New Mazda 6 sprints ahead to win car crown

THE new Mazda 6 range has won the 2003 Semperit Irish Car of the Year crown by a conclusive margin over the Honda Jazz and the Citroen C3.

The Mazda, which is a radical departure for a company many people accused of losing its way in recent years, is a serious return to form for one of Japan's smaller, but more innovative manufacturers, and it has been widely welcomed as a very worthy winner. The announcement was made at an awards ceremony in the Berkeley Court Hotel yesterday afternoon. Guest speaker was Transport Minister Séamus Brennan.

Some 35 motoring writers from all over Ireland took part in the selection process, organised by the Irish Motoring Writers Association.