And the winners are...

The Hero Honda CBZ X-Treme is the Business Standard Motoring Bike Of The Year 2007.

That it was a photo-finish is an understatement. In contention for the top honours among bikes this year, there were three new 125s launched by Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha, and the 150cc CBZ X-Treme.

Suzuki's eagerly anticipated re-entry into the Indian market with the Heat/Zeus was not met with enthusiasm. Though the Zeus comes with superb fit-and-finish and a bargain of a price-tag, the lack of features and an unexciting top-end power delivery saw it wilt under the strengths of its rivals.

The Honda Shine, on the other hand, is a virtual template of a small-displacement motorcycle. It is built to survive decades of abuse and offers incredible amounts of refinement too. But its safe, ho-hum styling, the absence of a vital fifth gear and a mundane instrument cluster meant it lost out to the others.

So the real battle was between the Yamaha Gladiator and the Hero Honda CBZ X-Treme. The Gladiator showcases benchmark 125cc styling, refinement and a free-revving yet unstressed engine.

And it made up ground in BSM's objective parameters, especially in economy and price. Yet, the new CBZ was too strong for the Yamaha, which ultimately got beaten to the post by less than one per cent of the total points available.

So that leaves us with the CBZ, which won perfect scores for its engine's performance, handling and being fun to ride, and did very well in almost all other areas.

The CBZ X-Treme's handling abilities are perhaps unmatched by any other motorcycle on sale in the country today, while its eager mid-range means it is fun in traffic, yet capable on the open roads.

It is also ergonomically designed, without losing out on the overall looks front. And after all that, it wears a typical Hero Honda value-for-money price tag. So it's no wonder that the Hero Honda CBZ X-Treme is the Business Standard Motoring Bike Of The Year 2007. Congratulations Hero Honda!

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Business Standard Motoring Import Car Of The Year 2007
TOYOTA CAMRY

The contenders for our Import Car Of The Year 2007 Award included mighty machines like the Audi Q7, the Honda CR-V, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the Toyota Camry.

The Audi and Merc operate at a stratospheric price level, and that put them out of the reckoning this year. Again, the new CR-V from Honda, though a better car than its predecessor in every aspect, has a steep price tag. And that landed the Camry with the top spot this year in this category.

But that isn't the only reason why we have called the Camry the winner. Across the world, the Camry has kept the Toyota flag flying high for years on end. It has been the benchmark large saloon and somehow Toyota has consistently been raising the bar with every successive generation of the car.

The latest iteration which has been offered by Toyota in India, is a substantial upgrade from the previous one. It actually makes a design statement, which is a step forward for the conservative Japanese giant.

Though they haven't offered a V6, the four-cylinder motor is not a compromise at all. It is a phenomenal engine that is extremely driveable, enjoyable and economical.

Okay, it's not a cheap car, but for your money, you get an accomplished saloon that makes you feel good that you have made a wise and sensible investment. Which is why the Toyota Camry is the Business Standard Motoring Import Car Of The Year 2007.

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Business Standard Motoring Jury Award 2007
HONDA CIVIC

The Jury Award is given to a significant car launched during the calendar year. The Honda Civic is the car that we all loved universally. It should have been our Car Of The Year, and deservedly so. Honda Siel have given us a saloon that is as contemporary as it gets and have not scrimped on the safety features and performance either.

The Civic is a car that's extremely modern and avant garde, its design is futuristic, while its interior layout and features have never been seen before in a production car in India.

The engine, like in all Hondas, is a gem "" it can thrill both enthusiasts and economy-minded folks alike. And the paddle-shift option for shifting gears in the automatic version is also a never-seen-before in its category. It rides and handles well, making both the driver and the rear seat passenger happy. Plus the Civic for India has a comprehensive safety specifications list and is pretty loaded with other mod-cons too.

So why isn't it our Car Of The Year? Simple, for India, the Civic is an expensive car. The Business Standard Motoring point rating system gives extra weightage to cars that are affordable and cheap to run.

