Fiat’s Panda is the 2004 Car of the Year. The Italian firm picked up the prize for the eighth time at the Autocar awards ceremony on Tuesday 18 November, after beating the other six shortlisted cars to the top spot, and succeeding the current champion, Renault’s Mégane.
Fifty-eight journalists, including Autocar editor-in-chief Steve Cropley, voted for their favourites from the Panda, BMW 5-series, Mazda 3, Nissan Micra, Vauxhall Meriva, Toyota Avensis and VW Golf, the Panda triumphing over the Golf (pictured) and Mazda 3.
The new champion joins the Fiat 124, 128, 127, Uno, Tipo, Punto and Brava/Bravo in scooping the award, while subsidiaries Alfa and Lancia have won the prize three times between them for the Alfa 156 and 147, and the Lancia Delta.
Autocar has also named its other annual awards, listed below
Man of the Year - Louis Schweitzer
Designer of the Year - Peter Stevens
Young Designer of the Year - James Taylor
Lifetime achievement award - Ford Focus
Safety award - EuroRAP
Best handling car of the year - Mazda MX-5
Performance car of the year - Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale
Technical achievement of the year - Toyota Prius
Idea of the year - AA VIxEN roadside diagnostics
Car ad campaign of the year - Honda Accord Cog
Driver of the year - Mark Webber
Motorsport award - Martin Brundle and the ITV F1 crew
Concept car of the year - Citroen C-Airlounge
Read the full details in this week's magazine
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