Mazda 6 wins Semperit ICOTY 2003
21 November 2002: The Mazda 6 has won the title of Semperit Irish Car of the Year 2003, in a close-fought contest that had it follwed by the Honda Jazz, Citroen C3, Opel Vectra and Nissan Primera.
The winner gained 126 points in the competition organised by the Irish Motoring Writers Association, against the Jazz's 111, the C3's 100, the Vectra's 95 and the Primera's 76.
The Semperit Irish Van of the Year 2003 was won jointly by the Citroen Relay, Fiat Ducato and Peugeot Boxer.
The awards were presented by Brian Smith of Semperit, who said the winner of the car section showed the 'all-round strength' of the model in the family segment. John Coffey, MD of Mazda Ireland (above), said the new car represented the new 'DNA' of Mazda.
The Semperit ICOTY 2003 award was announced by Tony Conlon, chairman of the Irish Motoring Writers Association, at a lunch in Dublin this afternoon.
Above - Irish Van of the Year 2003 - Tony Conlon, chairman of the Irish Motoring Writers Association, with Paul Cregan of Citroen Ireland, Dave McConnell of Peugeot Ireland, minister for transport Seamus Brennan, Michael Howe of Fiat Auto Ireland and BrianSmith Semperit.
PICTURE GALLERY
-Ireland's motor industry was widely represented at the event.