Let the New Year Bring New Hope
THE YEAR 2019 HAS JUST FLOWN by and I am already writing the editorial for the January 2020 issue. The automobile industry is still on the decline notwithstanding a small gain during the festive season. The year gone by was quite bad for the automotive sector on the whole; in fact, the auto industry did not suffer such an adverse effect during the global meltdown in 2008 as it is facing today. Let’s hope the New Year brings some cheer for the industry. It is again that time of the year where we recognize the outstanding cars that were manufactured between 1 December 2018 and 30 November 2019 as the car of the year 2020. Twenty cars qualified this time for the ICOTY award. Those were then shortlisted to 11 and 10 actually showed up for the jury round. The winner of the ICOTY award for 2020 is the Hyundai Venue with 111 points. The Kia Seltos came second with 102 points, and the Renault Triber third with 56. In the premium segment it was more like a BMW benefit award with the number of contenders they had in the premium category and it was the 3 Series that won the award from the X5 and the Audi A6. On the safety front, the authorities are putting rumble strips on the entry of a corner, thus upsetting the car as it enters the corner. Instead they should put them at the least 50 to 75 metres before the turn to allow a car to slow down rather than upsetting it in mid-corner, which is more dangerous. I would like to wish all our readers a happy and safe New Year. Please do not drink and drive and enjoy the festive occasion.
EDITOR – ASPI BHATHENA
