2015 Motoring Middle East Car of the Year Awards
Trophies for our Top Ten best cars of 2015 – sponsored by East Coast Customs
By Shahzad Sheikh
Here are the only car awards you need to care about! Unlike other COTYs, the 2015 Motoring Middle East Car of the Year Awards are based on one simple question – what were the very best, most stand-out and full-of-want cars that we (Imthishan and I) actually drove last year.
Click below to watch a video explaining how we come up with the awards and to meet our sponsor, East Coast Customs, which is individually hand-crafting each unique trophy!
You won’t find any contrived categories here that often force award-givers into voting worthy, but not necessarily special cars into a winning position.
Check out our 2014 Motoring Middle East Car of the Year Awards from last year at this link which were chosen in exactly the same way.
For this year we have already picked our winners in December 2015 and over the next few weeks, we will be announcing each winner individually. So bookmark this page and keep checking back for updates or follow us live on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube channels!
Chrysler 300C SRT & Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV win awards!
It doesn’t get more gangster than the Chrysler 300C SRT (review here). At first acquaintance it looks like a refined, sophisticated and luxurious executive saloon.
Look again though and you notice the big wheels, the gaping grille and the front spoiler, plus of course those broad high shoulders.
There’s clearly a lot of muscle bulging through that slick suit, and the SRT badge and menacing exhaust note confirms this car’s deadly intent.
485bhp, 0-100kph in 4.5 seconds and 290kph – this is one hell of a thug in a smart suit. In the 300C SRT it’s almost impossible to move away with quiet decorum. It can be mean and moody, but it likes to be loud and lairy.
You know what else is impossible? To get one in its homeland, America. Here then is an offer you can’t refuse.
The Chrysler 300C SRT wins ‘The Godfather Award’ in the 2015 Motoring Middle East Car of the Year Awards.
In a market where hot hatches are not supposed to be popular, we certainly have a fair few to choose from. From the standard-bearer Golf GTI to the riotous Ford Focus ST and the suave and sophisticated Volvo V40 T5.
But none of them can match the sheer sex appeal and alluring charisma of the gorgeous Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV (review here). This Alfa stylishly secures its seat in the hot hatch shortlist.
The gorgeous Giulietta in QV form now matches anything it’s rivals have to offer with its 240bhp engine – the same power unit that sits behind the rear seats of the raccy Alfa Romeo 4C.
Now a practical purchase, this is a cool compact that confidently mixes it with Aventadors and McLarens on the Jumeirah Beach Walk, is probably more exclusive and will turn as many, if not more heads.
The Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV wins ‘The Ciao Bella Award’ in the 2015 Motoring Middle East Car of the Year Awards.
Volvo XC90 wins ‘Clever Clogs Award’
Volvo is back, and nothing signals that more distinctly than the all-new XC90 – review here.
We weren’t expecting much from this car, but it bowled us over by being the new standard bearer when it comes to large family SUVs.
Volvo says it’s the world’s safest SUV, maybe, but it’s definitely the world’s smartest, most thoughtful and family-friendly SUV.
From it’s bold crisp styling, to its fully functional but spartan dash, to the clever little touches that abound within the capacious cabin, this is a deeply desirable new Volvo.
And if you’re missing the larger engines, just know that this 2.0 turbo and supercharged engine gets this beast from rest to 100kph in 6.5 seconds – as quick as most hot hatches!
The Volvo XC90 wins the ‘Clever Clogs Award’ in the 2015 Motoring Middle East Car of the Year Awards.
Audi S6/S7 duo win ‘Stealth Fighter Award’
Supreme build, comfort, quality and luxury, plus a V8 with 450bhp giving you sportscar-shaming performance – that’s what you get with the Audi S6 and S7 models. And this isn’t just a straightline specialist, show it a twisty road and the Quattro grip reassures and delights in equal measure.
But more than that, there’s a welcoming solid familiarity to this car, a rightness that somehow resettles an upheaved world of confusion and turmoil, with an inherent integrity that soothes and revives.
