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
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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South Korea
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rob%20Marshall%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHalle%20Bailey%2C%20Jonah%20Hauer-King%2C%20Melissa%20McCarthy%2C%20Javier%20Bardem%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Brief scores:
Juventus 3
Dybala 6', Bonucci 17', Ronaldo 63'
Frosinone 0
MATCH INFO
Liverpool v Manchester City, Sunday, 8.30pm UAE
The biog
Favourite hobby: I love to sing but I don’t get to sing as much nowadays sadly.
Favourite book: Anything by Sidney Sheldon.
Favourite movie: The Exorcist 2. It is a big thing in our family to sit around together and watch horror movies, I love watching them.
Favourite holiday destination: The favourite place I have been to is Florence, it is a beautiful city. My dream though has always been to visit Cyprus, I really want to go there.
Who is Allegra Stratton?
- Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
- Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
- In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
- The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
- Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
- She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
- Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
OPTA'S PREDICTED TABLE
1. Liverpool 101 points
2. Manchester City 80
3. Leicester 67
4. Chelsea 63
5. Manchester United 61
6. Tottenham 58
7. Wolves 56
8. Arsenal 56
9. Sheffield United 55
10. Everton 50
11. Burnley 49
12. Crystal Palace 49
13. Newcastle 46
14. Southampton 44
15. West Ham 39
16. Brighton 37
17. Watford 36
18. Bournemouth 36
19. Aston Villa 32
20. Norwich City 29
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
BELGIUM%20SQUAD
%3Cp%3EGoalkeepers%3A%20Thibaut%20Courtois%2C%20Simon%20Mignolet%2C%20Koen%20Casteels%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EDefenders%3A%20Jan%20Vertonghen%2C%20Toby%20Alderweireld%2C%20Leander%20Dendoncker%2C%20Zeno%20Debast%2C%20Arthur%20Theate%2C%20Wout%20Faes%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMidfielders%3A%20Hans%20Vanaken%2C%20Axel%20Witsel%2C%20Youri%20Tielemans%2C%20Amadou%20Onana%2C%20Kevin%20De%20Bruyne%2C%20Yannick%20Carrasco%2C%20Thorgan%20Hazard%2C%20Timothy%20Castagne%2C%20Thomas%20Meunier%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EForwards%3A%20Romelu%20Lukaku%2C%20Michy%20Batshuayi%2C%20Lo%C3%AFs%20Openda%2C%20Charles%20De%20Ketelaere%2C%20Eden%20Hazard%2C%20Jeremy%20Doku%2C%20Dries%20Mertens%2C%20Leandro%20Trossard%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
