2 March 2007

 

BMW in pole position in annual MSN Cars popularity poll

 

It’s official! Germany is cool again! The country were champions as hosts of the World Cup last year and it would appear they have scored again in the MSN Cars ‘Car of the Year’ award. In a poll nearly a quarter voted the BMW 3-Series coupe ‘Car of the Year’, placing it firmly in the driving seat as Britain’s most craved car.

 

The online poll ran on MSN Cars, one of the UK’s leading motoring websites which saw the BMW 3-Series coupe drive into poll position with 23% of the votes, with Brits loving the looks of the reincarnated sports coupe, its drivability and its unbeatable brand-image. The Ferrari 599 GTB steered into second place with 12% of the votes.

 

British cars weren’t forgotten though; Jaguar’s all new XK sports coupe and convertible came third with 8.4% of the votes, while the new generation Mini – built by BMW in Oxford – came a close fourth with 8%.  The souped-up version of Lamborghini’s Murcielago, the LP640 – arrived in fifth place with 4.6%.

 

“The MSN Cars Car of the Year vote is unique in the industry since the votes are cast by the people who matter most – the general public.” said the manager of MSN Cars, Tom Evans.  “After two years where the winners were the brilliant but somewhat inaccessible Aston Martin DB9 and Bugatti Veyron, it’s great that our users chose the much more down-to-earth BMW 3-Series coupe – a car that many may end up driving sooner or later.  It’s a cracking looking car, and great to drive too, making it a worthy winner.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

The full results of the online poll are below:

 

Car

% of vote

1. BMW 3 Series Coupe                          

23

2. Ferrari 599 GTB                                  

12

3. Jaguar XK                                             

8.4

4. Mini                                                     

8

5. Lamborghini Murcielago LP640          

4.6

6. Koenigsegg CCX                                  

4.5

7. Porsche 911 Turbo/GT3/GT3 RS        

3.4

8.  Audi TT                                                

3.3

9.  Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder             

3.2

10. Alfa Romeo Brera                             

2.2

 

-ends-

 

For further information please contact:

Ruth Thomas                        020 7025 6437                 ruth.thomas@redconsultancy.com

 

Notes to Editors:

Poll results from an online vote on MSN Cars UK http://cars.uk.msn.com.

 

The MSN online poll was conducted between December 2006 and January 2007

 

MSN Cars is one of the UK’s most popular motoring websites.  According to data from independent ratings agency ComScore for December 2006, MSN Cars received 836,000 unique users, generating 11 million page-views.

 

Full commentary on the Top 5:

 

1.  BMW 3 Series Coupe

 

Is there a more desirable new car in the UK today? It seems that for many of you there isn’t. And we can fully appreciate your thinking. More than any other coupe the 3 Series is a hugely impressive all-rounder. Unique coupe looks distinguish it from its saloon relatives, yet it retains much of their practicality. The engine line-up starts with a 2.0-litre petrol unit, with a diesel certain to follow soon, rising up through the traditional BMW 325 and 330 steps to the range-topping 335i and 335d models. Choose any for fast, enjoyable motoring. The ultimate M3 incarnation is due later this year - we wouldn’t bet against it being our 2008 MSN CotY winner…

 

2.  Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

 

In truth we thought the Ferrari would walk this year’s MSN CotY. It has all the right ingredients - an Enzo-derived 6.0-litre V12, 200+mph capability, jaw-dropping looks and quite staggering performance. Add in trick magnetic damping, a super-fast paddle shift transmission and Ferrari’s 575 Maranello replacement is one of the most accomplished supercars we’ve ever driven. Then there’s that badge, Ferrari having the ability to reduce us all to gibbering schoolchildren. Still, second place is a good showing from the big Italian supercar, but not even its 611bhp was enough to oust the BMW from the top spot.

 

3.  Jaguar XK

 

You clearly thought gorgeous when you saw the Jaguar XK on the voting list. You’re not wrong either, as, odd nose aside, the Jaguar is one of the prettiest cars on the road today. In standard 4.2-litre guise it’s a beautiful and competent GT car, while with the supercharged engine it’s a fantastically rapid and accomplished Porsche 911 chaser. Gorgeous it may be, but it’s still not perfect. The interior’s not brilliant and that electric radio aerial is unacceptable on a £60k car. Even so, you still loved it, the Jaguar obviously appealing to your eyes as well as your patriotism. Let’s hope Jaguar can win your affections again with its S-Type replacement that’s due next year.

 

4.  Mini

 

The Mini was another surprise in your 2007 MSN Car of the Year voting. That’s not because we don’t like it, but we thought the subtlety of the changes on the second-generation car would see it slip under your radar. Basically the 2007 model is an improved version of the much-loved original. Out goes the rough old engine, in comes a BMW/PSA collaborative unit. It’s smoother, performs better and is more environmentally friendly. Blink and you’ll miss the detailed changes to the looks, but then, that’s part of the Mini’s enduring appeal. Fun to drive, sensibly priced and employing lots of people to build them here in the UK, the Mini unquestionably deserves its good showing here.  

 

 

5.  Lamborghini Murcielago LP640

 

The archetypal supercar maker has been having some of its thunder stolen lately from a number of old rivals and new upstarts. To silence them Lamborghini unleashed this ultimate version of its Murcielago – the LP640. That 640 refers to the power in PS, the Murcie’s V12 growing to 6.5-litres to develop a Ferrari 599 GTB beating 631bhp. It’s not just the engine that’s been looked at either as the brakes, suspension and aerodynamics have all also been tweaked to allow you better enjoy all that power. If that all doesn’t sound mad enough for you, then there’s now a roadster version available...

About MSN UK and Windows Live
MSN and Windows Live are a business division of Microsoft Corporation. 

MSN UK (http://uk.msn.com) attracts more than 21 million unique users worldwide per month. MSN is a world leader in delivering compelling programmed content experiences to consumers and online advertising opportunities to businesses worldwide.

Windows Live, a new set of personal Internet services and software, is designed to bring together in one place all the relationships, information and interests people care about most, with enhanced safety and security features across their PC, devices and the Web.

Windows Live and MSN provide a number of world class innovative communication and information services including: 

§  MSN Hotmail, the UK's most popular free web-based e-mail service with over 11.3 million users in the UK (Nielsen//NetRatings November 2006) and over 230 million active accounts worldwide (MSN Internal Data)

§  Windows Live Messenger, the UK's number one instant messaging service on the internet with 14.8 million monthly users (Nielsen//NetRatings November 2006) and over 205 million active users worldwide (MSN Internal data)

§  Live Search, one of the UK’s top search sites with 5 million users. (Nielsen//NetRatings November 2006).  Live Search is available in 33 markets worldwide and 13 languages.

§  Windows Live Spaces, one of the leading blogging and social networking sites in the UK, has over 2.7 million users in the UK (Nielsen//NetRatings November 2006). Windows Live Spaces is one of the fastest growing communication networks in the world.