Mazda2 wins 2008 World Car of the Year award, Audi R8 2008 World Performance Car ...
03-20-08, 07:38 AM
#1
Super Moderator
Thread Starter
Mazda2 wins 2008 World Car of the Year award, Audi R8 2008 World Performance Car ...
Mazda2 wins 2008 WCOTY award
Posted on Thursday 20 March 2008
Mazda’s diminutive Mazda2 (Demio) hatch has taken out the annual World Car of the Year (WCOTY) awards in New York, beating 38 other cars for the top spot including the Ford Mondeo and Mercedes-Benz C-Class in the top three. The Mazda2 was nominated by 47 World Car jurors from 24 countries and was picked because of its appealing looks and high levels of standard equipment for the price.
The winner of the World Design of the Year was the Audi R8, which eclipsed the Mazda2 and Volvo C30 in the top three. And 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.
To be eligible for the award, the vehicles had to be in production, and sold, on at least two continents during 2008.
Posted on Thursday 20 March 2008
Mazda’s diminutive Mazda2 (Demio) hatch has taken out the annual World Car of the Year (WCOTY) awards in New York, beating 38 other cars for the top spot including the Ford Mondeo and Mercedes-Benz C-Class in the top three. The Mazda2 was nominated by 47 World Car jurors from 24 countries and was picked because of its appealing looks and high levels of standard equipment for the price.
The winner of the World Design of the Year was the Audi R8, which eclipsed the Mazda2 and Volvo C30 in the top three. And 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.
To be eligible for the award, the vehicles had to be in production, and sold, on at least two continents during 2008.
03-20-08, 07:40 AM
#2
Super Moderator
Thread Starter
Official PR :
MAZDA2/MAZDA DEMIO DECLARED
2008 WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR
________
March 20, 2008 – New York, NY - For Immediate Release
At a press conference hosted by the MIDWAY GROUP, Mobil 1 and the New York International Auto Show at the Jacob Javitz Centre in Manhattan, New York, the Mazda2/Mazda Demio was declared the 2008 World Car of the Year.
The Mazda2/Mazda Demio was chosen from an initial entry list of thirty-nine (39) entries nominated by forty-seven (47) World Car jurors from twenty-four (24) countries throughout 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.
Rather than being just a popularity contest, the 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. 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. The jurors then voted in January 2008 to establish a top ten shortlist. The World Car of the Year was chosen from those finalists as tabulated by the international accounting firm KPMG.
WCOTY jurors observed that, “This fresh Mazda compact makes the first-generation one-box-ish Mazda2/Demio fade into the mists of time even more so. The new version is exactly that - completely new; particularly on the outside. 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’. Consumers will be drawn to the new Mazda compact because of its very appealing looks and high levels of standard equipment for the price”.
The top three contenders for 2008 World Car of the Year title were, in alphabetical order, the Ford Mondeo, the Mazda2/Mazda Demio and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award recognizing the Mazda2/Mazda Demio as the 2008 World Car of the Year”,,” said Dan Morris, Mazda’s senior managing executive officer in charge of Marketing, Sales and Customer Service. “This is wonderful recognition which Mazda2 car owners and Mazda employees alike can celebrate worldwide.
“The all-new Mazda2 is exceeding our highest expectations, demonstrating it can compete and win against the best compact cars in any market in the world and is earning glowing praise at home and globally, having also won a number Car of the Year awards around the globe, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, New Zealand, and the RJC Car of the Year award in Japan.”
Previous World Car of the Year winners were the Lexus LS460 in 2007, the BMW 3-Series in 2006 and the Audi A6 in 2005.
Now in their fifth year, the annual World Car awards have become one of the most prestigious and credible programs of their type in the world.
The awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as well as to recognize and reward automotive excellence on an international scale. The awards are intended to complement, not compete, with existing national and regional Car of the Year programs.
The awards are administered by a non-profit association, under the guidance of a Steering Committee of pre-eminent automotive journalists from Asia, Europe, and North America. There is no affiliation with, nor are the awards in any way influenced by any publication, auto show, automaker, or other commercial enterprise.
2008 WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR
________
March 20, 2008 – New York, NY - For Immediate Release
At a press conference hosted by the MIDWAY GROUP, Mobil 1 and the New York International Auto Show at the Jacob Javitz Centre in Manhattan, New York, the Mazda2/Mazda Demio was declared the 2008 World Car of the Year.
The Mazda2/Mazda Demio was chosen from an initial entry list of thirty-nine (39) entries nominated by forty-seven (47) World Car jurors from twenty-four (24) countries throughout 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.
Rather than being just a popularity contest, the 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. 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. The jurors then voted in January 2008 to establish a top ten shortlist. The World Car of the Year was chosen from those finalists as tabulated by the international accounting firm KPMG.
WCOTY jurors observed that, “This fresh Mazda compact makes the first-generation one-box-ish Mazda2/Demio fade into the mists of time even more so. The new version is exactly that - completely new; particularly on the outside. 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’. Consumers will be drawn to the new Mazda compact because of its very appealing looks and high levels of standard equipment for the price”.
