The British Built Honda Civic Type R has been Short-Listed for World Performance Car Of The Year 2016.

• British-built Honda Civic Type R into final five for prestigious World Performance Car of the Year 2016 title
• Judged by 73 leading motoring writers from across the globe
• Type R becomes the first Honda to have ever made it into the final

The British-built Honda Civic Type R has roared into contention to be crowned World Performance Car of the Year (WCOTY) after reaching the final five in a competition judged by 73 leading motoring writers from across the globe.

The accolade marks the first time that a Honda has made it into the final, and the latest in a line of accolades for Honda’s ‘race car for the road’ on the back of scooping the Scottish Car of the Year award in November, and securing its first motorsport success with the drivers and constructors titles in the 2015 British Touring Car Championship.

News of the Civic Type R’s success on the global stage is also a further huge boost and vote of confidence for the dedicated workforce at Honda’s flagship car manufacturing facility, Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM), in Swindon. Not only is the Civic Type R built exclusively here for Europe, it was also recently announced that it will be exported from the UK to Japan for the first time. Such is HUM’s reputation for engineering excellence and the highest quality standards that it will also become the global hub for production of the Civic hatchback following a further investment of £200m.

Mike Rutherford, World Car Awards Director and Vice-Chairman comments: "With the comparatively affordable and accessible Civic Type R, Honda has taken on all of the specialist performance car manufacturers - and, on this occasion, beaten the majority of them at their own game by qualifying as a World Car Awards finalist. The company is now one of only five firms in the running for the coveted World Performance Car title."

Phil Crossman, Managing Director of Honda (UK) comments: “We always knew that the Civic Type R was set to be a game-changer for Honda, and this latest accolade once again confirms it. It’s great to be in the company of such premium performance car makers, and we’ve got everything crossed for success in New York in March. This news is also another big vote of confidence for our Swindon plant where the brilliant workforce can take a huge amount of credit for expertly crafting the most extreme Type R ever to wear the ‘Red H’ badge.”

The World Car of the Year jury is composed of 73 motoring writers from across 23 countries and regions globally. For cars to be considered they must be sold in at least five countries globally, on at least two continents. The first award was announced in 2004, with the performance car category added in 2006. with the winner set to be announced at the New York Motor Show on March 24^th.

Honda has tasted success previously in the World Car of the Year awards, taking the World Green Car of the Year crown in 2006 (Civic Hybrid) and 2009 (FCX Clarity).

Billed as a ‘race car for the road’, the all-new British built Honda Civic Type R is powered by the most extreme and high-performing Type R engine ever built. The direct-injected turbocharged 2.0 litre VTEC TURBO petrol engine delivers power, torque and performance figures unmatched in the front-wheel drive hot hatch segment. Peak power output is 310 PS at 6,500 rpm, and peak torque is 400 Nm at 2,500 rpm – both higher than for any previous Honda Civic Type R model.

The Superb, Superb, has been shortlisted for teh World Car Of The Year,

• New Superb named as top 10 finalist for one of the industry’s biggest awards
• Winner to be announced at the 2016 New York International Auto Show
• New Superb only the second ŠKODA to be nominated for WCOTY Award

The ŠKODA Superb could add to its incredible haul of industry accolades having qualified for the final of the prestigious 2016 World Car of the Year title. 

The all-new Superb’s inclusion on the World Car of the Year award 10-car finalist list marks only the second time a ŠKODA has been included in the latter stages of the judging process. It was 2014 when the Octavia managed the same feat. 

Since its introduction to the modern era line-up in 2001, ŠKODA’s flagship model has become the benchmark car for space and comfort, with no other sector rival able to match its passenger and load carrying ability. The all-new version builds on this legacy, with improvements in all key areas.

As befits a car at the top of the ŠKODA range, the new Superb is brimming with the latest technology and ŠKODA’s acclaimed Simply Clever features. It is also considerably more efficient thanks to a new range of turbocharged engines that deliver exceptional fuel economy and low CO₂ emissions and a kerbweight up to 75kg lighter than its predecessor.

The Superb also excels on the safety front, and is available with Blind spot detection; Rear traffic alert, third-generation Park assist and Traffic jam assist. Publicly unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2015, the Superb went on sale in the UK in both Hatchback and Estate forms last September. Prices start from £18,640.

