Latest from the SGMW: 2025 Kia Driving Day: a day of heritage thrills and electrifying fun

It shares similar underpinnings to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, but is the refreshed GT a match for the car it’s based on? As part of the Southern Group’s Kia drive day, we took one for a spin to find out. 

2025 Kia EV6 GT: more than just an Ioniq 5 N with a Kia badge?

First up, and most obviously, this is an EV6 turned all the way up to 11. In GT guise, power comes from front and rear mounted electric motors that now produce a colossal 641bhp and 568lb-ft of torque, a significant increase over the pre-facelift model that produced a mere 577bhp and 546lb-ft. 

If these figures sound familiar, you’d be right. It’s exactly the same powertrain as you’ll find in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Kia says the GT can sprint from 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds, exactly the same time as the old car, and one tenth slower than its Hyundai badged brother. Find enough road, and the EV6 GT will hit 161mph. Which is, you guessed it, exactly the same top speed as the 5 N. 

It’d be easy to conclude that Kia has simply borrowed all the bits that make up the Ioniq 5 N before slapping an EV6 bodyshell on top of it. However, dig a little deeper, and the differences become clear.

Firstly, there’s the simulated gearbox. The EV6 GT has two fewer ‘gears’ and a lower rev limit with a simulated six-speed paddle shift gearbox and a redline of 6,500rpm – down on the eight speeds and 8,000rpm redline you’ll find in the Ioniq 5 N. 

Kia also hasn’t replicated the yobbish pop and bang petrol engine soundtrack used in the Ioniq 5 N here; instead, it’s added its own synthetic ICE engine sound with three sound settings that growls away in the background as you drive. Adaptive suspension and a limited slip differential are also standard fit.

In the floor there’s now a larger 84kWh battery pack (up from 77.4kWh), the same size as you’ll find in the Ioniq 5 N. No surprises there. The 800V architecture is carried over from the old car along with the 250kW rapid charging capability. Kia says the GT can now manage up to 279 miles between stops, an improvement of 16 miles compared to the pre-facelift car.

Angry gran tourer looks and go faster bits

The GT part of the car’s name is literal – as in it’s more of a rapid grand tourer than an out-and-out hot hatchback. 

It gets all of the same design updates as the standard EV6 but with a more angry look about it. Tweaks include sportier looking bumpers, a new 21-inch alloy wheel design, and bright acid yellow brake calipers. 

Kia’s press car also got some added sporting appeal thanks to the ‘Yacht Matt Blue’ paint finish, which looks very purple in daylight, and the ‘EV06 HOT’ number plate – that very accurately describes this car to a tee.

Minor tweaks help lift an already great cabin 

Kia has also given the interior a small update too. There are more acid yellow accents dotted around the interior, with a pair of very supportive bucket seats – which are heated and cooled. The gloss black plastic of the old car has been replaced with classier looking steel-effect trim pieces – which is an improvement.  

When sitting inside, the cabin almost wraps around you with everything in easy reach and visible. The touch-sensitive control bar works well enough, and the infotainment is fast with a well-laid-out and simple to use UI. 

Can a grand tourer be fast and sporty to drive?

Yes, it’s blinking rapid on the road. In normal mode it feels quick enough, a bit like any fast EV. Engaging GT mode via the dedicated steering wheel button gives you access to all of the 641 horses, which feels plenty quick enough on the road. How quick? Prod the throttle hard, and it gathers pace at a frantic rate, pushing you back into your seat as you drive. So yes, it feels pretty bleeding quick. 

However, in GT mode, the car will only manage a 0-62mph time of 4.5 seconds. To unlock the quoted 3.5 second 0-62mph time, you need to engage the Launch Control which is a bit fiddly to do, as it’s buried in the menu. Essentially, if the car isn’t in the right mode with the assists switched off, it won’t do it. Meaning it’s best saved for the drag strip. 

Activating the new ‘virtual gear shift’ can be a bit of a faff via the menu too. But, it can be programmed to the star button on the steering wheel, which makes it easy to switch on or off at the touch of a button. A worthwhile feature that all modern cars should offer in our opinion. 

With GT mode and the gear shifts activated, taking off quickly is easy. However, you actually have to drive it. Press the throttle and miss a gear change; it won’t change up for you, leaving you lurching forward in the seat as the car bounces off the rev limiter. Likewise, when changing down, the box occasionally decides not to give you a lower gear. Essentially, it accurately simulates all of the brilliance and annoyances of a real paddle shift gearbox. 

