S-MAX is your No. 1!

Readers of Auto Express have voted the new Ford S-MAX their car of the year. The sporty compact MPV topped the Auto 1 poll from Issue 935, beating Land Rover's Freelander 2 into second with the new MINI in third.

Auto Express's sister magazines from the Auto Europe group have also elected their national champions, and they now face the S-MAX in a European final later this month. The overall winner will be named at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Readers who voted in the Auto Express poll were entered into a draw to win the keys to a sizz­ling new Honda Civic Type R for a month. And the first name out of the hat was Andy Thompson, an orthopaedic surgeon from North­wich, Cheshire. The 32-year-old also wins a track day with a Honda racing driver to really get the best out of the hot hatch.

"That's great news," said Andy. "I wanted to know more about the Civic, so this will be perfect."