INTRODUCTION - World Car of the Year · THE VOTE 2008 World Car of the Year Awards 5 From the outset, our objective was to ensure that the World Car of the Year would be the product

2 2008 World Car of the Year Awards www.wcoty.com

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WORLD CAROF THE YEAR AWARDSPrix mondial de la Voiture de l’année

“World Car of the Year Awards Reflect Global Reality of

Today’s Automotive Industry”

American Pontiac G8s built in Australia, Mercedes-Benz MLs made in the U.S., Honda Civics produced in Britain,

MGs created in China. Globalization is the reality of today’s automotive world. In fact, some carmakers now build

more vehicles off-shore than they do at home in the struggle to remain competitive. But whether a car is called Jazz in

Europe, or Fit in Japan, it is still the same car, and as such, appeals to a worldwide audience for the same reasons.

The World Car of the Year (WCOTY) awards were inaugurated to reflect that trend, to recognize and reward

automotive excellence on a global scale, and to create consumer awareness of that recognition. This award is intended

to complement, not compete with existing national and regional Car of the Year programs.

The World Car of the Year program is initiated by, organized by, and judged by automotive journalists located on

all six continents. It is administered by a non-profit organisation, under the guidance of a Steering Committee of

automotive journalists from Asia, Europe, and North America. It is in no way influenced by any publication, auto

show, automaker, or other commercial enterprise. From the outset, our one over-riding priority has been to ensure that

the award process is carried out with the utmost objectivity, credibility, and integrity.

The award winners are determined by an international jury panel of forty-seven leading automotive journalists

from twenty-four countries, all of whom participate on their own time and without remuneration from the WCOTY

program. Each juror typically test drives over one hundred new vehicles every year, and collectively, their drive stories

and evaluations reach many millions of potential vehicle buyers.

Audi’s A6 captured our inaugural 2005 World Car of the Year award while the BMW 3-Series claimed the 2006

honours. Then, in 2007, the jury panel chose the Lexus LS460 as that year’s best car.

For 2008, thirty-nine vehicles were eligible for the overall World Car of the Year award. To be eligible, vehicles must

have been in production and available for purchase in at least five countries on at least two continents, prior to January

1, 2008. For that reason, the program includes some vehicles that may be unavailable in individual regions, and

excludes others whose availability may be limited to those regions.

The jurors individually reviewed, evaluated, and voted on those entrants by secret ballot in two separate rounds

of voting. Details of the voting process, as well as eligibility requirements and voting procedures for the World

Performance Car, World Green Car, and World Car Design of the Year awards are addressed in detail on the following pages.

All ballots were tabulated by the international accounting firm KPMG, and the results remained confidential, even

from jurors, until the actual awards ceremony in New York City.

As co-chairs of the World Car of the Year program, we extend our thanks to our fellow Steering Committee directors

and jurors for their dedication to this challenging endeavour, to our Executive Manager, Beth Rhind, for her diligence

in administering the program, to the New York International Auto Show for hosting the awards presentation, to the

Midway Group for their continued support of the press conference, and to Mobil 1 for its sponsorship of the World

Performance Car of the Year award.

Congratulations to the winners, and to all the fine cars, trucks and environmentally-conscious vehicles that made

our diverse list of finalists.

Peter Lyon Gerry Malloy

Co-chair Co-chair

Japan Canada

INTRODUCTION

2008 World Car of the Year Awards www.wcoty.com 3

Eligibility


Eligibility Requirements2008 World Car of the YearVehicles are selected and voted on by an international jury panel comprised of forty-seven (47) top-level automotive journalists from twenty-four (24) countries around the world. Each juror was appointed by the World Car Steering Committee on the basis of his or her expertise, experience, credibility, and influence. Each juror typically drives and evaluates new vehicles on a regular basis as part of their professional work. Because cars are introduced in different countries at different times, a new car must be available in a minimum number of markets before becoming eligible for World Car of the Year consideration. Specifically, for the 2008 award, the car had to be on sale on at least two continents before January 1, 2008. In addition, each candidate needs to prove to the panel of international jurors that it is the best overall choice, based on multiple criteria. They include the usual parameters of styling, performance, handling, comfort, and utility, but also safety, environmental responsibility, significance, and the intangible but highly important “wow” factor known as emotional appeal.

