Automotive Management (AM) has celebrated the best performers in the motor industry at its annual awards ceremony in the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in London. Awards were independently voted for by AM’s readers, as well as analysed by its expert panel of judges.

There was a double win for Kia, as Kia UK were once again awarded ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ at the AM Awards 2023, alongside the Sportage which won ‘Used Car of the Year.’

The company was praised for its attractive product line-up, innovative business strategy and partnership with its dealership network.  

Having won AM’s acclaimed ‘New Car of the Year’ award in 2022, the Sportage, Kia’s most popular model, picked up the ‘Used Car’ award with judges commending its versatility, practicality and reliability.

‘New Car of the Year’ went to the Lotus Emira, the last petrol-powered car the Norfolk-based company will produce. Powered by either a 3.5-litre supercharged V6 engine or a 2.0-litre turbocharged ‘i4’ through a manual, automatic or Dual Clutch Transmission, it does 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds and can reach a top speed of 180mph.

Time Rose, editor of AM Online said “Clearly the Emira is being seen as a fantastic start of a new chapter for Lotus and its dealers. It will certainly attract new customers to Lotus and this will give the carmaker great foundations for growth.”

The Emira is one of three high-tech performance cars built by Lotus and the last of a dying breed as they transition to a fully electric future, thanks to the production of the Eletre, the world’s first all-electric hyper SUV and the Evija, the world’s first all-electric British hypercar.

The MG4 continued its winning run, picking up ‘EV of the Year’, after its wins at the TopGear.com Electric Awards and Autocar Awards this year. The electric hatchback has been key to MG’s impressive growth in sales since arriving in the UK in September 2022.

With next summer’s release of the MG Cyberster over the horizon, the award adds further to an impressive period in the resurgence of the much-loved British brand.

Selected Winners

Hybrid Vehicle of the Year – Range Rover Sport PHEV
EV of the Year – MG4
Used Car of the Year – Kia Sportage
New Car of the Year – Lotus Emira
Manufacturer of the Year – Kia UK
Retailer of the Year - TrustFord

Words: Mike Booth
Pictures: Lotus, Kia & MG