The top three contenders for 2008 World Car of the Year title were, in alphabetical order, the Ford Mondeo, the Mazda2/Mazda Demio and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award recognizing the Mazda2/Mazda Demio as the 2008 World Car of the Year”,,” said Dan Morris, Mazda’s senior managing executive officer in charge of Marketing, Sales and Customer Service. “This is wonderful recognition which Mazda2 car owners and Mazda employees alike can celebrate worldwide.
“The all-new Mazda2 is exceeding our highest expectations, demonstrating it can compete and win against the best compact cars in any market in the world and is earning glowing praise at home and globally, having also won a number Car of the Year awards around the globe, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, New Zealand, and the RJC Car of the Year award in Japan.”
Previous World Car of the Year winners were the Lexus LS460 in 2007, the BMW 3-Series in 2006 and the Audi A6 in 2005.
Now in their fifth year, the annual World Car awards have become one of the most prestigious and credible programs of their type in the world.
The awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as well as to recognize and reward automotive excellence on an international scale. The awards are intended to complement, not compete, with existing national and regional Car of the Year programs.
The awards are administered by a non-profit association, under the guidance of a Steering Committee of pre-eminent automotive journalists from Asia, Europe, and North America. There is no affiliation with, nor are the awards in any way influenced by any publication, auto show, automaker, or other commercial enterprise.
03-20-08, 07:41 AM
#3
Super Moderator
Thread Starter
Audi R8 2008 World Car Design Of The Year
AUDI R8 DECLARED
2008 WORLD CAR DESIGN OF THE YEAR
________
March 20, 2008 – New York, NY - For Immediate Release
At a press conference hosted by the MIDWAY GROUP, Mobil 1 and the New York International Auto Show at the Jacob Javitz Centre in Manhattan, New York, the Audi R8 was declared the 2008 World Car Design of the Year.
Cars eligible for the 2008 World Car Design of the Year award are taken from the list of thirty-nine (39) World Car candidates nominated by forty-seven (47) World Car jurors from twenty-four (24) countries throughout the world.
A design panel consisting of four highly respected world design experts asked to first review each candidate, and then establish a short-list of recommendations 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 expert’s recommendations. The top three design finalists were, in alphabetical order, the Audi R8, the Mazda2 / Mazda Demio and the Volvo C30.
The World Car Design of the Year category, and the corresponding award, is meant to highlight new vehicles with innovation and style that push established boundaries.
The World Car jurors praised Audi for “….transforming the sports car landscape”. “The R8 design is striking, original and full of interesting details, from the nose strakes to the much discussed vertical ‘blade’ behind the B pillar”. World Car design expert, Tom Matano, commented, “It is a great visual representation of the technology within…..a complete package of Techno-Iconic Design”. 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.”
“Having won the World Car Design of the Year award last year with the new Audi TT, it is a real pleasure to make it two in a row with the Audi R8,” said Johan De Nysschen, Executive Vice President of Audi of America. “Our designers surpassed themselves with our first super sports car, which is both a show-stopper and a traffic-stopper. Characteristic features such as LED headlights and customizable sideblades make the Audi R8 instantly recognizable. We are delighted that our designers' work has been acknowledged in this way by the World Car of the Year jurors.”
Previous winners of the World Car Design of the Year award were the Audi TT in 2007 and the Citroen C4 in 2006.
Now in their fifth year, the annual World Car awards have become one of the most prestigious and credible programs of their type in the world.
The awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as well as to recognize and reward automotive excellence on an international scale. The awards are intended to complement, not compete, with existing national and regional Car of the Year programs.
The awards are administered by a non-profit association, under the guidance of a Steering Committee of pre-eminent automotive journalists from Asia, Europe, and North America. There is no affiliation with, nor are the awards in any way influenced by any publication, auto show, automaker, or other commercial enterprise.
2008 WORLD CAR DESIGN OF THE YEAR
________
March 20, 2008 – New York, NY - For Immediate Release
At a press conference hosted by the MIDWAY GROUP, Mobil 1 and the New York International Auto Show at the Jacob Javitz Centre in Manhattan, New York, the Audi R8 was declared the 2008 World Car Design of the Year.
Cars eligible for the 2008 World Car Design of the Year award are taken from the list of thirty-nine (39) World Car candidates nominated by forty-seven (47) World Car jurors from twenty-four (24) countries throughout the world.
A design panel consisting of four highly respected world design experts asked to first review each candidate, and then establish a short-list of recommendations 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 expert’s recommendations. The top three design finalists were, in alphabetical order, the Audi R8, the Mazda2 / Mazda Demio and the Volvo C30.
The World Car Design of the Year category, and the corresponding award, is meant to highlight new vehicles with innovation and style that push established boundaries.
The World Car jurors praised Audi for “….transforming the sports car landscape”. “The R8 design is striking, original and full of interesting details, from the nose strakes to the much discussed vertical ‘blade’ behind the B pillar”. World Car design expert, Tom Matano, commented, “It is a great visual representation of the technology within…..a complete package of Techno-Iconic Design”. 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.”
