With two days to go before the SUV category of our Top 12 competition is launched, the Renault Espace has rallied to draw level with the early frontrunner, VW’s Microbus, in the MPV section.
With only two days to go before the SUV category of our Top 12 competition is launched, the Renault Espace has rallied to draw level with the early frontrunner, VW’s Microbus, in the MPV section.
The MPV section has major importance for the image of both VW and Renault, because both manufacturers are currently playing second fiddle to Toyota in three of the earlier categories. At the moment, the Microbus and the Espace have drawn 30 per cent of the vote in the MPV category apiece and fans of both manufacturers would love to get the upper hand in this section.
Toyota are leading no less than four of the ten categories, followed by Lexus and BMW with two each and Volvo with one. Will Renault or VW secure the MPV section? VW fans will be hoping that the tide will turn in their favour, because the CitiGolf Chico and Golf IV are running behind leaders Toyota Tazz and Corolla in the best budget and light car categories. The Renault Scénic is four per cent shy of the Toyota Condor, which is leading the Mini MPV category (32).
Lexus is maintaining its momentum against German rivals BMW and Mercedes in the high-profile best executive and grand saloon categories. The GS300 has a two per cent lead over second-placed BMW 5-Series (27 per cent of the vote) in the best executive saloon category and the LS430 leads the Mercedes S-Class (26 per cent) by a similar margin in the grand saloon section.
Meanwhile, the Volvo V70 has wrestled the lead in the best station wagon section from Mercedes’s C-Class estate (28 against 26 per cent) and CARtoday.com readers seem convinced that the CAR editors would again pick the Swedish challenger as the winner of this category.
To vote, click here. Remember, you must correctly predict the winners in each category as picked by the CAR editors – and motivate your choices – to stand a chance of winning great Camel brand prizes.