2008 World Performance CarWhile the winner of the overall World Car of the Year Award must excel in a broad range of attributes, the World Performance Car award must demonstrate a specific and overt sports/performance orientation while satisfying the same availability cri-teria as for the overall World Car of the Year award. Entrants may be chosen from that list of eligible vehicles, or they may be newly introduced variants that satisfy the same criteria, but are derived from existing rather than brand-new models. In all cases, they must have a minimum annual production rate of five-hundred (500) vehicles.

2008 World Green CarCandidates for the 2008 World Green Car award had to available in at least one major market during 2007. The vehicle or the green technology could be in production or an experimental prototype with potential near-future application, provided that it was released for individual or press fleet evaluations in quantities of ten or more during 2007. 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.

2008 World Car Design of the YearContenders for this award are taken from the list of World Car candidates. A design panel consisting of four highly respected world design experts was asked to first review each candidate, and then establish a short-list of recommenda-tions for the jurors. The design experts were:

Silvia Baruffaldi: Managing Editor, Auto & Design magazine•Robert Cumberford: design critic, Automobile and Auto & Design magazines•Akira Fujimoto: Editor-in-Chief, Car Styling magazine.•Tom Matano: Executive Director, School of Industrial Design, Academy of Art •

University, San Francisco, USA

Jurors then voted on the experts’ recommendations.

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4The Vote. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5The Jurors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 - 7Finalists - World Car. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8The Top Three - World Car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9New York International Auto Show-2007 Pictorial. . . . . . . . . 12

Awards Venue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Finalists - Performance Car. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14The Top Three - Performance Car. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Finalists - Green Car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16The Top Three - Green Car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Finalists - World Car Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18The Top Three - World Car Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Table of Contents

WORLD CAROF THE YEAR AWARDSPrix mondial de la Voiture de l’année

About WCOTY The World Car of the Year Association is a non-profit associa-tion whose sole objective is to organize, conduct, administer, and promote the World Car of the Year Awards program.

It is administered by a Steering Committee of five automotive journalists, comprising:Peter Lyon – Co-chair – JapanGerry Malloy – Co-chair – CanadaDan Carney – Director – United StatesJohn McCormick – Director – United StatesMatt Davis – Director – Italy

The work of the Steering Committee and voting jurors is voluntary.

Publisher: Niel Hiscox, CLB Media Inc.

Executive Editor / Executive Manager: Beth Rhind

Editor: Gerry Malloy

Website Manager: Ryan Blair, IntraNet Consulting142 BlackDuck Terr., Hammonds PlainsNova Scotia, Canada, B4B 1Z6 Telephone: +1 + 902.830.6398 Email: [email protected]

Website: www.wcoty.com

Creative Director: Einar Rice

Production Manager: Lisa Drummond

Acknowledgements: New York International Auto ShowKPMG LLP The Midway Group

CLB Media Inc., is one of Canada's leading providers of information and marketing services to business professionals in a number of industry sectors. Our media properties include more than 20 business-to-business publications, web sites and a range of services including custom publishing, business lists, research, web development and industry events.

CLB Media is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canada Law Book Inc. - a leading provider of information-driven services and solutions serving Canadian professionals since 1855.

Beth Rhind is the Association’s Executive Manager

Contact Information: World Car of the Year Awards AssociationP.O BOX 851, M.P.O.Cobourg, Ontario, K9A 4L1, Canada

Telephone: +1+ 705.924.3444Email: [email protected]

THE VOTE


From the outset, our objective was to ensure that the World Car of the Year would be the product of a fair and thorough assessment process that considered the needs and wants of consumers the world over – not just the winner of a subjective popularity contest.

The process began with individual voters evaluating and rating the candidates, as they drove them during the year. To help standardize that rating process, they were provided with WCOTY Rating Forms, delineating 20 separate parameters to be considered – everything from styling and quality to performance and safety.

Each parameter was rated from 1-10, in 1/2-point increments, using a standardized Subjective Rating Scale, to promote consistency. Adoption of this scale was not intended to remove individual subjectivity from the ratings. To the contrary, different journalists may have different opinions, for example, of what constitutes “good” performance for a particular parameter.

