Rather than being just a popularity contest, the objective was to ensure that the WCOTY would be the product of a fair and thorough assessment process that considered the needs and wants of consumers the world over. The process began with individual jurors evaluating and rating the candidates using a variety of standardized parameters – everything from styling and quality, to performance and safety. To be eligible for the award, the vehicles had to be in production, and sold, on at least two continents during 2008.
Previous WCOTY winners were the Lexus LS460 in 2007, the BMW 3-Series in 2006 and the Audi A6 in 2005.
Meanwhile, the winner of the World Design of the Year was the Audi R8, which eclipsed the Mazda2 and Volvo C30 in the top three. The R8 was also picked as the World Performance Car of the Year, ahead of the Audi S5 and BMW M3. The award for World Green Car of the Year, meanwhile, went to the BMW 118d with Efficient Dynamics, which beat the SmartForTwo cdi and Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI BlueMotion in the top three.
Reader Comments
Thu Mar 20 2008 12:57 PM
rnsaza says
This is a gr8 lil car just so long as you don't want to take much luggage with you where ever you go!
Thu Mar 20 2008 1:16 PM
chris says
i swear to god ford, i want the fiesta 3 door. if i have to get the mazda2 to get it, im going to be VERY EFFIN PISSED.
Thu Mar 20 2008 1:17 PM
chris says
oh yeah... its a cool car i guess. still think the fiesta has a nicer design though. much more stunning. if the two had come out at the same time, ford woulda won for sure. but when it does come out, i doubt they'll award basically the same car twice.
Thu Mar 20 2008 6:12 PM
germandude says
I love the fact that it's lighter than the previous model. That's the way to go!
Fri Mar 21 2008 9:25 AM
Sir Yappie says
i was close...this is what i put down for my nomminations when they came out. The link for them is above just below the article....
IMHO the winners in each category are:
The Mazda 2 (for CAR DESIGN - for re-defining what a small car should and can look like)
The Ford Mondeo (for WORLD CAR - for the style of the design and the brilliant driveability and putting paid to the need for a full sized family car when a medium to large car is big enough))
Audi R8 (for PERFORMANCE CAR - because it is a good car, but the love fest will need to be satiated, although the Porsche 911 GT2 should have been in here and would have been a worthy winner))
BMW 118d (for GREEN CAR - not because of the design of the car, but because BMW as a whole should be rewarded for their continued efforts in making diesel’s green in all aspects)
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