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AJAC Names BMW Active Steering “Best New Technology” for 2004
TORONTO (Ontario), February 11, 2004, BMW Active Steering was declared the winner of the “Best New Technology” award for 2004 by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). The award was announced today during the opening ceremonies for the Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto.
Jim Kenzie, President of the Canadian Car of the Year Awards, sponsored by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), explained that, “The intent of the award is to identify and reward the technology that we collectively judge to combine technological advances with real value for the consumer.”
“A panel of technical experts review in detail each of the new technologies submitted for consideration by the car manufacturers. Judging is based on a combination of technical innovation and practicality.” The BMW Active Steering was considered to be not only technically innovative but potentially a prototype that will find wide spread use in other vehicles in the very near future.”
The Best New Technology 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 some 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, president of the Canadian Car of the Year Awards, 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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