Compared to the standard EV6, the GT has a much faster steering rack, which is also heavier. It doesn’t have a lot of feel or feedback, but the added weight helps you judge the amount of lock required when cornering, making it simple to place the car accurately in faster corners. 

The adaptive suspension helps keep the car level when cornering, although, here, the front end feels a bit more relaxed when turning in compared to the 5 N, but still with a reassuring and planted feel about it. It also rides very well for a sporty model, with a slightly softer nature over its related Hyundai sibling. Overall, the chassis is well tuned for sporty driving and does a good job of absorbing rougher surfaces as well, making it mostly hushed and refined to drive when at normal speeds.

While brake-by-wire systems generally don’t lend themselves to driver’s cars, here, the GT’s set-up and tuning give it a capable pedal feel. The pedal feels more weighted than the standard EV6, but overall the brakes feel taut and deliver excellent stopping power when needed. 

Verdict: the updated EV6 GT is brilliant in its own right, and now a match for the Ioniq 5 N

Is it fun, like a GT/hot hatch should be? Yes, absolutely. The paddle shifts and engine noise add a layer of immersion sorely lacking in some fast EVs, making you grin more the faster you drive it. The cocooning interior, well-weighted steering, and burly brakes help make you feel a part of the action as well. Its core talent, alongside all of the speed and fury, is that when you just want it to be a car, it’s comfortable, refined, and practical, and it even has a respectable range figure – all for a price that undercuts the Ioniq 5 N.

Kia EV6 GT: full gallery

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An excellent turnout of 20 members made the trip to the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu in Hampshire. On the day, a total of 29 PR friends from fourteen brands were in attendance, all helping to support what was an excellent event for the group. 

Southern Group Happenings: July 2024

A total of 31 cars were available to test drive, with a varied mix of the latest EVs, rugged off-roaders and pickup trucks, and a stunning array of classic heritage models:

Abarth – 500e Convertible

BYD – Dolphin, Atto 3 and Seal

Fiat – 600 Hybrid and 600e

Ford – Capri L, Puma Racing

Genesis – GV60, Electrified GV70, Electrified G80

Honda – Civic Hybrid, Civic Type R (FK2), S2000

Ineos – Grenadier 3.0 petrol and 3.0 diesel

Isuzu – D-Max AT35 Arctic Trucks, D-Max AT35 Mudmaster

Jeep – Avenger MHEV

Kia – Stinger GT-S, Picanto Strike (Mk1), Picanto GT-Line

Lexus – LBX

Mazda – MX-5 Heritage and MX-30 R-EV Edition R

Toyota – Prius Gen1 and Corolla Excel 1.8 Hybrid

Volvo – P1800, 262C, 850 T-5R and XC90 V8

As always, SGMW members brought along their own cars to display on the day. The classics were better than ever this year with a vintage Volkswagen Beetle ‘Herbie’ tribute (the Douglas Special), a stunning Alfa Romeo Giulia 1300 Ti, and an immaculate Mazda Eunos. The modern era was also equally well represented, with a varied mix of cars including an Alpine A110, a Volkswagen Polo Blue GT, a Jaguar XF Sportbrake, a Saab 9-3 convertible, and an Abarth 595. 

SGMW Heritage Day: best car winners

As is now tradition, attendees vote for their favourite member’s car and manufacturer’s car of the day. 

This year, Stu Bird’s Volkswagen Beetle ‘Douglas’ took the members best car prize – with Stu’s authentic Herbie tribute build dubbed the Douglas Special, wowed everyone thanks to the way it looked, sounded, and the huge amount of intricate details it contains that match the original movie hero car. 

This year’s marks the third time in a row that Stu has won the best member car award, which have all been won with different vehicles. Stu said that for 2025 Heritage Day, he’ll give the rest of the group a chance: “[After] winning three in a row, I promise, as my constitution to the group, that next year I’ll come in one of the lesser of the Birdy Fleet of Broken Dreams vehicles.”

For the best manufacturer car, the stunning Volvo P1800 took first place, a worthy winner that had members lining up to drive it all day long – even if it did lose a hubcap on the day (sorry about that Volvo!). The SGMW quiz went down to a tiebreaker question, with long-standing group member David Wilkins named as the winner, although in his absence, Peter Nunn took the prize of a box of chocolates. 

