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It is normal. Because one has their favorite manufacturer, the other only recognizes the V8 engine. The third drives a 20-year-old Audi and hates electric cars. And the fourth replaces new cars every three years, but does not buy more than 25 thousand. Which of them best guesses which is the best car for Lithuania?
It’s about the race first and then the winner of the Volkswagen ID.3, which you hated happy He calls it a “€ 50,000 can of city”.
Lithuanian car of the year 2021 tender results
How cars are tested and who is that commission
For this, a commission of 9 or ten members of the commission is chosen. These are people who are active in the auto / motorcycle media. And testing new models not only on Lithuanian roads. At least sometimes I am lucky enough to test the “pre-production” model (not yet mass produced, brand new). Later already completed, called proof. Highways and mountain roads. Sometimes off road and sandy. And the third generation may already be in Lithuania. Initially during official presentations, and then during the “Lithuanian Car of the Year” competition. By the way, you can find out who that commission is in the submenu at the top by clicking the “Commission” button.
It is true that this year the COVID-19 quarantine conditions significantly limited the possibilities, there was no traditional testing ground at Druskininkai. But we found another way out. According to a strict schedule, we test cars individually according to disinfection requirements. Who needed it? Make the choice as objective as possible, taking into account the many details and nuances.
Here you have an example. Several colleagues have noted differences in the sound insulation of two similar electric cars, the Opel Corsa e and the Peugeot e-208. There was an immediate queue to see if there really was a difference.
Another example. Talking about the so-called gulf In class, many colleagues have noted that the suspension of the Hyundai i30 N line is much quieter than that of the Volkswagen Group competitors. Therefore, comparative tests were carried out again. For Hyundai it was not enough to reach the top seven finalists. But, an important rule, only new models are selected for the TOP7, “feislifts” can only be applied for individual nominations. Hence, of several cars in this segment, the commission voted for the Škoda Octavia, which offers more (space and functionality) for less (money).
By the way, just because there is not a new model, but an updated model, the fantastic goodness of the Mercedes Benz E-Class did not reach the final. Therefore, the traditional claims of critics that the commission focuses only on “cheap cans” are, to put it mildly, unreasonable.
Here we come to two essential questions: who needs nominations, what the TOP7 symbolizes and why a car that gets on it later can get 0 or just one point out of a possible 10 in the final.
What is TOP7
There are no hard and fast rules. However, the commission is working to get the best cars from different segments in the seven finalists (similar to the Car of the Year-like competition in Europe). So next year, when choosing a new car, the reader will clear up doubts by checking if the model was in the TOP7 and at least claimed it. Or maybe it won a nomination award for some particularly good movie?
Because the commission, as I mentioned, often has the opportunity to test even several versions of the same model with different power plants or even types of energy, so the evaluations are reasoned and stick in my head.
Therefore, entering the TOP7 is a very good and objective assessment. At least for me this year it was a great shame to be in the top seven Does not fit Land Rover Defender SUV. Because it’s driving pleasure, passability, style, excitement and power in one. defendyje. Inexpensive but very good toy (for 56-72 thousand euros).
Entering the TOP7 is a very good and objective evaluation.
I would like to emphasize once again that the TOP7 includes the widest range of cars (by segment, price, style, etc.), which is like a recommendation from the commission: keep in mind that these engineering jobs are “with a good idea”. Therefore, for many manufacturers, the incentive to enter the competition is simply that the car will be noticed, thoroughly tested and evaluated. I would also like to remind you that by completing the application, participants agree to its rules.
Why did Porsche get the fewest points?
So, on the question that aroused the most passions. In the final, we selected the winner of the CUPRA Formentor adrenaline machine (39.9 thousand euros), the significantly improved and embellished Peugeot 2008 (petrol and electric versions, 16-42 thousand euros), the impressive Porsche Taycan technology (96 – 150 thousand euros), Renault Captur (price of a rechargeable hybrid around 30 thousand euros), Škoda Octavia (18-31 thousand euros), small and agile Toyota Yaris (14-23 thousand euros), cozy and VW ID.3 spacious and well-managed, ushering in a new era of mass-produced VW electric cars (40-52 thousand euros).
How did the Porsche Taycan, which had more nominations, get fewer votes in the final?
An additional 12 nominations have been set up alongside the main one (“Car of the Year”) to highlight the best characteristics of the entrants and allow them to be judged for it. It is therefore only natural that Land Rover Defender was voted SUV of the Year and Porsche Taycan won the nominations for “Sportiest”, “Smarter”, “Safer” and “Design of the Year”. For the reasons listed above, the Mercedes Benz E Class, which did not make the final TOP7, won two nominations: a facelift car and an executive class car.