Based on those personal assessments, each juror was asked to submit a short-list of the ten eligible vehicles he or she rated most highly. Those individual short-lists were then compiled to establish the Top-Ten list of finalists from which the overall winners would ultimately be selected.

It was then back to work again, as the jurors were asked to give the top-ten a final assessment and to vote on each for one last time, rating them from six different perspectives, using the same rating scale. Each of those ratings would count for a portion of the final score, as follows:

Merit – a measure of how good the car is in all its consumer-relevant characteristics, such as performance, ride, handling, comfort, styling, quality, NVH, etc – most of the factors on the initial rating sheets. Price should not be a factor here, just absolute merit. (40% of the total score.)

Value – a measure of the car’s value, both short and long term; in essence, how much do you get for what you pay? (20% of the total score.)

Safety – a measure of the car’s safety features and performance, including active and passive safety features and crash test results, and innovative technologies applied to address those issues. (10% of the total score.)

Environment – a measure of the car’s environmental responsibility; consider fuel economy/CO2 output, emissions, recyclability, and innovative technologies applied to address those issues. (10% of the total score.)

Significance – a measure of the car’s significance, or importance, to the market, the industry, or its manufacturer. (10% of the total score.)

Emotional Appeal – the Wow Factor! Apart from all its practical considerations, how does the car make you feel? (10% of the total score.)

2008 World Car Ballot Merit Value Safety Environment Significance Emotion

SUBJECTIVE RATING SCALE

RATING PERFORMANCE DISTURBANCE

10 PERFECT NONE

9 EXCELLENT

8 VERY GOOD TRACE

7 GOOD

6 FAIR LIGHT

5 FAIR TO POOR

4 POOR MODERATE

3 VERY POOR

2 BAD SEVERE

1 TERRIBLE

0 NOT APPLICABLE NOT APPLICABLE

Audi A5 Coupé / Audi S5 CoupéAudi R8 Cadillac CTSFord MondeoFord S-MaxMazda2 / Mazda DemioMercedes-Benz C-ClassNissan Qashqai/Dualis Nissan Skyline Coupe/Infiniti G37 Coupe Volvo C30

THE Jurors


ARGENTINACARLOS ALBERTO ANGIÓ Director: Mega Autos Magazine, MegaNews

FERNANDO MIRANDA Editor-in-chief: Autoplus, Transporte Mundial, La Moto, and Maxituning magazines

AUSTRALIA

BILL MCKINNON Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Car Buyer, 4WD Buyer

SAMANTHA STEVENS Contributor: Sunday Telegraph,Wheels magazine

AUSTRIA

DR. HORST BAUER Motoring Editor, Kurier

BELGIUM

XAVIER DAFFE Editor-in-Chief, Le Moniteur Automobile

BRAZILJASON VOGEL Editor, O Globo Newspaper

CHINAXIA DONG Chief Editor of Auto, Motor and Sport

SEAN X.H.QIU Editor-in-chief of "Autoworld"

ENGLANDNAT BARNES Motoring Editor, Daily and Sunday Express

PETER BURGESS Editor-in-chief: World Car Guide; Editor: Auto Express Car; Contributor: MSN

MIKE RUTHERFORD Columnist - The Daily Telegraph and Auto Express

FRANCE

LUC BAZIZIN Reporter - France 2 TV

GERMANYTHOMAS GEIGER Contributor, Welt am Sonntag, Frankfurter Allgmeine Zeitung, Deutsche Presse Agentur, Der Spiegel (on-line)

GREG KABLE AutoCar UK, AutoWeek USA, Motor - Australia, Sydney Morning Herald Australia, Melbourne Age Australia, Car Top Japan, Motoring Singapore, Car Taiwan

JUERGEN ZOELLTER Contributor: Autobild, Autozeitung, Focus, Welt am Sonntag plus 30 international outlets

GREECEMICHAEL STAVROPOULOS Chief Editor: 4Wheels (4TROXOI) magazine

2008

Stee

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FERNANDO MIRANDAEditor-in-chief: Autoplus, Transporte Mundial, La Moto, and Maxituning magazines

