The World Car of the Year Awards have bestowed top honours upon deserving sets of wheels. Here’s what went down.
Performance Car of the Year – Audi R8 Coupé
The new R8 Coupé uses a more powerful version of the 5.2-litre V10 FSI motor reworked to incorporate direct and indirect injection. Available with 540 PS and 540 Nm in the V10 or with 610 PS and 560 Nm in the V10 plus, the power goes through the seven-speed twin-clutch automatic to the quattro all-wheel-drive system. The R8 V10 plus is the most powerful production Audi, ever.
Shortlist: Audi R8 Coupé, Honda Civic Type R, Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupé
Luxury Car of the Year – BMW 7 Series
Taking the luxury game even further, the new BMW 7 Series sees everything from the construction to the interior totally reworked. CarbonCore tech from BMW I comes in, incorporating carbon-fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) and various grades of metal for a lighter and stronger build, while laser-high-beam headlights, remote parking, new ambient lighting, wireless charging and gesture control, among other things make their way in.
Shortlist: Audi Q7, BMW 7 Series, Volvo XC90
Green Car of the Year – Toyota Mirai
The first-ever hydrogen fuel-cell production vehicle that works in the real world, the Mirai is the car of the future according to Toyota and, given its clean mobility credentials, rightly deserves the title of Green Car of the Year. With zero-emission long-distance mobility, 113 kW (154 PS), 335 Nm, and just water coming out of the exhaust, there’s are no challengers this advanced, not yet anyway.
Shortlist: Chevrolet Volt, Toyota Mirai, Toyota Prius Hybrid
Design of the Year – Mazda MX-5
A new Miata? Surely almost everyone, secretly or not, rejoices at the sight of the Miata. The simple curves, powerful accents and flowing lines always managed to get their unfair share of attention. The all-new MX-5 continues the trend in a more contemporary and compliant manner as well. No surprise then that it snaps up the most coveted design award.
Shortlist: Jaguar XE, Mazda MX-5, Mazda CX-3
World Car of the Year – Mazda MX-5
Mazda got their formula so correct it almost seemed like magic. A little four-cylinder engine, a lightweight body in drop-top with an affordable price-tag? What’s not to like. The new MX-5 takes the game even further and, thanks to Mazda’s mastery of what drivers really want from the essential car, ave walked away with the prestigious World Car of the Year award. Kudos.
Shortlist: Audi A4, Mazda MX-5, Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class
Story: Jim Gorde
