MX-5: Japan car of the year

THE Car of the Year awards season has kicked off in earnest, and among those announced in past weeks are the 2005/06 Japan COTY – which went to the Mazda MX-5.

It has been a long time between drinks for Mazda, which last won the title in 1982 with the Capella sedan. Suzuki’s Swift won the "most fun to drive" award at the same event.

In Europe, a collection of car magazines has awarded the COTY gong to the Renault Clio II, which polled more votes than the VW Passat, Alfa Romeo 159, BMW 3 Series and Toyota Yaris.