SAMANTHA STEVENSContributor: Sunday Telegraph,Wheels magazine

BRAZILJASON VOGELEditor, O Globo Newspaper

GERMANYTHOMAS GEIGERContributor, Welt am Sonntag, Frankfurter Allgmeine Zeitung, Deutsche Presse Agentur, Der Spiegel (on-line)Spiegel (on-line)

GERRY MALLOY Co-Chair

Contributor: Toronto Star MSN Autos (Canada), EDITOR: Canadian Auto Dealer

CANADA

PETER LYON Co-Chair

Japan-based contributor to Edmunds Insideline, Auto Bild, Auto Express, Herald Sun, Quattroruote, Motor magazine, Evo, Holiday Auto, Best Car, Automotive Testing

JAPAN

MATT DAVIS Director

Winding Road, European Car (U.S.); Auto Express, UK International Press (U.K.); Genroq (Japan); Expressen (Sweden); Gente Motori (Italy); et al.

ITALY

DAN CARNEYDirector

MSNBC.com, The Wall Street Journal.com, Edmunds Inside Line, Automotive Engineering International, Sports Car International, Truck Trend,

UNITED STATES

JOHN MCCORMICKDirector

Contributor: Detroit News, Consumers Digest, Bloomberg Markets magazine, Top Gear, Die Welt, Automobil Produktion

UNITED STATES

BELGIUM

XAVIER DAFFEEditor-in-Chief, Le Moniteur Automobile

ENGLANDNAT BARNESMotoring Editor, Daily and Sunday Express

PETER BURGESSEditor-in-chief: World Car Guide; Editor: Auto Express Car; Contributor: MSN

PETER BURGESS

and Auto Express

THE Jurors


INDIAHORMAZD SORABJEE Editor: Autocar India magazine

IRELANDPADRAIC DEANE Publisher/ Managing Editor, Automotive Publications

ITALYMARCO MARELLI Gente Motori and Auto & Fuoristrada

JAPANMASATSUGU ARIMOTO Contrbutor: Axis, Rosso, J's Tipo, Car & Driver Japan, Car Styling

YASUHIKO KAWAMURA Contributor: Car and Driver (Japan), Autobytel-japan.com, Motor Magazine, Motor Fan, Rosso, Web Car Graphic

HIDESHIMATSUDAContributor: Best Car, Holiday Auto, Motor Magazine, Navi, J's Tipo, Car Sensor, Xacar, Genroq, Response

PETER NUNN Contributor: Automobile Magazine, Car Graphic, Wheels, Auto Motor Und Sport, Globalautonet.com, Automobile Year, Auto, News from JAMA, La Repubblica plus contributions to CAR, Evo and Top Gear.

KOJI OZAWA Contributor: Best Car, Engine, Lapita, webCarGraphic, Smart, Begin, Takarajima, Form, nik-keibp.jp

KENICHI SAKURAI Rosso Magazine

KOREAJOOSIK CHOI Editor in Chief: Carlife

MEXICOJAVIER BARRANCO Editor: Automovil Panamericano magazine and Automovil TV

ALEJANDRO GUILBERT PASTRANA Founder and Editor-in-Chief, 4Ruedas Magazine

NEW ZEALANDBRIAN COWAN Editor-at-large: Autocar

POLANDMACIEJ PERTYNSKI Contributor: Auto-Moto, Motor

ROBERT PRZYBYLSKI Contributor: Rzeczpospolita

RUSSIALEONID GOLOVANOV Deputy Editor: Autoreview

SOUTH AFRICAHANNES OOSTHUIZEN Deputy Editor, CAR

SWEDENROBERT COLLIN Staff writer: Aftonblade

UNITED STATESMIKE ALLEN Associate automotive editor: Popular Mechanics magazine

EZRA DYER Contributor: Automobile, Esquire, New York Times

JAMIE KITMAN Top Gear (UK) - US Editor; Automobile Magazine - New York Bureau Chief

JORGE KOECHLIN Contributor: AutoMundo

JOHN RETTIE Contributor: New Car Test Drive (US), Motor Trend (US), European Car (US), The Car Connection (US), Auto Express (UK).

