Andy
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Australia's Best Cars awards, conducted jointly by state motoring organisations, includes 12 classes, with the family car honour the most sought after because it has the biggest market share.
It was also the only class won by an Australian-made car, with the Falcon BA-XT judged superior to the Mk II VY Holden Commodore.
Chief judge Ernest Litera said the Falcon BA-XT, the same model that won last year, was far superior to its predecessor, the Falcon AU.
"With the BA Falcon, Ford lifted the benchmark if you like," Litera said at the awards ceremony in Adelaide on Wednesday.
"They realised that they needed to do something after AU and they went back and looked at the engine of the car; it's a new engine, they chose better materials. It's got a better build quality; it's improved safety.
"All of the things that are important to the family car buyer, Ford have identified and tackled."
The cars were judged on 19 criteria, with the categories weighted according to what market research showed buyers of each class of car were looking for.
Comfort, space, security and safety were the most important factors in the family car class.
Ford Australia president Geoff Polites said the 5,400-strong Melbourne workforce involved in making the car would be ecstatic.
"We've started and changed from the ground up, in terms of the suspension, in terms of the engine, the interior, the dynamics," he said.
"We really set out to re-do the car and build what we thought was the very best car we could build at the time and the best car that would be built in Australia at that time, and I think we got there."
Among winners of other classes, the Hyundai Getz GL 3D was named the best small car, and the BMW M3 won the award for best sports car over $57,000 for the third straight year.
It was also the only class won by an Australian-made car, with the Falcon BA-XT judged superior to the Mk II VY Holden Commodore.
Chief judge Ernest Litera said the Falcon BA-XT, the same model that won last year, was far superior to its predecessor, the Falcon AU.
"With the BA Falcon, Ford lifted the benchmark if you like," Litera said at the awards ceremony in Adelaide on Wednesday.
"They realised that they needed to do something after AU and they went back and looked at the engine of the car; it's a new engine, they chose better materials. It's got a better build quality; it's improved safety.
"All of the things that are important to the family car buyer, Ford have identified and tackled."
The cars were judged on 19 criteria, with the categories weighted according to what market research showed buyers of each class of car were looking for.
Comfort, space, security and safety were the most important factors in the family car class.
Ford Australia president Geoff Polites said the 5,400-strong Melbourne workforce involved in making the car would be ecstatic.
"We've started and changed from the ground up, in terms of the suspension, in terms of the engine, the interior, the dynamics," he said.
"We really set out to re-do the car and build what we thought was the very best car we could build at the time and the best car that would be built in Australia at that time, and I think we got there."
Among winners of other classes, the Hyundai Getz GL 3D was named the best small car, and the BMW M3 won the award for best sports car over $57,000 for the third straight year.