Commenting on the 2016 World Car of the Year qualification, Duncan Movassaghi, Brand Director for ŠKODA UK said: “We regard the new Superb as the most advanced car we’ve ever built and the start of a new chapter in ŠKODA design. To be recognised by the World Car of the Year jury is a great boost to the team responsible for creating such a remarkable car.”

The World Car of the Year is one of the world’s most prestigious and coveted car awards, and has been running since 2005. The panel currently comprises 73 motoring journalists from around the world. The top three finalists will be announced at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show on Tuesday March 1st, with the overall winner named at a prize-giving ceremony at the New York Internatonal Auto Show on Thursday March 24th

NEW YORK - BMW i8 accepts World Green Car Of The Year Title, 2015.

Sports car with pathbreaking overall concept repeats the BMW i3’s success of the previous year.

For the second time in succession BMW i clinched victory at the World Car Awards in the category World Green Car. Following the success of the purely electrically driven BMW i3 the previous year, the BMW i8 was awarded this prestigious award at the New York International Auto Show. 

The sports car's combination of groundbreaking plug-in hybrid drive technology and innovative lightweight construction together with its avant-garde design was honoured by the international jury at the World Car Awards.

The BMW i8 was also one of the finalists in the category World Luxury Car at the World Car Awards 2015, thereby underlining its special position.

“I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of the team in Munich”, says Dr. Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Sales and Marketing BMW, speaking at the Award Ceremony in New York. 

“The BMW i8 represents the future with its unique lightweight construction and unrivalled connectivity. To win this award for the second year in a row shows that our BMW i products are truly leading the world.”

The BMW i8 is the first plug-in hybrid vehicle manufactured by the BMW Group. It combines the performance of a sports car with the fuel consumption and emission figures of a subcompact vehicle. The BMW i8 can be driven up to 37 kilometres under electric power alone, accelerate in the style of a purebred sports car and yet its average consumption is that of a subcompact car. 

Its 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, equipped with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, is combined with an electric motor. The battery can be charged at a conventional power outlet, at a charging station or simply while driving. 

The system performance of the BMW i8 is 266 kW/362 hp and it accelerates in just 4.4 seconds to 100 km/h from a standing start (combined fuel consumption: 2.1 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 49 g/km)*. 

The extensive use of innovative materials, as well as the i8's energy-efficient production processes also underline the overall, future-oriented concept. The optional laser headlights and the services developed specifically for electro mobility by the BMW ConnectedDrive team are further proof of the progressive direction taken by the BMW i8.

Since 2005, the World Car Awards have been presented annually at the start of the New York International Auto Show and are among the most important international prizes to be won in the automotive sector. The jury is composed of 75 journalists from more than 20 countries. 

Each summer before the award ceremony, the models nominated in each category are announced, from which an Expert Committee or the jurors nominate five vehicles in each category (World Car Design of the Year and World Green Car) or ten vehicles (World Car of the Year, World Luxury Car, World Performance Car). 

From these, the jury selects the three finalists in the run-up to the Geneva Motor Show, before the winners are finally announced in New York.

The BMW i8 is the BMW Group's third model to be honoured with the World Green Car Award at the World Car Awards, following the BMW 118d in 2008, which represented the BMW EfficientDynamics development strategy, and the BMW i3 the previous year.

Congrats to Mercedes - The C-Class takes WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR Award, plus two other awards.

Mercedes-Benz wins three categories in the prestigious "World Car Awards 2015". Christoph Horn, Head of Global Communication Passenger Cars Mercedes-Benz and Rob Moran, Director Mercedes-Benz USA Communications, received the awards on behalf of the brand with the three pointed star at a ceremony held on the occasion of the New York International Auto Show.

Particular success was enjoyed by the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which won the "World Car of the Year 2015 Award". 

The S-Class Coupé was voted "World Luxury Car 2015", while the Mercedes-AMG GT sports car picked up the award for "World Performance Car 2015".

Mercedes-Benz was the only automobile manufacturer to make it into the final round of the awards with five vehicles. 

This commanding performance is unprecedented in the 11-year history of the "World Car of the Year" awards and serves to reflect the tremendous popularity of the Stuttgart-based brand among their customers. The international jury for these prestigious awards is made up of 75 renowned automotive journalists.

