Each year, a jury of automotive journalists goes over every new vehicle introduced over the last 12 months or so and comes up with a prestigious list for the World Car of the Year awards. The top 10 finalists were announced in February, which was then whittled down to three earlier this month, but now the winners of the five individual awards that make up WCOTY have been announced at the New York Auto Show.

To be eligible for the awards, a vehicle must be new and go on sale on at least two continents during the time period between January 1, 2013 and May 30, 2014. This year, the 69-member jury named the Audi A3 as the 2014 World Car of the Year, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class as the 2014 World Luxury Car and the Porsche 911 GT3 as the World Performance Car. The BMW i3 received the awards for the 2014 World Green Car and the 2014 World Car Design of the Year.

Check out the each category below including top three finalists and past winners.

2014 World Car of the Year: Audi A3
Finalists:
BMW 4-Series
Mazda 3

The World Car Awards jurors observed that, “It might borrow styling hints from its bigger brothers, but the A3 still offers classic, chiseled contours and even better interior trim levels. With a superb choice of engines and 4 body styles, the A3 range packs a hefty premium punch in the small luxury segment. Audi should be complimented for making this A3 ride like no other A3. All the old shimmer over rough surfaces has gone, replaced by a silky smooth ride that approaches limousine quality”.

Previous winners: Volkswagen Golf (2013), Volkswagen Up (2012), Nissan Leaf (2011)

2014 World Performance Car of the Year: Porsche 911 GT3


Finalists:
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
Ferrari 458 Speciale

The World Car jurors observed that, “Essentially race-engineered cars are Porsche’s original bread and butter. The latest 911 GT3 is 100 percent at home on any track, with surprising buckets of fine balance and handling prowess even with the engine theoretically in the “wrong” place. Heavy aero work, the stripping down of the car’s weight, and 469 horsepower from the 3.8-liter flat-six engine, all help with lap times and launch time.”

Previous winners: Porsche Boxster/Cayman (2013), Porsche 911 (2012), Ferrari 458 Italia (2011)

2014 World Luxury Car of the Year: Mercedes-Benz S-Class


Finalists:
Bentley Flying Spur
Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The World Car jurors observed that, “Mercedes dominates the big luxury sedan market worldwide and the challenge of the sixth-generation S-Class was to be even better than the fifth-gen model. They did it by creating a car so far advanced in this segment that competitors pretty much have ceased trying to go head-to-head with the S. The exterior is completely new and the interior is spectacular on a whole new level”.

No previous winners since the category is new for the 2014 awards.

2014 World Green Car of the Year: BMW i3


Finalists:
Audi A3 Sportback e-tron (+ Audi e-gas)
Volkswagen XL1

The experts commented that, “Radical in looks, construction, and powertrain, the BMW i3 is one of very few clean-sheet-of-paper cars designed from the ground up for efficiency, with the different needs of the new century's megacities in mind. From its last-kilometer navigation system to take drivers from car to destination, to the shipped-around-the-world carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic body shell without a B-pillar, the BMW i3 pushes boundaries on many fronts”.

Previous winners: Tesla Model S (2013), Mercedes-Benz S250 CDI BlueEfficiency (2012), Volkswagen BlueMotion range (2011)

2014 World Car Design of the Year: BMW i3


Finalists:
Mazda3
Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The experts commented that: "Unlike other BMW cars, the i3 has a boxy shape, which suggests roominess and efficiency. But it still retains BMW’s typical dynamism thanks to the larger diameter wheels and the very short overhangs both on front and rear. Besides that, the i3 expresses the sub-brand’s own character with using unique design features, including the black bonnet and the side window graphics that goes through the rear pillar. The interior is more surprising and attractive. It marks radical leap of car interior design, and it spreads as calm yet rich feeling as a modern living room.”

Previous winners: Jaguar F-Type (2013), Land Rover Range Rover Evoque (2012), Aston Martin Rapide (2011)

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