Plus it’s a relatively unassuming saloon that’ll pick off boy racers at will. Our Stealth Fighter Award in the 2015 Motoring Middle East Car of the Year awards goes to the Audi S6 and its brother, the Audi S7.
Morgan 3 Wheeler wins ‘Mad Hatter Award’
The Morgan 3 Wheeler (review here) dates its fundamental design concept back to the 1930s. It’s essentially a bath tub on bicycle wheels – one short of a full set of four – with a big old V-Twin bike engine bolted to the front.
It laughs in the face of legislation, scoffs at safety, firmly believes cabin comfort is for whimps and quite simply thumbs its nose at convention. It’s not easy to live with, or drive for that matter, but is one of the most unique experiences you’ll ever have behind the wheel of a car – well, of sorts.
It’s fast enough, more fun than anything you can do without getting arrested, and utterly, marvellously bonkers. You have to be as unhinged to want one as Morgan is to keep making them, I guess we’re all a little mad here.
It deservedly wins our ‘Mad Hatter Award’ in the 2015 Motoring Middle East Car of the Year Awards.
The Final Five
Click below to play the video and watch the Trophy handovers to our final five winners!
Mazda 2 wins ‘Mini Marvel Award’
Our favourite small car of last year was the Mazda 2 (read review here), not just for being fun to drive and featuring all the plus points of a great compact city car, but also because it’s interior was quite simply at least one, if not two classes above.
It boasts heads-up-display, gadgets galore and superbly crafted soft-touch interior trim.
The Mazda 2 wins our ‘Mini Marvel’ award in the 2015 Motoring Middle East Car of the Year Awards.
Mercedes AMG GT S wins ‘Absolute Weapon Award’
You may miss the gullwing doors – we certainly do – but few cars are able to combine the best of brutal power with the finesse of precision corner carving the way the brilliant Mercedes AMG GT S (review here) does.
And to top it all, it’s got classic good looks with that swoopy long-bonnet styling, and a beautiful behind.
The AMG GT S wins the ‘Absolute Weapon’ award in the 2015 Motoring Middle East Car of the Year Awards.
Cadillac CTS-V wins ‘Supercar Slayer Award’
It’s the second most powerful production saloon you can buy, putting out 640bhp and capable of 0-100kph in just 3.8 seconds.
All the while it offers the luxury and comfort of one of the best American luxury cars out there, so you can speed along in supreme comfort.
Its performance is well within exotic car territory, so the Cadillac CTS-V (read review here) wins the ‘Supercar Slayer’ award in the 2015 Motoring Middle East Car of the Year awards.
Lotus Elise wins ‘Pure Perfection Award’
The Elise (read review here) takes things back to basics. In true Lotus style it pares everything down and is an automotive tribute to minimalism.
It takes driving back to its purest essence, but does so without ignoring comfort and practicality.
It’s not the easiest thing to get in and out, but once in, you won’t want to get out! It wins the ‘Pure Perfection’ award in the 2015 Motoring Middle East Car of the Year awards.
Jaguar XE wins ‘Pukka Performer Award’
The all-new baby saloon from Jaguar turns the driving fun factor right up to ten to make itself a more than worthy rival to the BMW 3-Series. The new XE is practical and prestigious yet astonishingly good to hurl around a twisty road, as well as being a smooth and serene cruiser with an excellent ride quality. It simply had to win the ‘Pukka Performer’ award in the 2015 Motoring Middle East Car of the Year awards.
XE 2.0 review here and XE S review here
WIN AN EXCLUSIVE TROPHY FOR YOURSELF! [COMPETITION CLOSED NOW]
Below is the complete list of the Award Categories. If you can correctly guess the winning car in each category, you could win a great prize – a uniquely crafted trophy with your name on it, presented to you by us!
- Absolute Weapon Award
- Ciao Bella Award
- Clever Clogs Award
- Mad Hatter Award
- Mini Marvel Award
- Pukka Performer Award
- Pure Perfection Award
- Stealth Fighters Award
- Supercar Slayer Award
- The Godfather Award
Leave your answers in the comment section below. You can enter as many times as you like. If you win, you must be able to collect the prize in Dubai.
