The Fiat Palio was adjudged the Car of the Year at the CNBC India Autocar Awards held on 14 January in New Delhi.

Brand ambassador Sachin Tendulkar was present at the function that saw the Palio walking away with the Best Value for Money award too. The awards were instituted in association with Autocar, the magazine, Goodyear tyres and Amaron batteries. The Ford Mondeo won the Best Driver's Car and Best Looks & Styling, while the Mercedes C Class surfaced as the Most Technologically Advanced Car, beating eight others in the category. Tata Indica took the honours for the Most Improved Car of the Year, while the humble Maruti 800 was felicitated in the Auto Awards 'Hall of Fame' category. Hyundai Motors won the Manufacturer of the Year award.

The awards function also felicitated the jury - leading car designer Dilip Chhabria, auto historian Manvendra Singh, India's leading female driver Navaz Bhathena, Indian National Rally Champion N Leelakrishnan, Autocar editor Hormazd Sorabjee and associate editor Shapur Kotwal, along with Rajeev Khanna.