AndyXF cant go wrong in his Jaguar XF.

The Jaguar XF came up trumps in the “Top Gears” category (for cars with a retail price of R250 000 and above).

It beat nine competitors: the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Porsche Boxster/Cayman, Audi A4, Lexus IS250, Honda Accord, MINI Convertible, Alfa GT, Audi A3 and BMW Z4.

The WOW Women’s Car of the Year Awards are convened by Associated Magazines, publisher of Women on Wheels (WOW) magazine. These are the only car awards in South Africa designed and run by women, for women. The finalists were featured in WOW, an annual motoring guide bagged with Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, House and Leisure and O, The Oprah Magazine.

The wow factor

A panel of women motoring journalist judges – including Charleen Clarke, Heléne Griffiths, Fenley Foxen and Peta Lee – judged the cars in various categories and WOW readers were also given an opportunity to vote (WOW reaches 1.6 million high powered, high income women). The 2009 edition of WOW described the XF as “the finest executive car on our roads”.

Justine Joseph, editor of the magazine, says the Jaguar XF’s triumph is “a testament to the fact that this brand is successfully evolving from a classic – and a classically male car – to a cutting-edge choice for South African women”. “That’s why more women than ever before can’t wait to get their hands on this hot set of wheels. And that’s why we love it!” she notes.

This latest accolade is one of many that Jaguar has won. Last year, Britain’s best motoring website for women – evecars.com – named the Jaguar XF “Best Executive Car.

Not just for the ladies

However, it’s not only the ladies who love the XF. It recently won the award for Best Executive Car at the 2009 Fleet World Honours and also just picked up the “Money No Object” Award at the 2009 British Towcar Awards. Chosen by experts from Practical Caravan, What Car? and The Camping and Caravanning Club, the XF was hailed the most desirable towing vehicle among 39 competitors.

The XF has won more than 20 international awards since its launch, most recently “Britain’s Best Car” in the Auto Express Driver Power Survey for 2009 and “Best Executive Car” at the What Diesel Awards 2009. Earlier this year, the Jaguar XF also reaffirmed its position as one of the finest cars – not only in South Africa but in the world – by clinching finalist status in the South African Car of the Year and World Car of the Year competitions.

Jaguar Land Rover has been awarded ‘Vehicle Manufacturer of the Year’ at the 13^th Annual Industry Awards, hosted by Bodyshop Magazine at the Hilton Metropole in Birmingham.

The awards recognise excellence in dealer bodyshops and repair centres.

Jaguar Land Rover triumphed over strong competition from other manufacturers to scoop the accolade. The award continues to reinforce the confidence held by the bodyshops, dealers and customers alike that Jaguar Land Rover is committed to being the best in vehicle repair and finish. The winners of the award were judged on criteria such as training, network development and customer satisfaction. The current and future strategies are also examined for soundness and to show the clarity of the direction the programme is heading towards.

Rob Harris, Jaguar Land Rover’s Business Development Manager said, “It is important that in the current climate such high standards within the business are recognised and rewarded. This award is credit to all those who have worked so hard throughout the year and they should be very proud of their accomplishments.”

At the same time, Jaguar Land Rover held their own internal awards for excellence, which aimed to recognise the best paint centre and body shops from within the 112 UK Jaguar Land Rover Centres of Excellence.

Louise Dominy, Managing Director and Tim Blease, Bodyshop Manager of Jaguar Land Rover Banbury’s Dealership, won the Paint Centre of the Year award during the ceremony, which took place at the Bank Restaurant in Birmingham. They were recognised for their consistency in delivering against the award criteria in terms of certificate printing, branded car provision and customer satisfaction.

The bodyshop awards were presented to four regional finalists, who were scored individually over four three monthly periods on seven categories. Areas assessed included Key Performance Indicators, Customer Satisfaction Information and Marketing. It was essential for the winning repairer to demonstrate they comply with the core aims and objectives that are upheld by the programme.

Winners from the regional finals:-

- East and Northeast England – Dean Dionisiou and Nis Kyraciou from M & A coachworks

- Scotland, Northern Ireland and Northwest England – Derek McFarlene from Mitchell Inglis Glasgow

- Midlands and Southwest England – Irshad and Hamza Lokat from Doseley Motors

- Southeast and Southern England – Louise Dominy and Tim Blease from Banbury’s