Ooo yeah!
Till when can we comment?
And what happens more than one person gets an award winner correctly?
Are the awards going to be released every week as listed (in alphabetical order)?
Nope – you’ve got till we announce the first winner to make your guesses, and that could be later next week. So get your skates on!
Can a 2014 award winning car win again?
No.
Okay, so here goes:
Absolute Weapon Award – Challenger Hellcat
Ciao Bella Award – Lexus NX 200t
Clever Clogs Award 2015 Ford Mustang GT
Mad Hatter Award – Morgan Three Wheeler
Mini Marvel Award – Jaguar XE
Pukka Performer Award – Chrysler 300C SRT8
+Pure Perfection Award – 2016 Audi S6
Stealth Fighters Award – Cadillac ATS V
Supercar Slayer Award – Mercedes AMG GT
The Godfather Award – Lotus Elise S
—
Since you mention, “You can enter as many times as you like”, can I post another set?
Good effort! You got one absolutely right and you named several of this year’s winning cars but in the wrong categories. You can post as many times as you like. Nice try!
In fact you named six winning cars altogether!
Awesome!
If I do post another set and interchange a few cars here and there, will my first post be discarded from consideration, which would discard my correct answer too?
Also, can a person win more than one trophy? Because if not, then there isn’t any use of me doing the above.
PS. Apologies for asking so many questions!
^And in my new set of answers, if I unknowingly change my correct answer, will I be at a loss? Or does my correct answer still stay?
All entries WILL be considered
Second Set:
Absolute Weapon Award – Chrysler 300C SRT8
Ciao Bella Award – Mercedes AMG GT
Clever Clogs Award – 2016 Volvo XC 90
Mad Hatter Award – Cadillac ATS V
Mini Marvel Award – Alfa Romeo Guilietta QV
Pukka Performer Award – Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT
Pure Perfection Award – 2016 Audi S6
Stealth Fighters Award – Firebreather (Pontiac Firebird)
Supercar Slayer Award – Lotus Elise S
The Godfather Award – Lamborghini Aventador
Absolute Weapon Award : Mercedes AMG GT
Ciao Bella Award : Fiat 500
Clever Clogs Award : Lexus RX300/200t
Mad Hatter Award : Dodge Challenger Hellcat
Mini Marvel Award : Morgan 3wheeler
Pukka Performer Award : Mercedes CLA 45 AMG
Pure Perfection Award : Audi S6
Stealth Fighters Award : Lamborghini Huracan
Supercar Slayer Award : Lamborghini Aventador
Ok, I tried for once, ;)!
The Godfather Award : Chrysler 300C SRT8
You named four winning cars and two in the right category! 😉
You can try as many times as you like!
Well thank you, I chose the best as I knew, :)! Someday, I should work with you in MME, 🙂 ! But, we got different styles after I noticed that winning cars you chose in different categories. I believed that Stealth fighter should be Huracan because it is faster than Aventador. But Audi S, I chose it in pure perfection. Since, I sat it once in DIMS, and it made me awesome and perfection, :/. Anyway, 3wheeler should be in Mini Marvel because each Marvel characters are mutant, so I chose it because it has 3 wheels and bike engine, :o. But you chose it for Mad Hatter Award.
I agree with Mohamed El, S6 is Pure Perfection!
Absolute Weapon Award Huracan
Ciao Bella Award Lexus NX 200t
Clever Clogs Award Ford Mustang GT
Mad Hatter Award Morgan Three Wheeler
Mini Marvel Award Alfa Romeo Guilietta QV
Pukka Performer Award Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT
Pure Perfection Award Challenger Hellcat
Stealth Fighters Award Cadillac ATS V
Supercar Slayer Award Lotus Elise S
The Godfather Award Mercedes AMG GT
You named four winning cars, but only one in the right category (and that’s mentioned above anyway), and how can you get the Stealth Fighters wrong when we’ve already announced it above! LOL. Have another go! 😉