2013 CNBC-TV18 OVERDRIVE awards: Winners

It's the time of year when we recognize the manufacturers' efforts and the 14th CNBC-TV18 OVERDRIVE awards will do just that.

This year's jury was as elite as the previous year with OVERDRIVE Editor Bertrand Dsouza at the helm of things followed by Shubhabrata Marmar (Executive Editor), Abhay Verma (Senior Correspondent), Halley Prabhakar (Senior Correspondent), Anand Dharmaraj (Founder of IndiMotard track school), Sarath Kumar - National Motorcycling Champion, 5-time INRC winner Hari Singh and Gaurav Gill - WRC driver.

This year, like the previous one, the cars and motorcycles were tested on the world renowned Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida . Points were awarded to the vehicles on the basis of their design, performance, engineering finesse, driver involvement, eco-friendliness, safety, efficiency and adaptability to the Indian market. Prior to being judged for the awards at BIC, these vehicles have undergone extensive road tests as well.

The jury has already voted and the results are here.

Car of the year: Hyundai Elantra

A past winner of the Car of the Year award in its previous iteration, the new Elantra is perhaps the best showcase for Hyundai's eye catching fluidic design theme. The Elantra also offers class leading interiors and features at a competitive price in addition to a value packed engine lineup that are economical yet powerful. Those attributes have helped the Elantra stand tall in a segment that has some very strong and well established competitors. Amongst the ICOTY contenders it is this strong mix clubbed with a very competitive pricing that has seen it climb to the very top. The Hyundai Elantra once again proves that outstanding value need not look boring, efficiency does not need to be compromised for performance and luxury and comfort need not come at a steep price.

Bike of the year: KTM 200 Duke

The KTM 200 Duke is in many ways a type of motorcycle the Indian motorcycle market has never seen before. Whether it is the high-tech equipment and components or the role focus of the motorcycle. The KTM 200 Duke shows that street bikes do not have to be unexciting, versatile motorcycles at all. They can be focussed, thrill-a-minute rides that make ultra-effective commuters as well as bikes enthusiasts dream about. What really impressed us is the breadth of the KTM's performance from the sheer power of the engine to the thrilling chassis from the sticky tyres up, its a combination of abilities that made it the favourite going into the final evaluations for the award. The fact that its price, despite the equipment and capability, remains affordable makes it the winner. It also wins the Mid-displacement Bike of the Year and the Viewers Choice Bike of the Year awards.

Compact car of the year: Maruti Alto 800

The Alto is has consistently been among the selling cars worldwide and it has set the sales charts on fire in India. The new Alto 800 keeps the basic theories of affordability, practicality and ease of driving intact while injecting in some design flair and new features like optional ABS. The car is still one of the most affordable four wheelers in the country and should continue to be the people's champion and is deservingly the Compact car of the year.

Compact bike of the year: Honda Dream Yuga

We just had to give it to Honda's entry-level commuter. A 110cc engine borrowed from the Twister in Shinesque clothes works for the Dream Yuga. It has got good performance (110cc standards), fuel efficiency and features like tubeless tyres and a pass switch, making it our Compact Bike of the Year.

Midsize Car of the Year: Maruti Swift Dzire

They did it once and then they did it again and the second time around Maruti Suzuki surpassed all expectations. They rebuilt the Dzire and came out with a wonderfully built product that looked good, fit under the 4 metre mould, introduced driving pleasure and then gave it all the attributes that the Maruti Suzuki family of cars is well known for, reliability, performance, efficiency and affordability. It just couldn't go wrong!

MUV of the year: Maruti Ertiga

The Ertiga impressed us no end with its space, design, engineering and value for money proposition. But above all this what we liked most about this car is that it drvies pretty much exactly like a Swift does.An MUV that drives like a car, we love it!

SUV of the year: Renault Duster

The Renault Duster was one of the most anticipated launches of 2012 and it more than met our expectations. We've put thousands of kilometers on the Duster and it constantly impressed with its great ride quality, effortless performance, ease of driving and affordable running costs. We like the aggressive looks and we think it's worth the price. Easily our SUV of the Year

Scooter of the year: Yamaha Ray

The Ray apparently is meant for women. But this is one scooter that we wouldn't mind being seen on any day. Yamaha's first scooter in the country impressed us with its sweet motor, striking looks and handling. Feminine or not, we definitely want one. It is our Scooter of the Year

Import SUV of the year: Audi Q3

The Q3 was Audi's foray into the affordable luxury segment. It was their most affordable vehicle when it went on sale but still manages to feel as premium as you'd expect from a car with four rings on the grille. The SUV is compact but is still very much a Q car in design and engineering featuring a 2-litre TDI engine, dual clutch gearbox and Quattro all-wheel drive. The fact that it doesn't skimp on technology expected from the brand in its quest for affordability earns it our Import SUV of the Year award

Import Car of the year: BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe

The 640d Gran Coupe combines the suave looks of the 640d coupe with the added practicality of four doors and a boot. It still looks sizzling, has a monster of a diesel engine that delivers blistering straight-line performance and this being a BMW the pace doesn't reduce much around the corners. It's quick, gorgeous and practical and that makes it our best Import Car of the Year.

Motorsports Award 2013: Aditya Patel (Winner 1)

In a year that was one of the brightest for motorsport in the country, Aditya Patel made the nation proud on multiple occasions with his consistent performances in India and abroad. He became the first Indian to score a win in the prestigious 24 Hours of Nurburgring, despite very little experience in endurance racing. The Chennai boy also made a comeback to formula car racing through the JK Tyre Racing Asia Series and became the first Indian to score a podium at the Buddh International Circuit in the series. He bettered his track record by becoming the first Indian driver to score a win in the JK Racing Asia Series. With his performances he has proved that Indian racers have what it takes to make it big in the highly competitive world of international motorsport and has etched his name in the books of motorsport history.

Motorsports Award 2013: Mahindra Adventure (Winner 2)

For a manufacturer to win rally after rally in their very first year is certainly some achievement and Mahindra Adventure has proved that they have the equipment and the people to pull it off repeatedly. Mahindra Adventure put in stellar performances in the marquee off road events in India like the Desert Storm where they scored a win in the Extreme class on debut, apart from the Raid de Himalaya, Dakshin Dare and several TSD rallies as well. These gruelling events require a perfect harmony between man and machine to achieve glory and Mahindra Adventure has been singing the right tune.

Storyboard auto commercial four-wheeler: Volkswagen Polo

Parsis are most famous for their passionate love for cars and this intelligently humorous ad capitalizes on that. The ad focuses on an elderly Parsi gentleman who lovingly cares for his old VW and ends with a heartwarming twist. The simple and effective add memorably illustrates how the Polo is quite literally one of those cars you can never let go off and that's why it wins our Storyboard auto commercial 4wheeler award.

Storyboard auto commercial two-wheeler: Suzuki Hayate

Suzuki bringing in Salman Khan as a brand ambassador worked for them as the muscular Khan in his inimitable Dabangg style rides a Hayate and very effectively captures a runaway goon. The ad aims at showcasing the Hayate as a modern, dependable and powerful product something which Khan stands for. Point taken.