The inaugural Association of Professional Motoring Press (APMP) Car and Van of the Year awards were announced at a gala, black-tie dinner in the Powerscourt Hotel, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow recently.

There were awards in various categories, voted on by the leading Motoring Journalist from the top publications, motoring magazine and TV and radio stations in the country and the overall winners were chosen under the watchful eye of the leaders in the Irish motor industry.

At the end of the night there were celebrations for Nissan, as the Nissan Qashqai lifted the coveted Car of the Year award to the great joy of the Nissan delegation. The Van of the Year went to the threesome of the Peugeot Boxer, Citroen Relay and the Fiat Ducato.

Category awards on the night were picked up by the Hyundai i10, APMP City Car of the Year;  MINI Hatch, APMP Small Car of the Year; Audi A3, APMP Family Car of the Year; Mercedes-Benz 3-Class, APMP Large Family Car of the Year; Citroen C4 Cactus, APMP Small SUV of the Year; Nissan Qashqai, APMP Mid-Size SUV of the Year; Mitsubshi Outlander PHEV, APMP Large SUV of the Year; Audi A8, APMP Luxury Car of the Year; Alfa Romeo 4C, APMP Performance Car of the Year.

In the vans segment, the Ford Courier was chosen as the City Van of the Year, the Ford Connect as the Small Van of the Year, the Panel Van of the Year was the trio of Peugeot Boxer, Citroen Relay and the Fiat Ducato and the Business SUV of the Year was won by the Land River Discovery Business. In a first for the Irish Motor Industry, the innovation award was also won by the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV amongst stiff competition.