By Ian Lamb, motoring correspondent

A FRENCH-built car has taken the accolade of Scottish Car of the Year for the first time when the Peugeot 407 was crowned with the title at a gala evening in the St Andrews Bay Resort last night.

The 407 range, which comprises saloon and estate models, was launched in the UK at the Birmingham Motor Show in the early summer, and has already won a number of awards for styling and safety.

The Scottish title is awarded by the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers (ASMW), who chose the Peugeot from more than 50 models eligible for the award.

Each car had been launched in the UK within the past 12 months and assessed on a range of qualities including performance, safety, value for money and ‘Scottish appeal’.

ASMW president Ally Ballingall of Radio Tay said the 407 had been a clear winner in the family car category and won the overall title by double the number of points of its nearest rival.

“Our members were extremely impressed by this car from the aspects of styling, safety and value for money and we feel it fully deserves to join our growing list of winners like the Ford Focus, Jaguar S-type and Volvo XC90,” said Mr Ballingall.

Cars were judged by ASMW members in seven categories. Winners in each of the categories were: small—Kia Picanto; family—Peugeot 407; diesel—Jaguar S-type; sports— Mitsubishi Lancer Evo; MPV—Mitsubishi Grandis; SUV/4X4—Land Rover Discovery; luxury—Jaguar X-type estate.

More than 200 guests from the UK motor industry watched as the Peugeot 407 was spectacularly revealed as the winning car by being driven through a curtain of exploding balloons into the function suite where the event was taking place.

The pyrotechnics were designed and executed by Colin Myles, now an internationally acclaimed balloon artist, who owns the business Party Time in Broughty Ferry with his wife Ray.

The evening was compered by Mr Ballingall.

The event is expected to have raised thousands of pounds for charity, mainly for the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS).

Association members also disburse funds to worthwhile causes in the areas of Scotland where they are based.