JIM SCOUTTEN Contributor: Car and Driver Radio

PERRY STERN Editor, MSN Autos

ITALYMARCO MARELLIGente Motori and Auto & Fuoristrada

finalists - World Car


Audi A5 Coupé / Audi S5 CoupéAudi A5 Coupé / Audi S5 Coupé Mazda2 / Mazda DemioMazda2 / Mazda Demio

Audi R8Audi R8 Mercedes-Benz C-ClassMercedes-Benz C-Class

Cadillac CTSCadillac CTS Nissan Qashqai/DualisNissan Qashqai/Dualis

Ford MondeoFord Mondeo Nissan Skyline Coupe/Infiniti G37 CoupeNissan Skyline Coupe/Infiniti G37 Coupe

Ford S-MaxFord S-Max Volvo C30Volvo C30

top three - World Car


Mercedes-Benz C-ClassFor some reason, some car people have commented that Mercedes’ strategy with the new C-class of offering two separate faces – Luxury or Sport – is a bit off. We vigorously disagree with this since the two looks offer buyers a new sort of choice that has really helped sales take off from the start. More important, however, is the overall wise investment Mercedes made to create what looks and feels like a totally new car. Driving the fourth-generation C-class is a more pre-cise and upmarket experience now due to the re-engineered front axle and standard Agility Control suspension. Rather than a traditional “baby Benz” of yore, this “W204” C-class drives and looks like a mature car for mature people. While the S-class profile of the sedan body is good work, the star for many judges has been the station wagon. Soon these two will be joined by the CLC two-door coupe as well.

Mazda2 / Mazda DemioThis fresh Mazda sub-compact makes the first-generation one-box-ish Mazda2/Demio fade into the mists of time. The new version is completely new particularly on the outside. This is Mazda’s true people’s car now that it has the more useful two-box design of a four-door hatchback. The two-door sportier look was recently unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show and reviews around the world have been primarily one big thumbs up. From the start, the Mazda2/Demio has been meant for economical driving, hence the mechanical strategy onboard is literally geared to just this. At the same time, many wealthier customers are drawn to the new Mazda compact because of the very appealing looks and high levels of standard equipment for the price.

Ford MondeoAfter 2007’s semi-new Focus and the eagerly expected new Fiesta world car (called Verve as a concept), the primarily Euro family-hauling Mondeo is a big player for Ford on the global stage. This was first shown as the Iosis concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2005 and it has been the first start-to-finish project for Ford Europe’s design boss Martin Smith. The all-new Ford global look is called “Kinetic Design” and it brings a lot of premium feel to this quasi-premium car. In fact, due to the early start on hype over this new Mondeo, it hasn’t exactly caused a big uproar of enthusiasm. Be that as it may, the third-generation Mondeo – as sedan, station wagon, or hatchback – is sure to be deemed a sleeper hit over the next few years, offering a truly quality drive and packaging that has been luring buyers away from far costlier cars such as the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-class, and Lexus IS.

OFFICIAL SPONSOR:

2008 WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS

WINNERS’ PRESS CONFERENCENEW YORK, NY

THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2008

Midway_WorldCar_2007 1 3/15/07 9:54:49 AM

OFFICIAL SPONSOR:

2008 WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS

WINNERS’ PRESS CONFERENCENEW YORK, NY

THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2008

Midway_WorldCar_2007 1 3/15/07 9:54:49 AM

New York INterNatIoNal auto Show

– 2007


AwArds venue

Announcing the annual World Car of the Year awards at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) is a fitting finale to the auto show season that begins each fall with either the Paris or Frankfurt motor shows. Next, it’s on to Tokyo in alternating years. The Detroit show takes centre stage in January while Geneva claims the spotlight in March. Finally, in early spring, the season reaches its exciting climax at New York.

When selecting a suitable venue for the World Car of the Year (WCOTY) awards presentation, the Steering Committee members were unanimous in their choice of the New York International Auto Show as the most appropriate site. Firstly, the NYIAS’ status as a major international auto show continues to grow year by year. An increasing num-ber of manufacturers, both domestic and foreign, target New York as a venue to reveal new product and concepts. This makes the high level of media exposure an alluring prospect for our WCOTY awards.

