all there in the 2015 field of runners.”
The voting members of the Irish Motoring Writers’ Association assess each vehicle, attributing points on the basis of criteria ranging from innovation and safety, to space, comfort, build quality, driving quality and value for money.
“It has been heartening to see the uplift in car sales across the country this year and we can only hope that it is heralding a more general improvement in the country’s economic outlook”, commented Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland, Irish Car of the Year sponsor. “For anyone in that increasing number of motorists who is considering a new car with the 151 registration, the choices of the IMWA car jury will be a good guide in drawing up a list of ‘must try’ cars, as has been the case for almost four decades.”
A shortlist of vehicles will be announced in the coming weeks.
Last year the Continental Irish Car of the Year title went to the Citroen C4 Picasso while the van accolade was won by the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.
Pictured are Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland, and Austin Shinnors, Chairman of the IMWA, outside The Marker Hotel, Grand Canal Square, where the Continental Irish Car of the Year awards event will be held on Friday November 28.
