You don't really think that these motoring "awards" etc have anything to do with investigative journalism do you? It is the old boy network, free lunches and gifts under the counter all the way. Many reporters do not have a clue about cars and think items like an illuminated key-fob is an innovation
My neighbour is the editor of a South African domestic mechanical engineering journal and got his present job after he was motoring editor of a national newspaper. Shortly before the annual awards and reports, there was a flurry of activity from the local agents for various car marques. In one instance, at a lunch, he was asked quite casually if he had done any power boating, and said that he had once done it and enjoyed it. When he got home that night, a brand-new speedboat with a 130hp outboard motor was parked outside his house on a trailer. In an envelope with the keys was a voucher to have a tow-bat fitted to his car
He had to call this agent the next morning to say he could not possibly accept the generous gift and to make sure it was removed that day. His wife told him that someone had come later that morning with a lorry bearing the dealer's logo on it and hitched up the trailer
That year, they decided that the Mazda 323 was to be car of the year, much to the surprise of many pundits and his boss called him in to say how surprised some of the car agents were that their car did not qualify for that award