Mercedes-Benz has found favour with the jury in previous years too: in 2014 the S-Class won the category "World Luxury Car". In 2012 the S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY was the winner in the category "World Green Car", while the same award was taken back in 2007 by the E 320 BlueTEC.

WCOTY - Citroen celebrates taking World Car Design Of The Year for the C4 Cactus.

The New Citroën C4 Cactus won the ‘2015 World Car Design of the Year’ award on Thursday 2 April at the New York International Motor Show. Each year, the jury of the ‘World Car of the Year’ competition awards this prize to the new car with the most innovative design that challenges the industry’s conventional styling codes.

With its audacious stylistic statements and a design that reconciles the attractive and the functional, C4 Cactus succeeded in winning the most votes. This international award recognises the creativity and the courage of Citroën's designs.

Alexandre Malval, Citroën's Style Director, had the honour of receiving the ‘2015 World Car Design of the Year’ award for C4 Cactus at the New York International Motor Show. C4 Cactus is a stylish, optimistic and original car, with a unique personality, that offers a genuine alternative to conventional C-segment hatchbacks. Its pure, smooth lines are animated by graphical features that all serve a purpose, like the unique Airbump® technology or the model’s distinctive light signature.

The New Citroën C4 Cactus joins a list of illustrious prize-winners, which in recent years has included the BMW i3, the Jaguar F-Type, the Range Rover Evoque and the Aston Martin Rapide. This is not Citroën's first success during the 11 years that the ‘World Car of the Year’ competition has been in existence. In 2006, the C4 Coupé won the Design prize and the brand has figured amongst the finalists on four occasions. These repeated successes underscore Citroën's reputation for styling and design, even impressing judges from countries where the brand is not represented.

Linda Jackson, Citroën's CEO, commented that; "This prestigious prize rewards all of the Citroën brand's audacity and creativity. Citroën C4 Cactus does not look like any other car, precisely because it is a Citroën, and because Citroën's design is different and unique. It forcefully represents the identity of our brand. This is what customers expect from Citroën and this is why we have been so successful for more than 90 years. And there are more surprises to come!" 

This major prize is the latest in a series of more than 30 international awards claimed by C4 Cactus since its launch. Recognition has been apparent from automotive professionals, members of the press and the general public alike, with more than 60,000 orders already placed in Europe for C4 Cactus.

GENEVA - World Car Of The Year nominees whittled down to the top three in each segment.

The Road to the World Car journey continues with today’s announcement of the Top Three in the World finalists in five award categories at the Geneva International Motor Show.

This announcement continues the countdown for the 2015 World Car Awards (the WCAs) winners’ press conference hosted by the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), Bridgestone Corporation and Autoneum on Thursday, April 2, 2015.   Winners of the 2015 World Car of the Year, World Luxury Car, World Performance Car, World Green Car and World Car Design of the Year will all be declared at this time.

A jury of 75 distinguished international automotive journalists selected the following “Top Three in the World” finalists by secret ballot based on their experience with each candidate as part of their professional work. The international accounting firm KPMG tabulated the jurors’ ballots.      

The Top Three in the World finalists in the 5 award categories are as follows:

2015 World Car of the Year:

Ford Mustang

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Volkswagen Passat 

2015 World Luxury Car:

BMW i8

Mercedes-Benz S Coupe

Range Rover Autobiography Black LWB

2015 World Performance Car:

BMW M4 Coupe/M3 Sedan

Jaguar F-TYPE R Coupe

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT

2015 World Green Car:

BMW i8

Mercedes-Benz S 500 Plug-In Hybrid

Volkswagen Golf GTE

2015 World Car Design of the Year:

Citroën C4 Cactus

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Volvo XC90

The Road to the World Car began in Paris on October 2, followed by a stop in Los Angeles for a test-drive of the North American contenders in November, and continues with the finalists’ announcement today at the Geneva International Auto Show.   The journey ends at the New York International Auto Show on Thursday, April 2^nd, 2015 when all winners are declared.

The Global Trends Report, co-presented by Prime Research and Autoneum, will be revealed just before the winners’ press conference on the same day in New York. Autoneum CEO Martin Hirzel said, “Smart efficiency is the most important trend in the automobile industry. With Autoneum’s lightweight and multifunctional products for acoustic and heat management in vehicles, our smart innovations are making an important contribution to the future of the automobile.”

