In the third edition of 2024 Acer FASTER Awards, the new Hyundai Verna and Ioniq 5 won the Car of the Year and EV of the Year (4W) awards respectively
The third iteration of the FASTER Awards wrapped up on Thursday, February 29, 2024, with a dazzling awards ceremony held at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in New Delhi. The Royal Enfield Himalayan was honoured as the Bike of the Year, while the Hyundai Verna was awarded the Car of the Year title during the glamorous felicitation ceremony sponsored by ACER & Garware.
At the grand gala award ceremony held in Delhi for the Acer FASTER Awards 2024, numerous prestigious accolades were bestowed upon the finest two and four-wheeler manufacturers, PR agencies, Corporate Communications Teams, and Automotive Personalities for their exemplary performance throughout the calendar year 2023.
The winners of the prestigious Acer FASTER Awards were determined by a panel of highly experienced automotive journalists representing electronic media publications with a global reach of over 250 million monthly users. The jury for the Acer FASTER Awards 2024 comprised of:
● Amit Chhangani – Editor, Motoroids
● Gaurav Yadav – Editor, GaadiWaadi
● Narendra Sharma – Editor, GearFliQ
● Promeet Ghosh – Reviews Editor, DriveSpark
● Rohit Khurana – Editor, CarblogIndia
● Roshan Joseph – Editor, Pilot on Wheels
In an era dominated by SUVs, vehicles like the Verna remind us of the enduring appeal and significance of the sedan body style. The 2023 Hyundai Verna effortlessly blends captivating aesthetics with a technology-rich interior, prioritising practicality, comfort, and driving performance within its spacious design.
It sets new benchmarks for modern midsize sedans, challenging competitors to match its standards. It distinguishes itself with a seamless fusion of advanced technology, superior driving dynamics, and captivating exterior design, all while maintaining practicality.
Offering peace of mind, it comes with a standard warranty of three years/unlimited kilometres and three years of roadside assistance, extendable up to seven years. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has been named the EV of the Year in the four-wheeler category. The flagship electric vehicle from the brand in India sets itself apart from competitors with its competitive pricing and a unique fusion of retro aesthetics seamlessly intertwined with contemporary elements.
This design approach harnesses the principles of the Sensuous Sportiness design philosophy, resulting in a visually striking and harmonious appearance. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 benefits from the E-GMP platform and a three-meter wheelbase, enabling an innovative and versatile interior layout with generous space.
Incorporating eco-friendly materials throughout, coupled with strong performance capabilities, it can charge from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes when utilizing a 350 kW DC charger. Both the Hyundai models are undoubtedly deserved winners!
Speaking at the Acer FASTER Awards 2024, Amit Chhangani, the Editor of Motoroids and the Chairman of FASTER said, “At the ACER FASTER Awards, our primary objective is to commend products, individuals, and services that truly merit recognition within the country. I extend my sincere congratulations to all the winners, considering the keenly contested competition across various categories. As a collective entity, FASTER distinguishes itself through the adherence to journalistic principles, aiming to provide content that our audience can appreciate, derive value from, and ultimately contribute to fostering a culture of responsible reporting among all.”
Here are the winners of the Acer FASTER Awards 2023:
● Car of the Year: Hyundai Verna
● Bike of the Year: Royal Enfield Himalayan
● Premium Car of the Year: Mercedes-Benz GLC
● Premium Bike of the Year: Royal Enfield Meteor 650
● Scooter of the Year: Hero Xoom
● EV of the Year (4W): Hyundai IONIQ 5
● EV of the Year (2W): River Indie
● Update of the Year : Kia Seltos
● Auto Tech of the Year: Cooled & Heated Seats on TVS Apache RTR 310
● Industry Personality of the Year: C.V. Raman (CTO at Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.)
● Communications Personality of the Year: Sanjeev Handa (Sr. Vice President – PR & Communications at Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.)
● Motorsport Personality of the Year: Harith Noah (Motorsport Athlete for TVS Motor Company)
● Award of Honour: Manish Tandon (Divisional Manager – Product Management & Customer Insight at Bajaj Auto Ltd.)
● CSR Initiatives of the Year: MG Sewa
● Corporate Communications Team of the Year: Kia India
● PR Team of the Year: Fleishman Hillard
● PR Personality of the Year: Sahir Seth (Account Director at Adfactors PR)
● Auto Ad Campaign of the Year: Maruti Suzuki Jimny
The Acer FASTER Awards 2024 were proudly sponsored by Acer, a renowned manufacturer of laptops and PCs worldwide. Additionally, Garware Hi-Tech Films, recognized as the gold standard in paint protection films, rooftop films, and innovative sunroof films, participated as associate sponsors of the event.
Zen Microsystems, a prominent expert in automotive data testing within the nation, collaborated with the Acer FASTER Awards 2024 as the data & testing partner. Additionally, Markets & Markets oversaw the jury round as an independent validation agency, ensuring transparency and integrity in the evaluation process.