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2016 World Car of the Year - Top Three Finalists In Five Categories Revealed in Geneva


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By Henny Hemmes
Senior European Editor
The Auto Channel


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GENEVA, Switzerland. March 2, 2016. During a press conference at the Geneva Auto Show on Tuesday, the top three finalists have been announced in five categories.

The winners of the 2016 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 the New York International Auto Show on Thursday, March 24.

The ballots of the jury of 73 international automotive journalists (including myself) are collected and tabulated by accounting firm KPMG. Until the announcement of the finalists and then until the award presentation in New York, we do not know the results. Just the Steering Committee of the WCA is informed shortly before the presentations.

This year, there are four brands with finalists in more than one category, Audi, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota. The Road to World Car journey continues for the following models:

2016 World Car of the Year:
- Audi A4
- Mazda MX-5 (See The Auto Channel 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Reviews)
- Mercedes-Benz GLC  

2016 World Luxury Car:
- Audi Q7
- BMW 7 Series (See The Auto Channel 2016 BMW 7 Series Reviews)
- Volvo XC90 ( First Drive Review By Henny Hemmes
- Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupé  

2016 World Green Car:
- Chevrolet Volt (See The Auto Channel 2016 Chevrolet Volt Reviews)
- Toyota Mirai (The Auto Channel Toyota Mirai Review)
- Toyota Prius (Hybrid)The Auto Channel Toyota Prius Reviews)  

2016 World Car Design of the Year:
- Jaguar XE (See The Auto Channel 2017 Jaguar XE Reviews)
- Mazda CX-(See The Auto Channel 2016 Mazda CX-3 Miata Reviews)
- Mazda MX-5(See The Auto Channel 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Reviews)


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2016 marks the 10th anniversary of the World Car Awards, and the partnership with the New York show, that hosts the Award winners’ press conference together with Bridgestone and Autoneum. It is the third consecutive year that the World Car Awards have been ranked as the as the number one automotive awards program in the world in terms of media reach.

During the presentation of the World Car Awards at the press conference and media breakfast, Prime Research and Autoneum will co-present the Global Trends Report, which is a culmination of research and insights across the past six months. During this period, the introduction of stricter test procedures for vehicles became a heavily discussed topic within the automotive industry.

Autoneum CEO Martin Hirzel: “The planned changes in test cycles such as the switch from the New European Driving Cycle (NEFC) to the Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) and the introduction of Real Driving Emissions (RDE) will favour Autoneum’s efficiency-boosting technologies and products like engine encapsulations and aerodynamic underfloor systems. More stringent test procedures will help us to reveal the full potential of our multifunctional products with regard to less fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions of cars.”

About World Car Awards

The World Car Awards (WCA) are more than just an awards program. The WCA’s judging panel is made up of 73 prominent automotive journalists from around the world that form a global community of experts.   The jurors ensure the integrity and credibility of the awards but also serve as an important resource for the industry with a focus on excellence and innovation on a global scale.  

The New York International Auto Show expects over one million visitors this year.
Press Preview: March 23 & March 24
Public Sneak Preview: Friday, March 25
Public Show Dates: Friday, March 25 – Sunday, April 3