While the Civic scored high points across the board, it lost out simply on its price tag. Which does not mean it's not value for money "" in its segment, it is the car to buy. But the BSM rating system has been created with the larger mass of Indian car buyers in mind.

As time goes by our benchmark for price will be raised and fine automobiles such as the Civic will certainly get the benefit. That time has not yet come. Which is why our favourite car of this year's COTY bunch, the Honda Civic, wins the Business Standard Motoring Jury Award 2007.

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Business Standard Motoring Performance Car Of The Year 2007
HYUNDAI VERNA 1.5 CRDi

It is as quick or as fast as other quick and fast petrol cars "" yes, that means it does not drink the unleaded.

The Hyundai Verna 1.5 CRDi is a car that runs on the sticky fuel but doesn't feel so and it's a sign of things to come when a diesel car wins our performance sweepstakes. You can see the direction modern-day diesel powerplants are taking thanks to the Verna's engaging oil-burner.

Of all the cars that were launched this year, and that included its own petrol sibling, the Verna CRDi offers a more involving driving experience and is an enjoyable car to pilot. The ready presence of torque across the rev range, available to you at the dab of the pedal, can be quite addictive.

The jury appreciated the fact that the Verna's common-rail direct injection four-cylinder motor and the variable geometry turbine is full of gusto, yet is fuel efficient too.

Sure, the rest of the car could have been more taut for corner carving or could have offered better directional stability, still there's no denying that with the Verna CRDi, Hyundai has given the performance enthusiast a machine that is involving to drive yet light on the pocket. Yes, a diesel car can make driving enthusiasts happy and Hyundai has just shown how it can be done.

Congratulations Hyundai, the Verna CRDi is the Business Standard Motoring Performance Car Of The Year 2007.

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Business Standard Motoring Scooter Of The Year 2007
KINETIC BLAZE

It's been a slow year for scooters and despite promises of more scooters from at least two marques, the action has been sporadic. But the big, bright spot in the 2006 scooter spectrum was the Kinetic Blaze.

Effectively India's first maxi-scooter, it was the sole all-new launch this year. But that's only the minor reason why we're glad it wins this award.

The Blaze opens up a new segment for scooters and proves that large, fast scooters do have a place in our garages. Suddenly, the scooter category is now an exciting place to be in, thanks to the Blaze's size, looks and performance. That it was styled by the Italians, only adds to efficacy of the package.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Kinetic Blaze is the Business Standard Motoring Scooter Of The Year 2007! Thank you, Kinetic, for kickstarting an all-new segment in the country with the Blaze, and congratulations!

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CAR OF THE YEAR METHODOLOGY

The eligible candidates were rated on 21 automotive-testing parameters classified across five categories: Performance, Subjective, Features, Fuel Efficiency and Price.

Each parameter was weighted as per its importance and a total of 500 points was divided into these five categories, based on their relative utility.

Accordingly, four Performance parameters were weighted at 25 points each "" 100 points total. Ten Subjective utilities were allotted 15 points each "" 150 points total, and five individual passenger comfort-related Features took 20 points each "" 100 points.

Since Fuel Efficiency and Price are the most important factors governing automotive purchase in our country, they receive heavy weightages at 25 and 125 points respectively.

The actual performance of each car tested was compared to a benchmark. The closer a car was to the benchmark, the more points it got. The standard for fuel efficiency was set at 12 kpl, and the price mark was Rs 5 lakh ex-showroom Mumbai.

Business Standard Motoring's exclusive formula awarded maximum points for the price closest to the benchmark. Test data and objective observation (Performance, Fuel Efficiency and Features) were accorded more importance "" which is why they constitute 45 per cent of the total points, while Subjective parameters accounted for 30 per cent.

The price took the leftover 25 per cent of the total score. Points allotted to each contender based on this scheme decided the Business Standard Motoring Car Of The Year 2007.