Rover 75 Awarded ITM Car Of The Year
Published: 1st July 2002
Under the operating title of the ITM Private Eyes Programme, canvassing took place of its members in the Fleet Transport sector. The programme was piloted at the 1998 Fleet Show and was designed to recognise advances within the fleet industry over the previous 12 months. The decision to present the Rover 75 with this coveted accreditation is the result of research, which included the polling of fleet managers and is a true reflection of the high esteem the vehicle enjoys within the industry.
Those fleet managers interviewed stressed design standards, fuel economy, price, safety and legislation awareness as their premier concerns when assessing the vehicle offerings. The Rover 75 scored brilliantly in each area, in addition to special mentions being given to the stylish interior and exterior, and its fuel economy. The awards committee was convinced of Rover being the correct choice for this prestigious award.
David Thomas, the Institute’s Technical Fleet Correspondent said: "It’s hard to sum up the appeal of the 75 in just a few words. But I would say that partly it lies in the way it manages to combine very individual styling that attracts young buyers, as well as older ones who can remember a time when the name Rover was synonymous with quality and technical innovation.
"This Rover is a car for the new millennium, combining as it does a feeling of old-fashioned quality and attention to detail, with up-to-the-minute technology and wonderfully smooth engines."
Announcing the Award, Patrick Sheedy, Media & PR Director of the ITM and Chairman of its Fleet Transport Committee, said: "The Rover 75 faced extremely strong competition from other vehicles in this class and we feel that this accreditation is one that will contribute to the final purchasing decision of many fleet managers.
"The true experts are the fleet managers who do a day-to-day job
that requires a level of knowledge that can only be gleaned from years
of experience. We appreciate the contribution that our fleet manager members
have made to the Private Eyes Programme and endorse their selection of
the Rover 75 as ‘Car of the Year’."