While the SGMW Heritage Day is a day for members to test an array of cars, it is also a popular social event for PRs to catch up with group members.

Simon Branney, Genesis Motor UK head of PR and communications, said: “Definitely one of the highlights of the summer, if not the whole year, is the SGMW heritage driving day. Even though there are no Genesis heritage products, as we have only been going for three years, the group has been very welcoming and supportive of the Genesis brand, product and team.”

“It’s a super-relaxed day with super-friendly journalists and even super-friendly PR colleagues – it’s an easy win for both the group and the PRs that get to come to it.”

“I’m looking forward to Genesis continuing to attend this event for many years to come.”

Will Rees, Kia UK press officer, said: “It is a nice, chilled-out event and a great day out of the office”.

“It is about getting to chat with other PRs and a lot of SGMW members we don’t see regularly on driving days. It is nice to catch up with everyone.”

Rachel Goodwin, head of PR for BYD in the UK, said: “It was a great day. It is really useful for PRs to drive competitors’ products and useful for us to keep in touch and see all you guys and making sure everybody is driving our cars”.

“We are trying to build a brand so we need to be in as many places as possible.”

As always, the Heritage Day wouldn’t be possible without those who came along to support the event. Everyone at the SGMW would like to offer a massive thank you to all the PRs for their amazing support, who all went above and beyond to ensure group members had a wonderful array of cars to test on the day. Ian Robertson, SGMW Chairman, said: “Though the New Forest rain tried to dampen spirits, I reckon this year’s driving day at Beaulieu was the best yet. It was so lovely to welcome some new brands to the day, like BYD, Ineos and Isuzu, as well as welcome the marques that have been supporting the event year after year.”

“The joy and excitement on the faces of many of the younger PR people as they climbed behind the wheel really was a sight to behold.”

“As Chairman of the group for another two years, I’m looking forward to welcoming everyone back again next year. Same time, same place.”

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This event is one of the most popular on the SGMW’s calendar, and is an opportunity for members to show off their classic cars and catch up with PR friends. It also gives members the chance to review an array of new and classic models on the brilliant surrounding roads of the South Downs. 

Southern Group Happenings: June 2024

In previous years, the Heritage Day has always had a very strong attendance, with 23 members making the journey down south last year. This year, the Heritage Day will be held on 14th August at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu in Hampshire, a brilliant venue that will give members the chance to visit the museum after the test drives have finished. 

SGMW 2024 Heritage Day: car list for the day

The car line-up is as varied as ever for 2024. A total of nine manufacturers have confirmed their support so far, with over twenty cars being made available to drive on the day, including a mix of classic cars, new EVs, and even rugged off-roaders. 

The list of confirmed brands and cars is as follows:

Volvo                               P1800, 262C, 850 T-5R and XC90 V8

BYD                                    Dolphin, Atto 3 and Seal

Mazda                                MX-5 Heritage and MX-30 R-EV Edition R

Ineos                                  Grenadier petrol and diesel

Toyota                               Prius Gen1 and Corolla Excel 1.8 Hybrid

Isuzu                                 D-Max

Abarth                              500e

Lexus                                LBX

Fiat                                     600 Mild Hybrid and 600e

Kia                                      Stinger GT-S, Picanto Strike (Mk1), Picanto GT-Line

Genesis                             Models TBA

On the day, several long-running traditional activities (for the last two years at least) will be held throughout the day. Firstly, members and PRs can compete in the Heritage Day quiz, which consists of a number of automotive-themed questions, possibly mixed with a dash of popular culture. Last year, the SGMW’s very own international correspondent, Phil Huff, took the glory by taking 1st place with a score of 9 out of 10. 

The day also has two awards for the best cars of the day: the best manufacturer car and the best member car. In 2023, the charming but terrifying 1965 Ford Transit Custom took the best manufacturer award, while in the member category, Stu Bird’s Volkswagen T2 Westfalia Camper and its multitude of stickers and accessories took the best member car award. An award that Stu also won in 2022 for his quirky SEAT Terra van. 

Can Stu make it three best member awards in a row? Rumour has it that he’s been preparing something special for this year, so check back here later this month to find out the results. 

Read about the SGMW’s 2023 Heritage Day here.

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The SGMW annual awards, the first of the year, recognise the outstanding efforts of manufacturers, PR teams and individuals who excelled with magnificent models, memorable motoring and help SGMW members over the past 12 months.

