Media Advisory B-Roll & Video - TestFest - What makes a "Best New" winner?

Answer: data driven by Canadian expertise.
That's what makes a winner for Canadian consumers.
AJAC's 2016 Canadian Car of the Year Awards

CLARINGTON, ON, Oct. 30, 2015 /CNW/ -

Assignment Desk

Over 80 Canadian automotive journalist experts have just completed their back-to-back test-drives of 122 vehicles for the purpose of voting on the "Best New" cars, trucks and SUVs for 2016.  The event is organized by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) and is known within the industry as "TestFest."  The Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario was the host of the event and Shell Canada continued as the official fuel supplier for the 10th year.

The CCOTY program capitalizes on the experience of its journalists, who drive all entries back-to-back on a series of routes that include public roads, a performance course, handling course, and off-road course, creating a range of conditions that everyday drivers may experience with their own vehicles.

All of the data generated during the four-day testing program is made available to consumers for their use as a resource when considering the purchase of a new car, truck, or SUV.

FYI : you didn't have to be at the event to give your automotive media colleagues coverage.

Instead, your news desks can download B-ROLL of the 4-day intensive testing event. Or, take parts of the "Live from TestFest" 90 second videos that cover each day of the event.

AJAC's virtual press room also has aerial shots of the event.  Fact sheets, press releases, or whatever else you need.

Link is: http://ajac.ca/web/ccoty/pressroom.asp

"TestFest is the most intensive new vehicle evaluation process on the planet," says Gary Grant, CCOTY co-chair.  "No other organization employs such stringent testing methods to determine their car of year award winners."

**

Thank you, in advance, for your news coverage of our 28^th Canadian Car of the Year Awards"TestFest"

Consumers will thank you too.  See facts below re influence of the Canadian Car of the Year award on a consumer's purchase of a new car.

Cheers
Beth

MEDIA INVITE

Come see for yourself what makes a winner!

Canada's foremost automotive experts + beautiful fall colours
+ 122 new cars, trucks and SUVs at a world-class test facility = a winning combination.

Over 80 of Canada's top automotive journalists are testing 122 vehicles to vote on the 2016 "Best New" cars, trucks and SUVs for the Canadian Car of the Year awards (CCOTY). The event is organized by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) and takes place at a new location: the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Clarington, Ontario, a world-class test facility.

You are invited to come see for yourself why AJAC's annual Canadian Car of the Year Awards "TestFest" program merits respect from both consumers and the automotive industry.  Bring your cameras.  Bring your notebooks.  

Our journalists are ready to be interviewed, filmed and photographed by your news team this Friday, Oct. 30 from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. 

There are great visuals too, with 122 new vehicles parked in a scenic setting by category, e.g. "Best New Small Car", "Best New Luxury Car", "Best New Sports & Performance", "Best New SUV/CUV", etc. 

There is even an off-road course specially designed by AJAC for the SUV and CUV classes.

"TestFest is the most intensive new vehicle evaluation process on the planet," says Gary Grant, CCOTY co-chair.  "No other organization employs such stringent testing methods to determine their car of year award winners."

The CCOTY program capitalizes on the experience of its journalists, who drive all entries back-to-back on a series of routes that include public roads, a performance course, handling course, and off-road course, creating a range of conditions that everyday drivers may experience with their own vehicles.

All of the data generated during the four-day testing program is made available to consumers for their use as a resource when considering the purchase of a new car, truck, or SUV.

The AJAC awards are important to both consumers and the Canadian automotive industry. Here's why:

CONSUMER FEEDBACK: AJAC's five consumer surveys (1999 – 2013) show that winning the Canadian Car of the Year (CCOTY) award is important to potential buyers of new cars. The consumer surveys were conducted by Maritz Research on behalf of AJAC.

2013
100% of Honda Accord buyers indicated that they were familiar to some extent, either very familiar, or somewhat familiar, with the fact that the Accord had won the Canadian Car of the Year Award.

56% of survey respondents said the AJAC Canadian Car of the Year Award had a positive influence in the purchase decision.

2008
74% of the 2008 Buick Enclave buyers were aware that this vehicle had won the Canadian Car of the Year Award.

Of those buyers, 41% said the award had a positive influence on their buying decision.

2005
54.8% of those who purchased a Mazda3 were aware it had been selected as Canadian Car of the Year by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada. Mazda3 buyers confirmed an influence of 58.4%.

SPECIFICS – MEDIA INVITE

WHEN?   Friday, October 30, 2015 from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.

WHERE?   Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Clarington, Ontario. 

Directions:   Take the 401 east to Exit 431- Regional Road 57 Bowmanville/Waverley.  Drive north on Regional Road 57 to Concession 20.  Turn right and follow signs to the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

VISUALS:  

• 122 vehicles are parked on-site by category, e.g. Best New Small Car, Best New Luxury Car, Best New SUV/CUV, Best New Sports & Performance.
• An off-road course built by AJAC specifically for TestFest provides great visuals of the SUVs and CUVs being tested. Large hill, etc.
• B-roll footage provided by AJAC showing the journalists testing the vehicles earlier in the week.
• B-roll "beauty shots" of potential winners available from manufacturers.

INTERVIEWS

• Journalists are available for interviews to give their first-drive impressions as to why they believe a vehicle merits being a winner in its category. Ride with the journalist during a test-drive.
• Manufacturers' senior executives are on-site and interviews can be arranged.

AMENITIES

• Join us for lunch between 12:00 and 1:30 pm.
• Bridgestone media lounge and café.
• Bridgestone media centre with WiFi.

VIRTUAL PRESS ROOM:  http://ajac.ca/web/ccoty/pressroom.asp

AERIAL footage
B-roll footage
Video x 90 seconds:  1 for each TestFest day
Photos

Plus fact sheet and press releases posted as they become available.

SOURCE Automobile Journalists Association of Canada

Image with caption: "Aerial View AJAC CCOTY TestFest Oct.27 2015 (CNW Group/Automobile Journalists Association of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151030_C5550_PHOTO_EN_533151.jpg

Image with caption: "Journalists TestFest Taking A Break (CNW Group/Automobile Journalists Association of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151030_C5550_PHOTO_EN_533153.jpg

Image with caption: "Handling Course (CNW Group/Automobile Journalists Association of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151030_C5550_PHOTO_EN_533155.jpg

Image with caption: "Off Road Course Back to Back Testing (CNW Group/Automobile Journalists Association of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151030_C5550_PHOTO_EN_533157.jpg

PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2015/10/30/20151030_C5550_PDF_EN_533159.pdf

PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2015/10/30/20151030_C5550_PDF_EN_533161.pdf

For further information: For further information about the AJAC CCOTY Awards, please visit the AJAC web site: ajac.ca Or contact: Justin Pritchard, Co-Chair ([email protected]), Gary Grant, Co-Chair ([email protected]), Brian Early, Director ([email protected]), Haney Louka, Director ([email protected]), David Taylor, Director ([email protected]) or Charles Jolicoeur, Director ([email protected]).