Mazda MX-5 is the 2016 World Car of the Year. The
winner was announced during a press conference hosted by the New York
International Auto Show, Bridgestone Corporation and Autoneum. The year 2016
marks the 10th anniversary of the partnership between World Car and the New
York show. The Mazda MX-5 was chosen from an initial entry list of 23 vehicles
from all over the world, then a short list of ten, then three
finalists: the Audi A4 Sedan/Audi A4 Avant, the Mazda MX-5, and the
Mercedes-Benz GLC. The Mazda MX-5 was also declared the 2016 World Car Design of the Year.
“What a wonderful honour, to
have the Mazda MX-5 named World Car of the Year,” said Masahiro Moro, president
and CEO, Mazda North American Operations, and Managing Executive Officer, Mazda
Motor Corporation. This year, vehicles were selected and voted on by
an international jury panel comprised of 73 top-level automotive journalists
from 23 countries around the world. The international accounting
firm KPMG tabulates the jurors’ ballots.
BMW 7 SERIES WINS 2016 WORLD LUXURY CAR AWARD
The BMW 7 Series was declared
the 2016 World Luxury Car.The World Luxury Car category was created in 2014 to
acknowledge higher-priced premium models selling in more limited numbers
worldwide. This year’s winner was chosen from an initial entry
list of eight prestigious cars from all over the world, then a short list of
three finalists: the winner as well as the Audi Q7 and the Volvo XC
90.
AUDI R8 COUPE WINS 2016 WORLD PERFORMANCE CAR AWARD
The Audi R8 Coupe was declared
the 2016 World Performance Car. The Audi
R8 Coupe was chosen from an initial entry list of nine cars from all over the
world, then a short list of ten, then three finalists: today’s
winner as well as the Honda Civic Type R and the Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 Coupé. The World Car Awards jurors
observed: “Arguably, Audi's Le Mans-inspired R8 has been the most desirable, head-turning
supercar of the decade. And now the latest Coupe version has won the World Performance Car 2016
title, successfully claiming the crown after seeing off stiff competition from America, Asia and Europe.
Yet despite its racing car heritage and cutting edge technology it's a surprisingly easy and manageable car to
drive - fast or slow.”
TOYOTA MIRAI WINS 2016 WORLD GREEN CAR AWARD
The Toyota Mirai was
declared the 2016 World Green Car. The Toyota Mirai was chosen from an initial
entry list of eight new vehicles from all over the world, then a short list of
three finalists that included the winner as well as the Chevrolet Volt and the
Toyota Prius Hybrid.
To be eligible for the 2016
World Green Car a ward, a vehicle had to be all-new, or substantially revised, in production and
introduced for sale or lease to the public in quantities of at least 10 in at least one major market during
the period beginning January 1, 2015 and ending May 31, 2016. Tailpipe emissions, fuel
consumption, and use of a major advanced power plant technology (beyond engine componentry), aimed
specifically at increasing the vehicle's environmental responsibility, were all taken into
consideration.
Previous World Green Car
winners were BMW consecutive wins: BMWi8 (2015) and the BMW i3 (2014), then the Tesla Model S
(2013), the Mercedes-Benz S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY (2012), the Chevrolet Volt (2011), the
Volkswagen BlueMotion (2010), the Honda FCX Clarity (2009), the BMW 118d with Efficient Dynamics
(2008), the Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec (2007) and the Honda Civic Hybrid (2006).