The awards are voted for by SGMW members, many of whom have experienced the news cars at manufacturer launches and driving days, and attended the Society of Motoring Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) north and south test days.

SGMW chairman Ian Robertson said: “Our New Year Honours are held in high esteem by the manufacturers and their PR teams. Winning one is a great way to kick off the new year.

“This year there were some really tight results so it was a good job that most of our members voted in as many categories as possible.

“Electric vehicles are gaining a big foothold in the new car market so it is no surprise that they were popular choices in the three categories for vehicles.

“But don’t write off petrol and diesel cars just yet as traditional internal combustion engine models also found favour with our electorate,” he added.

And it’s also new year, new award.

The SGMW is launching a new accolade, the Chairman’s Award, to honour someone who has given extraordinary service to the automotive industry, a particular manufacturer, or been a very special friend to our group.

To recognise his sterling service to the industry, the first Chairman’s Award goes to John Handcock, Head of PR at Citroën, who retired in November 2023 after more than 30 years with the French brand. Having previously worked within the sales, product, and fleet departments, he joined the press office in the summer of 2009 and has been a good friend and supporter of the Southern Group of Motoring Writers over the years. SGMW Chairman Ian Robertson commented: “John Handcock will be an extremely hard act to follow and has been a brilliant public relations leader and friend. On a personal note, I will miss him enormously, with it feeling like the end of an era. On behalf of the Southern Group of Motoring Writers, we send our sincere best wishes to him for his retirement from Stellantis.”

The full results for the SGMW New Year Honours 2024, with opinions from voting members, are:

BEST PR NEWCOMER – someone who made a special impact in liaising with the media during the past year and is either new to the industry PR scene or has taken on a new role/position.

Winner – Lucinda Inggs (Stellantis)

“She was an absolute star during a very long day travelling to Paris to see the Citroen eC3, coping with all sorts of delays, traffic and other problems.”

Runner-up – Brad Beningfield (Honda UK)

BEST PR OFFICE – awarded to the operation consistently delivering the best all-round or forward-thinking service to SGMW throughout the year.

Winner – Kia UK

“Always helpful, you are always assured a high standard of service from the Kia UK press office and, with specially-organised driving days for the Southern Group of Motoring Writers, we get to sample the latest vehicles in a relaxed environment.”

Runner-up – Toyota

THE SGMW OBE (OPERATING BEYOND EXPECTATION) – for acting above and beyond the call of PR duty during the past year. It can be for consistent high performance, a memorable one-off effort or a thoughtful gesture towards one of our members caught in a bind.

Winner – Graeme Fudge, PR director, and the Mazda UK team

When a deadly earthquake forced Mazda’s Epic Drive through the Atlas Mountains to be cancelled, Graeme, his team and their paramedic headed to stricken remote villages in their vehicles to deliver their supplies of bottled water and help emergency aid workers in the early stages of the response to the disaster.

‘DARK HORSE’ OF THE YEAR – a car that surprised SGMW members, either by its arrival or just how good it was.

Winner – BYD Dolphin

“A surprisingly complete electric car from a newcomer to the European market. The Dolphin is an excellent value family EV package with a highly-usable driving range and an interestingly-styled interior.”

Runner-up – Abarth 500e

ONE TO WATCH – the car that SGMW members most look forward to driving in the coming year.

Winner – Dacia Spring

“I was very impressed driving the Dacia Jogger so I’m looking forward to seeing what Dacia’s first small EV will be like.”

“This cute city car, likely to be the UK’s cheapest EV, is going to be a tempting runabout and entice more people into electric motoring.”

SGMW CAR OF THE YEAR

Winner – Jeep Avenger, top

“Totally new concept power for this American icon. Although I was hesitant about it when I first drove it, the more I did the more impressive it was for overall driver satisfaction. Really surprising in my view.”

2024 SGMW New Year Honours: Gallery

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The annual event was again held at the National Motor Museum’s corporate marquee at Beaulieu in Hampshire.

A splendid turnout saw PR friends from eight manufacturers join 23 SGMW members for a day of motoring memories and convivial conversation.

The following cars were available to drive from manufacturers:

• Ford – Mark 1 Transit van, Capri 280 Brooklands and Explorer SUV.
• Genesis – three electrified GV70s.
• Kia – Stinger GTS and Mark 1 Picanto.
• Lexus – IS-F and RX500h F Sport
• Mazda –  Mark 1 and 4 MX-5s.
• Porsche – Taycan, Panamera and 911 Carrera T.
• Toyota – Corolla Coupe GT AE86 and GR86
• Volvo – P1800ES, 240 GLT estate and S90 Executive.