The World Car Awards nominations have been announced.

The journey on The Road to the World Car continues with today’s announcement of the finalists in all five award categories.

This release kicks off the countdown for the 2015 World Car Awards (the WCAs) prize-giving ceremony to be hosted by the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), Bridgestone Corporation and Autoneum on Thursday, April 2, 2015. Winners of the 2015 World Car of the Year, World Luxury Car, World Performance Car, World Green Car and World Car Design of the Year will all be declared at this time.

A jury of 75 distinguished international automotive journalists selected the following finalists in the World Car of the Year, World Luxury Car and World Performance Car categories by secret ballot, based on their experience with each candidate as part of their professional work. For more details about our jurors, and their outlets please visit our web site: www.wcoty.com and click < Jurors.

The international accounting firm KPMG tabulated the jurors’ ballots and announced the finalists on the evening of February 9.   

The 2015 World Car of the Year (WCOTY) will be selected from the following ten finalists listed in alphabetical order:

• BMW 2 Series Active Tourer                  
• Citroën C4 Cactus
• Ford Mustang
• Hyundai Genesis
• Jeep Renegade
• Mazda2
• Mercedes-Benz C-Class
• MINI 5 door / MINI 4 door
• Nissan Qashqai
• Volkswagen Passat

The 2015 World Luxury Car will be chosen from one of these top ten finalists:

• BMW i8
• BMW X6
• Cadillac ATS Coupe
• Cadillac Escalade / ESV
• Kia K900
• Lexus NX
• Lexus RC
• Lincoln MKC
• Mercedes-Benz S Coupe
• Range Rover Autobiography Black LWB

The 2015 World Performance Car top ten finalists are:

• Audi S1
• Audi S3
• Audi TT / TTS
• Bentley Continental GT Speed
• BMW M4 Coupe / M3 Sedan
• Corvette Z06
• Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
• Jaguar F-TYPE R Coupe
• Lexus RC-F
• Mercedes-Benz AMG GT

The 2015 World Green Car category is handled differently. Five experts in “green” technology were appointed by the World Car Awards Steering Committee to extensively review all documentation and specs associated with each candidate on the list of nominees.  The experts then create a short-list of finalists for review by the 75 jurors in their second round of voting this month. 

The finalists for 2015 are:

• BMW i8
• Hyundai x35 / Tucson Fuel Cell
• Kia Soul EV
• Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine
• Volkswagen Golf GTE

The five experts on the advisory panel are in alphabetical order: Phil Berg (USA - PopularMechanics.com); Richard Bremner (UK - Autocar magazine), Claus-Peter Koeth (Germany - automobil-industrie.de); Yumi Kawabata (Japan - environmental journalist) and John Voelcker (USA - GreenCarReports.com).

Cars eligible for the 2015 World Car Design of the Year award are taken from the list of World Car candidates or may be included as a stand-alone entry provided the vehicle is available in quantities of at least 10 in one major market during the period beginning January 1, 2014 and ending May 31, 2015.  Candidates may be pre-production or all-new production.

Again, a design panel consisting of five highly respected world design experts was asked to first review each candidate, then establish a short-list of recommendations for the jurors. The design experts are: Masatsugu Arimoto (Japan – Freelance design journalist); Silvia Baruffaldi (Italy – Auto & Design magazine); Gernot Bracht (Germany – Pforzheim Design School); Sam Livingstone (UK - Car Design Research and Royal College of Art) and Tom Matano (USA - School of Industrial Design at Academy of Art University in San Francisco).

The five finalists chosen for the jurors are:

• BMW 2 Series Active Tourer
• Citroën C4 Cactus
• Mercedes-Benz C-Class
• Porsche Macan
• Volvo XC90

The Road to the World Car began in Paris on October 2, followed by a stop in Los Angeles for a test-drive of the North American contenders in November, and continues with the finalists’ announcement. The next stop is at the Geneva International Auto Show on Tuesday, March 3 when the top three finalists in all categories will be announced.   The journey ends at the New York International Auto Show on Thursday, April 2^nd, 2015 when all winners are declared.