With several, significant new vehicle launches, the New York International Auto Show also gives jurors an early

chance to review models that will potentially become next year’s WCOTY champ.

Commonly known as the most culturally active melting pot of nationalities in the world, New York City (NYC) gener-ates a no-nonsense, can-do atmosphere of international co-operation and five-star organizational capabilities that enable it to expertly host countless world-class events and shows. This very feature fits right in with the WCOTY philosophy.

We see New York as holding a dual role: in addition to it being the global barometer of design, fashion, music

and entertainment trends, it is also the global launch-pad

for such trends. The bottom line? The world sits up and pays attention to what hap-pens in NYC.

As WCOTY is a relatively new awards program on the international

scene – launched in 2004 and first presented in 2005 – we are convinced that New York is not only

the right place to disperse word of our award presentations to the world, but in an indirect way, to add status and prestige to the program as well. Put simply, the world is addicted to what happens in New York and that makes it the prime loca-tion for the WCOTY awards.


NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW

2008

Finalists - perFormance car


AMG Mercedes-Benz S 63AMG Mercedes-Benz S 63 Honda Civic R (Japanese & European spec)Honda Civic R (Japanese & European spec)

Aston Martin V8 Vantage RoadsterAston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster Maserati GranTurismoMaserati GranTurismo

Audi R8Audi R8 Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black SeriesMercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series

Audi S5 CoupéAudi S5 Coupé Renault Clio F1 Team R27Renault Clio F1 Team R27

BMW M3BMW M3

Top Three - performance car


BMW M3While the BMW and its iconic M3 sport sedan have built their reputations on the strength of the company’s signature inline six-cylinder engines, the Munich mechanics decided that the new M3 would need V8 power to remain competitive in the industry’s spiraling horsepower war. A bulging power dome on the M3’s hood provides clearance for the big new engine, trumpeting its presence to onlookers. With its 8,400 rpm redline, the 420-horsepower V8 pro-duces the racing-inspired sound and performance needed to win over the six-cylinder traditionalists while perhaps attract-ing new V8 fans to the BMW marque. Stirring the traditional six-speed manual transmission should keep enthusiast drivers of all backgrounds engaged and happy. As expected from an M3, the newest version is responsive, with accurate steering and effective brakes that make the car feel at home both on the road and track. The muscular new M car accelerates to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 4.8 seconds en route to an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). This most-powerful M3 yet seems certain to attract more buyers than ever.

Audi S5While the R8 is a surprisingly good value for its class, its six-figure price and limited production mean that it will only reach the fortunate few. Audi’s solution is to offer the S5, a more practical and affordable sport coupe which combines racy styling with the practicality of a useable back seat. For the S5, Audi made significant changes under the skin to its familiar front-drive-based quattro architecture. The 4.2-liter V8, which has been detuned from R8 specs to 354 horsepower, was moved rearward instead of cantilevered out ahead of the front axle, giving the car balance similar to that of a rear-drive car. Despite its seeming horsepower handicap, the S5 accelerates to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.9 seconds and reaches an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). The all-wheel-drive system has also been tuned to more closely resemble the performance of a rear-drive car, granting enthusiastic drivers the response and feel they crave from a rear-driver while providing the security of all-wheel-drive grip. It is not an R8, but no driver should feel shortchanged in an S5, especially if they are enjoying it with three friends, two of whom wouldn’t fit in an R8.

Audi R8“A warmed-over Lamborghini Gallardo,” groused skeptics, when Audi proposed building its own mid-engine supercar. As if that were a bad thing. But the hardworking team in Ingolstadt did more than rebadge the Lambo; they advanced its capabilities and produced a car with surprising agility and poise reminiscent of the Acura/Honda NSX. Like that car, the R8 has solid credentials on paper thanks to its mid-mounted 420-horse-power, 4.2-liter V8 engine and aluminum construction. But where it excels is in the exceptional balance, refinement and control that grant the driver the confidence to push to the limit without fear of unintended consequences. That limit is high, with 0-100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration of 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 187 mph. The R8’s raptor-like visage and dramatic visible carbon fiber side panels make a traffic-stopping visual statement, one that it backs up on the test track with astonishing precision for a car of its size category. That Audi is able to offer such capa-bility for a price that undercuts the Porsche 911 is incredible.

