Engine output aside, keeping children safe, and entertained, rates highly among women buying cars, and with women judging cars. Just ask the team behind the Women’s World Car of the Year, the only automobile awards comprised exclusively of female motoring journalists, including me, as I represent the UAE. This year, the winning cars will be announced at the end of February.
Statistics show that women drive children in cars significantly more often than men
The event was created by New Zealander Sandy Myhre in 2009, and the voting criteria is based on the same principles that guide any driver when choosing a car. It is not a “woman’s car”; it is a car that women want, like and respect because of its ability to tick the boxes that we look for most.
Aspects such as safety, quality, price, design, ease of driving, benefits and environmental footprint, among others, are taken into account.
“Statistics show that women drive children in cars significantly more often than men, and that means women need to take that into account,” says Myhre. “Any woman who has tried to keep her children entertained while paying attention to the road ahead considers those things when looking at buying a car. Women would not consider that aspect in a Porsche 911 more than a bloke. The point is, it can be considered in our judging – and that is one of the points of difference in these awards.”
Buying behaviour
The Middle East market has seen a huge increase in women buying supercars and luxury SUVs, either as an individual or as joint decision-makers with their partner. But it’s fair to say the top features to influence their purchases are based more around safety features and aesthetics than horsepower and torque.
When it comes to purchasing decisions, female automobile buyers face something of a paradox. On the one hand, women have had more say in the purchase of a family car in recent years, and many feel a car is a tool that needs to fit with their lifestyle, from the school run and the weekly shop to the business meeting.
On the other hand, most women still dread the car-buying experience, and with good reason. Women often get ignored, patronised or ripped off at car dealerships. The overarching aim of the WWCOTY awards, then, is to show women that, yes, buying a car can be filled with unexpected twists and turns, but remaining confident, researching your choices and being savvy can go a long way.
How the awards work
Despite a difficult year and a short postponement, the countdown to this year’s WWCOTY awards has begun, and innovations in city safety and modern entertainment features are key areas the judges pay attention to. The awards now boast judges representing the UAE, New Zealand, Spain, Austria, Russia, Brazil, Japan, Cyprus, Italy, Finland, the US Germany, Portugal, Argentina, Mexico, South Africa, Canada, Vietnam, Ireland, Estonia, Israel, Chile, England, Scotland, Greece, Colombia, Australia, The Netherlands, India, Denmark, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Czech Republic, Ecuador, France, Peru, China and Algeria.
In total, there are 47 judges from all five continents who, in the coming weeks, will choose their three favourite cars in various categories – urban car, family car, green car, luxury car, performance car, SUV/crossover – before allocating points to whittle the list down until there is one clear winner in each category, plus one supreme winner.
The winning cars have historically been announced at one of the international motor shows. However, the pandemic means this could be the first year that the winner is announced online.
Previous winners
The first supreme winner of the Women's World Car of the Year was the Jaguar XF in 2010.
In 2011, there was a dead-heat between the Citroen DS3 and the BMW 5 Series. The two trophies, made in India, were presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
This was followed by Range Rover Evoque, Ford Fiesta, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Volvo XC90, Jaguar F-Pace, Hyundai Ioniq and, in 2018, Volvo XC-40.
Last year, the team came together in the UAE at the Dubai International Motor Show to hand over the supreme winner’s trophy to Mazda 3, which also won in the Family Car Award category. Other winners included: Kia XCeed (Urban Car Award), Kia Soul EV (Green Car Award), BMW 8 Series (Luxury Car), Porsche 911 (Performance Car), Range Rover Evoque (SUV/Crossover) and Porsche Taycan (Holly Reach Dream Car), plus Linda Jackson, CEO of Citroen, who took home the Woman of Worth Award.
The winners of the Women’s World Car of the Year 2020 will be announced at the end of February. More information is at www.womensworldcoty.com
The biog
Name: James Mullan
Nationality: Irish
Family: Wife, Pom; and daughters Kate, 18, and Ciara, 13, who attend Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS)
Favourite book or author: “That’s a really difficult question. I’m a big fan of Donna Tartt, The Secret History. I’d recommend that, go and have a read of that.”
Dream: “It would be to continue to have fun and to work with really interesting people, which I have been very fortunate to do for a lot of my life. I just enjoy working with very smart, fun people.”
The specs
Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 180hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm at 3,00rpm
Transmission: 5-speed sequential auto
Price: From Dh139,995
On sale: now
The Gentlemen
Director: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant
Three out of five stars
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
Winner: Shafaf, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5,30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
Winner: Noof KB, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: The President’s Cup Listed (TB) Dh380,000 1,400m
Winner: Taamol, Jim Crowley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Group One (PA) Dh2,500,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Listed (PA) Dh230,000 1,600m
Winner: Ihtesham, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Mekhbat, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Info
What: 11th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship
When: December 27-29, 2018
Confirmed: men: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem, Hyeon Chung, Karen Khachanov; women: Venus Williams
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae, Virgin megastores or call 800 86 823
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
Company%20profile
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Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