SGMW members also brought their own heritage vehicles including a Volkwagen Westfalia camper van, Mazda MX-5s, an Alfa Romero Brera, Alfa Romeo 146, Saab 9-5, Peugeot RCZ and Porsche Cayenne.

And it was Stuart Bird’s crazy VW camper that won members’ car of the day while Ford’s 1965 Transit was voted car of the day and loved by everyone who drove it.

The heritage quiz was won by SGMW member Phil Huff with a score of nine out of 10.

The SGMW Heritage Day is also a social occasion and a popular event on the motoring calendar with manufacturer PRs.

Dan Sayles, Kia UK head of press and PR, said: “It is such an eclectic mix of new and old. There is nowhere else that you could drive this selection of cars.

“You can jump out of a Mazda MX-5 Mark 1 into a Volvo 240 estate and a Porsche 911. It is not available anywhere else.

“We PRs never spend time together so it is a good opportunity to catch up and discuss things.”

Simon Branney, Genesis Motor Europe head of UK PR and communications, said: “The SGMW Heritage Day is one of my favourite events of the year because it is so relaxed. Everyone is so friendly and so approachable.

“You just come along and have a lovely time. It’s always a pleasure to the with the Southern Group of Motoring Writers.

“It’s a great venue, everyone gets involved and are super excited to be here. Everyone gets excited about the heritage stuff and old cars.

“It’s an opportunity for people to bring their olds cars and you don’t get to see these very often. It’s the only heritage event on the motoring groups’ circuit and brilliant.”

Volvo was making its debut at our annual heritage day and Barnaby Jones, UK product communications manager, was enjoying the atmosphere.

“It’s great to catch up with people you might only see once or twice a year.

“It is a nice, relaxed and informal event and people come and go as they please and drive what they want. How popular our cars have been even surprised us.

“We see members of the Southern Group of Motoring Writers two or three times a year and, at other events, we can’t always talk or catch up. It has been nice to spend quality time with you all and have a good catch-up and talk about what is new for Volvo.”

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This year’s event was held at Rhinefield House Hotel, located in the New Forest, where SGMW members were given the chance to test 14 of the brand’s latest models on the surrounding roads.

As with last year’s SGMW Kia drive day, this event also brings the group together to attend the Southern group’s AGM and the subsequent Heritage Day at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, just a short distance away, the following day.

In total, 23 SGMW members made the trip to the New Forest, an excellent turnout for a group event.

On the day, Kia kindly provided the following models for the group to test drive:

• XCeed 1.6 GDi PHEV 3 DCT.
• EV6 77.4kWh Air RWD.
• EV6 77.4kWh GT-Line S AWD.
• ProCeed 1.5 T-GDi GT-Line S DCT.
• Kia Stonic 1.0 T-GDi 48V GT-Line S.
• Niro EV 64.8kWh 4.
• Sorento 1.6 T-GDi Edition HEV AT AWD.
• Soul EV 39.2kWh Urban.
• Soul EV 64kWh Explore.
• Sportage 1.6 T-GDi GT-Line HEV AT 2WD.
• Sportage 1.6 T-GDi 48V GT-Line S DCT AWD.
• Niro 1.6 GDi HEV 2 DCT.
• XCeed 1.5 T-GDi GT-Line S.
• Picanto 1.0 MPi 2.

According to Kia’s head of press and public relations Dan Sayles, the SGMW managed a total of 50 test drives across the 14 cars available on the day.

They covered a total distance of 700 miles, far enough for 297 laps around Thruxton Race Circuit or a one-way road trip from the South Downs in England to either Prague in the Czech Republic or Gothenburg in Sweden.

From the wide array of Kia models available, the EV6 77.4kWh Air RWD and Soul EV 64kWh Explore were the joint most popular cars of the day with six test drives apiece.

Inevitably, there had to be an overall winner, and the Soul took the title as the most popular pick of the day, covering a total 77 miles, with the EV6 taking second place with 73 miles.

At the other end of the popularity contest, the excellent Sportage Hybrid received the wooden spoon as the least driven car of the day with two only test drives.

SGMW members were certainly very prolific when it came to putting Kia’s latest models to the test throughout the day too, with nine attendees managing three test drives each.