finalists - Green Car


BMW 118d with Efficient DynamicsBMW 118d with Efficient Dynamics Nissan Altima HybridNissan Altima Hybrid

Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell Electric VehicleChevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Saturn Aura Green LineSaturn Aura Green Line

Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon HybridsChevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon Hybrids Saturn Vue Green LineSaturn Vue Green Line

Chevrolet Malibu HybridChevrolet Malibu Hybrid SmartForTwo cdiSmartForTwo cdi

Lexus LS 600h L Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI BlueMotionLexus LS 600h L Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI BlueMotion

Top Three - Green Car


Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI BlueMotionThe Passat BlueMotion represents the first application of Volkswagen’s BlueMotion diesel technology to a mid-size car. Powered by a 1.9-litre TDI diesel engine rated at 105 hp, it achieves a combined fuel consumption rating of just 5.1L/100 km – an improvement of 0.6 L/100 km from its conventional counterpart – giving it a range of 1350 km on a tank of fuel. Correspondingly, CO2 emissions are reduced by 15 g/km to just 136 g/km and 137 g/km. Equipped with a diesel particulate filter, the Passat BlueMotion satisfies Euro 4 emissions standards. Those low fuel consumption and emission values were achieved by a combination of drivetrain, chassis and body optimization, which included aerodynamic fine tuning that involved lowering the body and adding underskirting. The resultant coefficient of drag is reduced by 12.2 percent. As a side benefit of the car’s aero improvements and longer gear-ing, its top speed has increased by five km/h.

Smart For Two cdiPowered by what is said to be the world's smallest direct-injection diesel engine, the Smart For Two cdi claims the distinction of being its most economical combustion-driven production car. The 45-hp two-seater consumes just 3.3 L/100 km and can travel approximately 1000 km without refuelling. Emitting just 88 g/km of CO2, it is the champion for low CO2 emissions in a production car. Engine improvements, including a boost in fuel-injection pressure from 1350 to 1600 bar, make the 800-cc, three-cylinder, common-rail diesel even more efficient than its predecessor. Power and torque are both up 10 percent, while fuel consumption is reduced by 13 percent. Depending on the driving situation and engine load, up to 60 percent of its exhaust gases are returned to the combustion chambers. And thanks to a compact but highly efficient turbocharger housed in the exhaust manifold, more than three-quarters of the engine’s maximum torque output is available from just 1500 rpm.

BMW 118d with Efficient DynamicsBMW’s EfficientDynamics technology, as applied to the 118d, comprises a range of features and improvements with the specific purpose of reducing fuel consumption and lower-ing emissions. Its 143-hp, 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine, with third-generation common-rail fuel injection, piezo-injectors, and up to 2,000 bar injection pressure is said to reduce fuel consumption by up to eight percent. Other contributions to fuel savings come from Brake Energy Regeneration (up to 3 %), Auto Start Stop Function, which shuts the car off at stops and automatically restarts it (up to 3 %), and Electric Steering (up to 3 %). In addition, air flaps at the front of the car are opened only when the engine actually requires cooling air, and ancillary units such as the coolant pump and a/c compressor are switched off when not really needed. The cumulative effect is a 21-percent reduction in fuel consumption, to 4.5 L/100 km (combined) and a CO2 output of just 119 g/L.

Finalists - World Car design


Design Experts

Silvia BaruffaldiAuto & Design magazine

Since 1988, Ms. Baruffaldi has been working for the bimonthly magazine Auto & Design, where she is currently Managing Editor. Thanks to Auto & Design, she has contacts with design centres of car makers and consultant studios from all over the world. Based in Turin (Italian car design’s capital), Auto & Design is published in a bilin-gual edition, English and Italian, and it is sold in over 50 different countries worldwide. Ms. Baruffaldi also contrib-utes design articles to Il Sole 24 Ore, an Italian financial daily newspaper, and to Autokampioen in The Netherlands.

