Media Invite - Data Driven: Canadian expertise for Canadian consumers

That's What Makes A Winner
Attention: TV Assignment Editors

TORONTO, Nov. 17, 2015 /CNW/ - Data driven and Canadian expertise: That's what makes a winner in the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada's (AJAC) Canadian Car of the Year Awards.

You are invited to come see for yourself why AJAC's annual "Best New" awards program merits respect from both consumers and the automotive industry.

Our journalists are ready to be interviewed, filmed and photographed by your news team this TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24 at 9:30 am at the Toronto Congress Centre, Hall D. We will also have 27 vehicles, all top-three finalists in their categories, parked inside during the announcements of the category winners, such as Best New Small Car, Best New SUV / CUV, Best New Sports / Performance, and others.

The category winners represent voting results by the largest group of Canada's best-known automotive journalists, who gathered this October in Bowmanville, Ontario for a four-day test-drive evaluation of brand-new or significantly changed vehicle models. The event, popularly known as "TestFest," was hosted by Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, and Shell Canada is the official fuel supplier.

"AJAC's Canadian Car of the Year Awards program is the most intensive new vehicle evaluation process on the planet," says Gary Grant, co-chair of the Canadian Car of the Year Committee.  "No other organization employs such stringent testing methods to determine their car of the year award winners."

The rigorous testing program includes real-world driving on public roads, just as consumers drive, so the test data and vote results are directly relevant to potential car, truck and SUV buyers.

Surveys have shown that the Canadian Car of the Year Awards are important to consumers, including five over the past years that show that winning an AJAC award is important to potential buyers of new cars. A recent survey of Honda Accord buyers found that the awareness level of the award has risen from 74 per cent in 2008, to 100 per cent in 2013; and that 56 per cent of survey respondents said the Canadian Car of the Year Award had a positive influence on their purchase decision.

"Our program is absolutely testing-based," says Justin Pritchard, co-chair of the Canadian Car of the Year Committee. "We have dozens of experienced vehicle testers driving vehicles back to back over the course of several days. This process generates thousands of data points, which we share online so shoppers can see how a vehicle won its category, or how it stacked up to the category winner."

SPECIFICS - MEDIA INVITE

Tuesday, November 24, 2015 from 9:30 am to 11:00 am.

Toronto Congress Centre, Hall D. 650 Dixon Road, Toronto, Ontario M9W 1J1 [phone]

VISUALS:

• 27 vehicles, all top finalists in their categories parked on site during the presentation.
• Red carpet for each of the winning cars.
• B-roll footage provided by AJAC showing journalists going through the process during testing in October 2015.
• 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. 
• Manufacturers' senior executives are on-site and interviews can be arranged.

PRESS ROOM FOR MEDIA:  AJAC has an online virtual press room where you may peruse and download background information about our 2016 Canadian Car of the Year Awards, including photographs, B-roll video, 90-second videos, aerial drone footage of the event, comments from our journalists on the vehicles, and fact sheets including recent press releases. Link is  http://ajac.ca/web/ccoty/pressroom.asp

RSVP:
Please confirm your attendance and who will be attending as part of your news team.

Allie Marsh, AJAC Event Coordinator, Cell: 289.213.9084 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: ajac.ca.

2016 Canadian Car of the Year Awards
TOP THREE FINALISTS
November 10, 2015

SMALL CAR
Honda Civic
Toyota Yaris
Volkswagen Jetta

FAMILY CAR
Chevrolet Volt
Hyundai Sonata
Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen 1.8TSI

SPORTS / PERFORMANCE under $50k
MINI 3 door John Cooper Works
Mazda MX-5
Volkswagen Golf R

SPORTS / PERFORMANCE over $50k
Ford Shelby GT350
Cadillac ATS-V
Mercedes-Benz AMG C-Class (C 63 S)

PRESTIGE / PERFORMANCE
Cadillac CTS-V
Mercedes Benz AMG GT (S Coupe)
Porsche Cayman

PICKUP
GMC Canyon
Chevrolet Silverado
Toyota Tacoma

SUV / CUV under $35k
Jeep Renegade
Honda HR-V
Mazda CX-3

SUV / CUV $35K - $60k
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Tucson
Kia Sorento

SUV / CUV over $60k
Lincoln MKX
Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe (GLE 350d 4MATIC Coupe)
Volvo XC90 

SOURCE Automobile Journalists Association of Canada

For further information: Allie Marsh, AJAC Event Coordinator, Cell: 289.213.9084, E-mail: [email protected], Web site: ajac.ca.