Test Fest : The most coveted parking space in the country

MORE TEST FEST COVERAGE
Pick-Up	Nov 15, 2006
SUV / CUV over $60,000	Nov 14, 2006
SUV / CUV $35,000 - $60,000	Nov 13, 2006
SUV / CUV under $35,000	Nov 11, 2006
Convertible	Nov 10, 2006
Sport / performance car over $50,000	Nov 9, 2006
Sport / performance car under $50,000	Nov 8, 2006
Prestige car over $75,000	Nov 7, 2006
Luxury car under $50,000	Nov 6, 2006
Family car over $30,000	Nov 5, 2006
Family car $22,000 - $30,000	Nov 4, 2006
Small car over $18,000	Nov 3, 2006
Small car under $18,000	Nov 2, 2006
Writers' predictions for the best new cars of 2007	Nov 1, 2006

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario - For auto journalists in Canada, the greatest event of the year has just come to an end. Once again, the Test Fest was attended by a record number of cars and writers.

(Photo: AJAC)

Overall, more than 70 members of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) gathered in Niagara-on-the-Lake at the end of October to evaluate all the new 2007 models. Over a three-day period, the participants were generously given the keys to their favorite vehicles.

The ultimate goal of the Test Fest is to crown the Canadian Car of the Year and the Canadian Truck of the Year.

For the event -- and for safety precautions -- the landing strip of the local

(Photo: AJAC)

airport was transformed into a race track, thus becoming the most coveted "parking space" in the country. The Shelby GT 500, BMW M Coupe, Audi RS4, Volkswagen GTI, MazdaSpeed3 and other marvels were obviously setting the course on fire.

A total of sixty-five 2007 models, with three units available for each of them, were on hand. Altogether, their value amounted to $9.6 million.

Journalists, don't forget your duties
Having fun on the track is great, but auto journalists also have to do their homework. They must evaluate, in each and every segment, each and every model in contention.

(Photo: AJAC)

Therefore, it's important that they rigorously analyze all the elements that make one vehicle better than another. Everything from exterior design to interior styling, build quality, fit and finish, performance, handling, comfort and ergonomics, interior space, cargo volume, safety features and environmental performance is methodically evaluated.

In order to balance the evaluations, the results are collected with the official data on acceleration, braking and fuel consumption, not to mention the price of the models tested.

And the winner is...
The first announcements will be made on November 21, with the presentation of all the winners by category. There are 14 categories,

(Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre)

including small economy car, luxury sedan, sport utility vehicle, pickup truck, convertible, etc.

The names of the 2007 Canadian Car of the Year and Canadian Truck of the Year will only be revealed during next year's Toronto International Auto Show, on February 14. In 2006, Honda won both titles thanks to its Civic sedan and Ridgeline pickup.

We will also find out the Best New Design (I'd put a buck on the Saturn Sky Redline, if I were you...) as well as the Best New Technology. Last year, the Pontiac Solstice and Lexus' direct fuel injection system were crowned, respectively.