Tom MatanoExecutive Director,School of Industrial Design, Academy of Art University, San Francisco

Matano has thirty years of experi-ence in the automotive design industry. He began his design career at General Motors Design in the USA, then GM's Holden in Australia, followed by BMW in Germany. In 1983, he became a Chief Designer at Mazda North America. He eventually moved up to Executive Designer in the Global Advance Studio and the General Manager of Mazda Design when he worked for Mazda in Japan from 1999 to 2002. His accom-plishments at Mazda include the MPV, MX 5, RX 7, Miata "M-Coupe" concept car, Miata "M-Speedster" concept car along with many other projects.

Robert Cumberford Automobile and Auto & Design magazines

Both a car designer and a writer specializing in design, the first car made to his sketches - a one-off special body for a Jaguar chassis - was built when he was 15 years old. At 19 he was a designer for General Motors, working chiefly on Chevrolet Corvettes. From 1958 onward he has worked for major car manufacturers in Europe and the US. He taught transportation design at the Art Center College of Design, is the editorialist for Auto & Design magazine and has written a popular column on car design for Automobile Magazine for 21 years.

Akira FujimotoCar Styling magazine

Since 1979, Akira Fujimoto has been the Editor-in-chief of the bi-monthly design magazine Car Styling. Mr. Fujimoto has a long and distin-guished career as a judge: Japan's Car Design Award; International Car Design Competition; Car of the Century; Concept Car of the Year by Automotive News International; and the World Automotive Design Competition spon-sored by Alias (now Autodesk) and hosted by the Canadian International Auto Show. Mr. Fujimoto also acted as a consultant in the 2004 set-up of the World Car of the Year Awards.

A panel of four design experts established a short-list from the initial list of thirty-nine World Car of the Year candidates. The jurors then voted on the short-list.

Audi R8Audi R8 Volvo C30Volvo C30

Mazda2 / Mazda DemioMazda2 / Mazda Demio Cadillac CTSCadillac CTS

Top Three - World Car design


Mazda2/Demio A combination of soft surfaces, sharp contours and an aggres-sive wedge profile gives the Mazda2 a distinctive new look in a very crowded sub-compact market. The achievement is especially noteworthy given the challenge of creating an interesting design within such tight overall dimensions. The Mazda2 (known in Japan as the Demio) was designed to appeal to a diverse audience. For instance, its mellow, friend-ly appearance is favored by female Japanese buyers, but the car’s edgy, sporty visual character – underscored by the RX8-like front wheel arches - also appeals to European consumers. Slightly shorter in length and lower than its predecessor, the visual dynamism of this junior Mazda is a welcome breath of fresh air in today’s field of automotive design. Cleverly, the 2 manages to make itself recognizable as a member of the Mazda family, a brand that is carving out a reputation for unique design among the Asian automakers.

Volvo C30 Not that long ago, it was widely assumed, only half in jest, that Volvo didn’t actually have a design department, so boxy and featureless were its cars. Then along came a dramatic shift in direction with curves and distinctive styling cues replacing the cereal box on wheels school of design. The C30 builds on this nouvelle Volvo theme, with a small car that looks unlike anything else in its class. Robert Cumberford describes the C30 “as a return to the kind of the car that made Volvo’s reputation outside Sweden back in the late ‘50s. It is one of the best looking Volvo production cars ever.” For Tom Matano the clever thing about the C30 is that it creates its own proportion – not an easy task in this category. The C30, says Matano truly captures the ‘urban chic’ look.”

Audi R8At a stroke, Audi has transformed the sports car landscape with the arrival last year of the R8. Its design is striking, original and full of interesting details, from the nose strakes to the much discussed vertical ‘blade’ behind the B pillar. One of our design experts, Tom Matano, puts it this way: “It is a great visual representation of the technology within.” One could add that the R8 looks just as good as it performs, which is saying something. In design consultant Robert Cumberford’s opinion, the Audi is a “real tour de force in style, performance and practicality.” Designers around the world dream of creating a sports car, but given all the government and safety constrictions imposed on today’s auto industry, the job is much harder than it may seem. Consequently Audi’s achievement in breaking the mold of exotic car design is all the more remarkable.

INTRODUCTION - World Car of the Year · THE VOTE 2008 World Car of the Year Awards 5 From the outset, our objective was to ensure that the World Car of the Year would be the product

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