Taking into account the diversity of opinions, as every year, readers were offered to collect “Coche de la Nación” in the GAZAS section of the portal for 15 minutes. Dramatically overtaking the Audi e-tron at the very end, the Volkswagen Tiguan triumphed here, not even claiming the TOP7 as there is only updated.
It was then that the committee spoke at the beginning of the text. The goal of the final vote is to choose the “golden mean” after considering the many nuances listed above. In other words, a new car that dictates new fashions is quality for its price, the best in its segment and causes a pleasant surprise. wau effect. In a word, do not evaluate a trait, but for all.
I would like to remind you that this year the Peugeot 208 (in terms of petrol and electric version) was chosen as Car of the Year in Europe in Geneva, and last year the Jaguar I-Pace electric car. The price difference is more than double. Here’s a note for those who say price determines everything.
In my head, common sense in the finals of this year’s Lithuanian Car of the Year competition was determined by common sense. The Peugeot 2008 and Volkswagen ID.3, which scored the same number of points, caused considerable confusion, as the votes had to be recalculated and the winner announced based on the second places assigned by the commission.
However, the fact that ID.3 and 2008 became leaders was not surprising. In recent years, the French manufacturer has improved a lot and has started to produce not only beautiful, but also funny and funny “lions”.
I wouldn’t say the VW ID.3 took over and I loved it. They say even a couple of years late. After all, we have tested many electric cars: from the Tesla Model X and the Porsche Taycan (various versions) to the same Peugeot e-208 or MINI Cooper SE puppies.
But the first VW electric car as a whole is truly impressive. The most important feeling I wanted to share is the size and control of ID.3. This is a pleasant surprise.
The dimensions of the car are similar to those of the VW Passat. Therefore, it would be irresponsible to call it “city can”. It drives quietly, the materials used inside are better than in popular VW SUVs.
ID.3 was designed from the ground up as an electric car and it feels like that. It is well balanced so it drove well on German roads (in summer) and now on the autumn concrete Molėtai road, which is considered the worst road in Lithuania. And on country roads it is like a fish in water.
Probably a lot depends on the first impression. As soon as I entered the ID.3, I noticed the white (ergonomic) steering wheel, the large space in front of the driver’s eyes (as in popular minivans), the comfortable space for the passengers and, in general, the seats.
Of course, when looking at ID.3, you can see the influence of both Tesla and BMW. But Volkswagen really saved its DNA. It is difficult to say whether the cheaper models (from 35 thousand), which will appear next year, will be just as fun to drive, but for the ID.3, which has become the “Car of the year in Lithuania in 2021”, it is very easy to predict the future: at least not everyone will want it. .
I think the number of people wanting ID.3 will increase when VW completes the multimedia updates. Because interestingly, in Germany the next generation of ID.3 buyers for whom the VW Golf is not a cult car is becoming more and more common. They care about connectivity and mobility.
Is the fact that Porsche scored the fewest points in the final an insult to this supercar? Definitely not. This score further means that we are always waiting for a Wau from Porsche, and VW and Peugeot have started and exceeded expectations.
In addition, in the final the entire fight between the contestants is resumed. So even Taycan, who was near unanimous in the top seven, didn’t necessarily have to win. And to those who say Porsche will never get a chance, I’ll remind them in the 2015 election. Winner, the V6-powered Porsche Macan came in second, although it was more expensive than many entrants.
Do we really vote for the future?
And one last note. Skeptics are surprised that the commission chose a car that is Lithuania’s distant future. I categorically disagree, and not just because it won’t be easy to buy new electric cars in the near future due to growing demand.
Electric cars are not the future. Its main drawback is neither the battery nor the distance traveled, but the charging time. Therefore, the message announced by the organizers of the Dakar Rally together with the Government of Saudi Arabia explains a lot. From 2027 to 2030 A transition period is announced in Dakar to hydrogen.
ALSO READ: “Dakar Rally 2021”: the organizers presented the route, showed V.Žala and were surprised by the news about hydrogen
Typically a hydrogen car “tank” fills up in 3 minutes. That is the point.
Hydrogen cars (like the Toyota Mirai) drive as quietly and dynamically as traditional electric cars. The hydrogen decomposition reaction produces electricity and the by-product is water that escapes through a “silencer”.
If Saudi Arabia, a leading oil producer, also invests in industrial hydrogen production, the rules of the game in the world could change rapidly. So it won’t be ten years before we have cars to drop out of in the Lithuanian Car of the Year competition. haš du o.
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