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AJAC Names the Chrysler Crossfire "Best New Design" for 2004
TORONTO (Ontario), February 11, 2004 – The Chrysler Crossfire was declared the winner of the “Best New Design” award for 2004 by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). The award was announced today during the opening ceremonies for the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto.
Jim Kenzie, President of the Canadian Car of the Year Awards explained that, “The design award is the result of a collective decision by the members of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). The intent of the design award is to identify and reward the vehicle that we collectively judge to exhibit the most aesthetically pleasing combination of appearance and function.
Judging is based on exterior and interior appearance, but in a real world context. That means, for example, that an extremely raked windshield or exceptionally low roofline should be judged on the basis of their effects on headroom and visibility as well as styling, and the styling should be appropriate to the type of vehicle. The best balance of form and function should be rewarded.”
The Best New Design award is part of AJAC’s Canadian Car of the Year awards program, respected world-wide for its rigorous, scientifically sophisticated process that ensures valid, objective results backed up by data, not just opinion.
It all begins in late October when about 50 AJAC automotive journalists from across Canada take part in a four-day back-to-back evaluation process at Shannonville Motorsports Park, near Belleville, Ontario.
Affectionately known as “TestFest”, the journalists form test teams to compare every vehicle in a class, back-to-back, on the same surfaces, under the same conditions, on the same day to ensure valid, objective comparisons. The testing program includes driving on a test track as well as using “real world” public roads where consumers drive.
Every detail, from safety features to cargo capacity, is thoroughly scrutinized, discussed, and individually rated by secret ballot. Those ballots are then tabulated by the international accounting firm KPMG, which keeps the results confidential – even from AJAC – until today’s press conference.
AJAC’s Jim Kenzie explained that, “The primary purpose of AJAC's Car of the Year Awards program is to provide consumers with sound, comparative information on which to base their new vehicle buying decisions.
Accordingly, the vote results, as well as the comparative performance data produced during the annual Test Fest, are available to consumers on AJAC’s web site at www.AJAC.ca.
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