In second place, Matt Richardson (who was attending his first SGMW event) and Ben Hodges managed four test drives apiece, while the very busy pairing of Tyler Heatley and Tom Scanlan managed to complete five test drives each to earn a joint first place.

After the test drives were concluded, the SGMW’s annual general meeting was the final event of the day.

In the absence of chairman Ian Robertson, committee members Chris Rees, David Ward, Andy Russell and Chris Manning oversaw the year’s proceedings.

Notable takeaways included the brilliant group efforts and the significant contribution from car manufacturer PR teams that helped make this year’s SGMW Karting GP event a huge success, one that was held as a tribute to Sue Baker, who sadly passed away late last year.

Additionally, it was noted that throughout the past year, attendance of group events has continued to be strong, together with the addition of new members – making the 2022-23 year a hugely successful one for the SGMW.

Chris Rees, SGMW secretary said: “One of the highlights of the year for the SGMW is the get-together for our AGM, which this year was kindly hosted by Kia at Rhinefield House in the New Forest.

“It was great to see 23 members of the SGMW embracing the opportunity provided by Kia to drive a wide range of its new models at a special driving day beforehand.

“To have such a big turnout of members is always pleasing, and the customary camaraderie was on full display. On behalf of the whole SGMW, I would like to thank Dan Sayles and the brilliant Kia PR and events team at Kia for hosting us at such a superb venue.”

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Sue, who was a pioneering force in motoring journalism, a long-standing SGMW member and former chairman, passed away in November 2022 after bravely battling Motor Neurone Disease.

To celebrate Sue’s contribution to the world of motoring and the SGMW, members agreed that this year’s annual karting event would take place in her honour, renaming it the SGMW Sue Baker Memorial Karting Grand Prix with the Motor Neurone Disease Association as its nominated charity.

Fifteen teams entered – with last year’s winners Gazoo Racing competing against BMW, Genesis, Honda, Ineos/PFPR, Kia, Lexus, Mazda, Newspress/Loop, Nobull, Porsche, SMMT, Toyota, Volkswagen – along with the Southern group team entry, Volvo by SGMW.

From the moment the lights went out, every one of the teams dug deep with some very committed racing.

The early pacesetter was the Porsche team, trailed by SGMW by Volvo in second and Gazoo Racing in third. In the early stages, the SGMW’s own Sean Ward set the pace with a fastest lap time of 49.868 seconds.

After nearly 50 laps, Nobull had broken into the top three only a couple of seconds behind SGMW by Volvo by SGMW in second place, while the Porsche team was showing strong pace in first place, quickly establishing a lead of nearly 12 seconds.

Soon after, Nobull battled into first place – with Porsche, Gazoo Racing and SGMW by Volvo regularly swapping places to make up the top four – with all showing strong pace to separate themselves from the rest of the field.

By the end of the two-and-a-half-hour race though, the Porsche team claimed victory with a brilliant fightback to complete 161 laps by the chequered flag and take the coveted SGMW Karting GP Trophy.

In second place, Gazoo Racing finished only 14.3 seconds behind the winner. It completed the same number of laps, while the Volvo by SGMW team took a well-deserved third place completing 159 laps.

All of the top three teams set the pace throughout the race with only a few tenths of a second separating them for the quickest lap of the day.

Overall winners Porsche recorded a time of 47.989 seconds, with second place Gazoo Racing just ahead with a time of 47.704.

Both were denied the bragging rights by SGMW by Volvo driver Sean Ward, who set the fastest lap of the day with a time of 47.648 seconds in the final stint of the race.

The race finished with SGMW treasurer Chris Manning handing over a cheque for £4,850 to the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).

SGMW chairman Ian Robertson said: “A huge thank you to everyone who was involved in organising the karting event.

“But, more importantly, thanks so much to everyone that supports the event, donates the money, participates in racing and who helped us to raise a whopping £4,850 for Motor Neurone Disease in memory of our dear friend and colleague, Sue Baker.

“Since we started the annual charity karting event, we have now raised more than £30,000. It’s thanks to our colleagues in the industry that this has been made possible.

“As chairman of the Southern Group of Motoring Writers, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”

The top picture shows Stuart Bird, a leading light of the SGMW karting organising team, and Sarah Armstrong, MND Association south east regional fund-raiser, with the £4,850 cheque and other SGMW members.

To learn more about the MNDA’s fantastic work visit www.mndassociation.org

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The SGMW New Year Honours go to the manufacturers and PR teams and individuals whose outstanding efforts have gone the extra mile to make motoring memorable and help SGMW members over the past 12 months.

