The BMW 7 Series (photo) clinched the 2024 SA Car of the Year (COTY) title. Among 18 finalists, it emerged as a standout contender, impressing COTY jurors from the South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ) throughout the evaluation process.
The Suzuki Fronx secured second place overall, with the BMW M2 claiming third spot.
The 2024 COTY competition saw 18 finalists carefully selected from an impressive pool of 80 qualifying vehicles representing various fiercely contested categories. The competition featured Budget/Compact, Compact Family, Family, Premium, Adventure SUV, 4×4 Double Cab, Luxury and Performance categories. With a greater representation of EVs across the different categories, the previous New Energy category was dropped in this year's competition.
The category winners of the 2024 COTY competition are:
Budget/Compact: Suzuki Fronx.
Compact Family: Toyota Urban Cruiser.
Family: BMW X1.
Premium: Mercedes-Benz GLC.
Adventure SUV: Mahindra Scorpio-N.
4x4 Double Cab: Volkswagen Amarok.
Luxury: BMW 7 Series.
Performance: BMW M2.
The Mahindra Scorpio-N also won the "Motor Enthusiasts Choice" award, which was determined by public votes in a social media campaign led by OMI. This category was added three years ago to recognise the increasing importance of public engagement in the COTY competition.
Another accolade for the BMW brand, which clinched the overall COTY victory plus three category wins, is the COTY Jurors’ Excellence Award granted to the 7 Series, recognising the jurors' admiration for its exceptional driving experience, vehicle quality and craftsmanship based on their input scores.
Charles Nortjé, Managing Director of Old Mutual Insure (OMI), a leading insurer in South Africa and a main sponsor of COTY for the past two years, expressed his delight at the outcome of this year's COTY competition. He remarked on the industry's rapid advancements, particularly in automotive safety.
Mabuyane Mabuza, Chairperson of the SAGMJ and the 2023 and 2024 COTY competitions, congratulated the winners and all the competitor entries. "It's heartening to see the automotive industry's dedication to providing high-quality, technologically advanced products across all categories to meet modern buyers' mobility needs."
She explained that the COTY competition evaluates all entrants based on design, technology, engineering, powertrain performance, handling, ingenuity and safety. After the expert panel completes scoring, the automated factors provided by Lightstone Auto offer data-driven insights and online market intelligence that transcend merely scoring the driving experience.
"After securing victory in the 38th edition of the COTY competition in 2024, BMW now holds the record for the most overall wins in this prestigious showcase, having triumphed in six previous years, namely 1988, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2001 and 2011. It is remarkable that the BMW 7 Series now marks their seventh win in the competition!"
Omoda has officially unveiled its new C3. Building on the legacy of “Art in Motion”, the C3 draws inspiration from lightning, merging cyber-futuristic sharpness with deconstructed lines and electric energy to redefine aesthetic expression, the manufacturer claims.
The latest Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition clearly showed the worldwide shift towards new-energy drivetrains like battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).
Audi Centre Sandton was named 2024 Dealer of the Year, while Hatfield Motor Group walked away with the coveted 2024 Dealer Group of the Year prize during Audi South Africa’s annual Vorsprung Awards.
Advertisement
Advertisement
I have bad reflexes. I was once run over by a car being pushed by two guys
Woody Allen
Chinese bakkies are making their mark in the highly contested bakkie space, not only internationally but also locally in South Africa, which is described as a bakkie-mad country.
Chery’s latest international brand, LEPAS, has reached a major milestone as its first model – the L8 – officially rolls off the production line.
A busy year awaits OMODA & JAECOO, with the all-new JAECOO J7 SHS and the OMODA C7 PHEV just two of the new, electrified models due to reach South African shores later this year.
