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The countdown to the 2018 WesBank SA COTY Award has begun and the battle for the overall winner among the 10 selected finalists is getting intense with the passing of each day. Already, the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ) has selected the all-new seventh generation BMW 5 Series as a finalist for the 2018 WesBank South African Car of the Year (COTY) competition.
The announcement was made at a breakfast event hosted by WesBank at the Bryanston Country Club on Tuesday, September 19, as the reveal of the BMW 5 Series and other nine finalists followed a vote cast by a 26-member Jury from an original list of 35 eligible vehicle ranges.
The BMW 5 Series will compete against the following nine finalists for the 2018 WesBank SA COTY award. They are Alfa Romeo Giulia, Audi Q5, KIA Picanto, Land Rover Discovery, Peugeot 3008, Porsche Panamera, Suzuki Ignis, Toyota C-HR and Volvo S90.
After the success of the BMW 525i in 1990, BMW 528i in 1997 and BMW 530d in 2011, the seventh generation BMW 5 Series is the fourth BMW 5 Series to compete for this coveted title. Since the competition’s 26 years history, BMW has increased its dominance of the competition taking its winning tally to six Wesbank / SAGMJ COTY titles.
Since 1972, the BMW 5 Series has delivered a unique combination of engine performance, handling and everyday drivability as well as practicality. Through six previous generations – each of which was named as arguably “The Best Car in the World” at some stage in its lifespan – the BMW 5 Series has been the epitome of the executive express. Now in its seventh generation, the BMW 5 Series Sedan has cut a sporty, elegant and stylish figure since its local introduction in February 2017. Further enhanced dynamics, an unbeatable line-up of assistance systems, an unmatched degree of connectivity as well as new and innovative operating system are the most important new features. The new BMW 5 Series Sedan, therefore, has all the tools it needs to continue the remarkable success recorded by its predecessors; around 7.9 million BMW 5 Series cars were sold across its first six generations.
According to the SAGMJ, preparations now continue for the COTY evaluation days that will be held in January 2018. At these evaluation days – the most critical of which will be the scheduled procedures to be held at a dedicated testing facility – the COTY Jury will assess the cars independently, with routes and modules designed to test the vehicles in a similar way in which the average consumer would use them. The evaluation days will offer the Jury the opportunity to reacquaint themselves with the vehicles on specific criteria including aesthetics, build quality, ergonomics, fuel consumption, environmental friendliness, safety features and value for money. These aspects are not only important with regards to the actual testing but how the public perceives the COTY process, finalists and ultimately the winning car.
The winner will be revealed at a ceremony on March 13, 2018.