SGMW members were keen to make sure manufacturers, teams and individuals received the acclaim they deserved with some keenly-fought contests and a record number of people voting.

SGMW chairman Ian Robertson said: “The SGMW New Year Honours continue to go from strength to strength. This year we had a record number of votes from our members which highlights how much we all appreciate the efforts of the manufacturers and PR teams.

“There were some clear winners while other categories were unbelievably close, going right to the wire as the votes came in.

“Electric cars, or one in particular, made a big impression with our members but it was also good see to see a lot of support for a legendary petrol-powered hot-hatchback.”

The MG4 EV, pictured above, was a double winner, taking the coveted SGMW Car of the Year crown by a clear margin. But it also scooped the Dark Horse of the Year trophy with members seeing this more affordable electric hatchback as a potential game-changer and the next MG to entice drivers to EVs.

Genesis won a hat-trick of trophies with press officer Sam Buckingham taking the Best PR Newcomer title by just one vote in a close contest after a very busy start to his career.

And Genesis also won the Best in PR Innovation award for the international launch of the all-electric GV60 SUV. Invited guests experienced the Genesis We Come To You promise with a GV60 delivered straight to their hotel balcony in Frankfurt, Germany.

The brand’s third award went to Genesis Motor UK head of PR and communications Simon Branney who won our O.B.E. (Operating Beyond Expectation) award for the second year running and the third time in his career which highlights how much his combination of going the extra mile for so many people and making motoring PR fun is appreciated.

With EVs an increasingly big part of the motoring scene, it was good to see so many people looking forward to driving the 2023 Honda Civic Type R which topped the One to Watch 2023 category. It will be interesting to see the impact of the latest version of this petrol-powered hot-hatch as the Civic celebrates its half-century.

Meanwhile, Kia UK continued to dominate the Best PR Office category and won the top award again this year, building on several years of success for this slick team.

The final SGMW award, the Southern Star, is an in-house accolade for a member who has made a big difference.

This year it was a poignant contest with the winner being a member we sadly lost. Sue Baker touched the lives of so many SGMW members, and the whole motoring world, over the years with her friendship, guidance, encouragement and humour. She really was a shining star.

The full results for the SGMW New Year Honours 2023, with opinions from voting members, are:

BEST PR NEWCOMER – awarded to someone who made a special impact in liaising with the media during the past year and is either new to the industry PR scene or has taken on a new role/position.

Winner – Sam Buckingham (Press officer, Genesis Motor UK)

“‘Thrown in at the deep end’ could be a phrase invented for Sam Buckingham. In his first PR posting, he has risen to the challenge of representing the Genesis brand brilliantly as it establishes itself in the UK. Sam has integrated seamlessly into one of the most charismatic PR teams in the industry with a level of enthusiasm and professionalism that is truly appreciated by SGMW members.”

Runner-up – Tamara Better (Product communications section manager, Nissan GB)

THE SGMW OBE (OPERATING BEYOND EXPECTATION) – for acting above and beyond the call of PR duty during the past year. It can be for consistent high performance, a memorable one-off effort, or a thoughtful gesture towards one of our members caught in a bind.

Winner – Simon Branney (Head of PR and communications, Genesis Motor UK)

“Simon Branney, Genesis. Made sure Pro Driver had a GV80 for our CoTY event ahead of the press launch. And it won!”

Runner-up – Jess Grimditch (Press officer, Suzuki GB)

BEST PR OFFICE – awarded to the operation consistently delivering the best all-round or forward-thinking service to SGMW throughout the year.

Winner – Kia UK

“Kia again! Consistently supportive in providing a professional service to showcase an excellent product range to our members.”

Runner-up – Suzuki GB

BEST IN PR INNOVATION – awarded for an unusual or particularly excellent launch, driving route, or any imaginative addition to an event of the PR year in general.

Winner – Genesis GV60 international launch

“Genesis for the ‘Car Hotel’ at the GV60 launch. Park and recharge on your balcony!”

DARK HORSE OF THE YEAR – a car that surprised SGMW members, either by its arrival or just how good it was.

Winner – MG4 EV

“MG4 simply exceeded expectations on all fronts.”

ONE TO WATCH – the car that SGMW members most look forward to driving in the coming year.

Winner – Honda Civic Type R

“As the Honda Civic celebrates half a century, and in an era of electric vehicles, it is great to see that a high-performance hot hatchback can still excite the motoring world. A fitting tribute and a brave move.”

SGMW CAR OF THE YEAR

Winner – MG4 EV

“A very pleasantly surprising car. An unbelievable price, with a driving experience, equipment list and all-electric driving range to shade major rivals.”

SGMW Southern Star – for the group member who has done most for the organisation or its profile or done something praiseworthy or beyond the call of duty.

Winner – the late Sue Baker

“As for SGMW Southern Star, I’m not sure if posthumous votes are allowed, but I really think it should go to the lovely and much-missed Sue Baker.”

Congratulations to our winners and we wish you all a healthy and happy new year.

The post Winning start to 2023 with SGMW New Year Honours appeared first on Southern Group of Motoring Writers.

Our fifth Heritage Day, again staged at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu in Hampshire, was enjoyed by 25 SGMW members, a record number representing three-quarters of our total membership.

They were joined at this popular blast from the past by 17 PRs, from seven manufacturers, while another four brands sent cars, both heritage and modern models, for SGMW members to drive.

SGMW secretary and Heritage Day organiser Chris Rees said: “The response was overwhelmingly positive at the end of the day.

“People didn’t want to go and they were just glowing about our Heritage Day. People also stayed and visited the motor museum.”

Every single car supplied by manufacturers for the event was driven while some SGMW members added to the heritage haul by bringing their cherished classic cars.

At the end of the day everyone voted for their champion cars – the Car of the Day brought by manufacturers and best car belonging to an SGMW member.

Manufacturers Car of the Day was a two-horse race between the current Porsche Cayman GT4 and 1993 Ford Escort RS Cosworth with the former winning by a single vote.

Stuart Bird’s characterful SEAT Terra van was the runaway SGMW winner.

The full range of manufacturers’ cars driven were:

• BMW 1 Series M Coupe.
• Citroen’s new C5X executive crossover.
• Ford Escort RS Cosworth, Mustang Mach 1 and Mustang Mach-E.
• Genesis GV60 SUVs.
• Honda HR-V SUV.
• Kia Stinger 3.3 V6 GT-S and original Soul EV.
• Lexus IS F and NX HEV SUV.
• Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 and Cayenne Turbo GT.
• Skoda Fabia vRS Mark 1.
• Toyota Yaris Mark 1 and MR2 TF 300 Roadster.
• Volkswagen Polo GTI.

A big thank you to all the manufacturers and SGMW members who supplied cars and made the event such a success.

The post Blast from past as magic memories meet modern motors appeared first on Southern Group of Motoring Writers.

Driving to Oslo proved an electrifying experience when Kia UK hosted an exclusive driving day for members of the Southern Group of Motoring Writers.

More than 20 SGMW members, an excellent two-thirds of the group’s total membership, attended the driving day based at Burley Manor hotel, near Ringwood in Hampshire’s New Forest, and a host of test-drives saw them covering the distance from the hotel to the capital of Norway in weather than ranged from warm sunshine to torrential downpours.

The 14 Kia demo vehicles, most of them electrified, were:

• EV6 77.4kWh GT-Line RWD and GT-Line S AWD.
• Niro 1.6 GDI hybrid electric vehicle in 2 and 4 trim levels.
• Niro 1.6 GDI plug-in hybrid electric vehicle in 3 and 4.
• Niro 2 64.8kWh pure electric vehicle 2WD.
• Sportage 1.6 T-GDi 2 2WD and GT-Line S HEV AWD.
• Soul EV 64kWh Maxx
• Stonic 1.0 T-Gdi 2.
• ProCeed 1.5 T-GDi GT-Line.
• Stinger 3.3 T-GDi GT S.

Dan Sayles, Kia UK head of Press and public relations, said it was a pleasure to host SGMW, its ‘local’ group of motoring writers, for the day.

It gave members a chance to drive some of the latest important models to join Kia’s UK range, for the first time or to reacquaint themselves with them, and spend quality time with PRs from its friendly, efficient team.

Before dinner, Dan highlighted some fun facts.

During the day, SGMW members had:

• Driven 14 different cars.
• A total of 805 miles – the equivalent of the distance to Oslo.
• The EV6 was the individual model driven by most members.
• The new-generation Niro range of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure electric SUVs had the most test drives.

When the pleasure of driving the new Kia cars finished, it was down to business as SGMW members held their AGM.

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