“Having won the World Car Design of the Year award last year with the new Audi TT, it is a real pleasure to make it two in a row with the Audi R8,” said Johan De Nysschen, Executive Vice President of Audi of America. “Our designers surpassed themselves with our first super sports car, which is both a show-stopper and a traffic-stopper. Characteristic features such as LED headlights and customizable sideblades make the Audi R8 instantly recognizable. We are delighted that our designers' work has been acknowledged in this way by the World Car of the Year jurors.”
Previous winners of the World Car Design of the Year award were the Audi TT in 2007 and the Citroen C4 in 2006.
Now in their fifth year, the annual World Car awards have become one of the most prestigious and credible programs of their type in the world.
The awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as well as to recognize and reward automotive excellence on an international scale. The awards are intended to complement, not compete, with existing national and regional Car of the Year programs.
The awards are administered by a non-profit association, under the guidance of a Steering Committee of pre-eminent automotive journalists from Asia, Europe, and North America. There is no affiliation with, nor are the awards in any way influenced by any publication, auto show, automaker, or other commercial enterprise.
03-20-08, 07:42 AM
#4
Super Moderator
Thread Starter
Audi R8 2008 World Performance Car
AUDI R8 DECLARED
2008 WORLD PERFORMANCE CAR
________
March 20, 2008 – New York, NY - For Immediate Release
The 2008 World Performance Car award, presented by Mobil 1, went to the Audi R8 as announced today during the awards press conference hosted by founding sponsor the MIDWAY GROUP, Mobil 1, and the New York International Auto Show at the Jacob Javitz Centre in Manhattan, New York, USA.
The Audi R8 was chosen from an initial entry list of twelve (12) contenders nominated by forty-seven (47) World Car jurors from twenty-four (24) countries throughout the world.
While the winner of the overall World Car of the Year award must excel in a broad range of attributes, there is a segment of the car-buying public for whom performance – in its broadest sense – overrides all other priorities. Vehicles appealing to that clientele may be too narrowly focused to appeal to the masses, but it is an important element in the overall automotive mix. It is for that reason that the World Performance Car award was created in 2005.
Candidates for the World Performance Car award must demonstrate a specific and overt Sports/Performance orientation. They must also satisfy the same availability criteria as for the overall World Car award and may be chosen from that list of eligible vehicles.
Additional entrants may include 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.
The jurors voted in January 2008 in order to establish a top ten shortlist. The 2008 World Performance Car was chosen from those finalists as tabulated by the international accounting firm KPMG.
WCOTY's jurors observed that the Audi R8 has solid credentials on paper thanks to its mid-mounted 420-horsepower, 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 KPH (62 MPH) acceleration of 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 187 MPH. The R8’s 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. The R8 is a surprisingly good value for its class.
The top three contenders for the third annual World Performance Car in addition to the Audi R8 were the BMW M3 and the Audi S5 Coupé.
“Last year, the Audi RS 4 won the World Performance Car award and we are thrilled to have retained the title with the Audi R8,” said Johan De Nysschen, Executive Vice President of Audi of America. “This award is recognition for the superb work done by the engineers and designers who worked on the R8. It has immediately taken up a leadership position in the super sports car segment. We are also delighted that the World Car of the Year jurors voted the Audi S5 into the top three."
Mobil 1 announced its sponsorship of the World Performance Car award in November 2007. “Mobil 1 has long been recognized as the world’s leading fully synthetic motor oil by authorities, such as vehicle engineers, manufacturers and car enthusiasts. We understand the value and honor of being singled out and acknowledged as a global leader noted for outstanding and superior performance in lubrication," said Nancy Carlson, strategic global alliances - sales director, ExxonMobil Lubricants & Petroleum Specialties. "The Mobil 1 team was pleased to sponsor the 2008 Performance Car of the Year award and congratulates the Audi R8 on the achievement of being named the 2008 world’s top performance car by the global panel of renowned automotive journalists serving on the Car of the Year jury."
Previous World Performance Car winners were the Audi RS4 in 2007 and the Porsche Cayman S in 2006.
Now in their fifth year, the annual World Car awards have become one of the most prestigious and credible programs of their type in the world.
The awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as well as to recognize and reward automotive excellence on an international scale. The awards are intended to complement, not compete, with existing national and regional Car of the Year programs.
The awards are administered by a non-profit association, under the guidance of a Steering Committee of pre-eminent automotive journalists from Asia, Europe, and North America. There is no affiliation with, nor are the awards in any way influenced by any publication, auto show, automaker, or other commercial enterprise.
2008 WORLD PERFORMANCE CAR
________
March 20, 2008 – New York, NY - For Immediate Release
The 2008 World Performance Car award, presented by Mobil 1, went to the Audi R8 as announced today during the awards press conference hosted by founding sponsor the MIDWAY GROUP, Mobil 1, and the New York International Auto Show at the Jacob Javitz Centre in Manhattan, New York, USA.
The Audi R8 was chosen from an initial entry list of twelve (12) contenders nominated by forty-seven (47) World Car jurors from twenty-four (24) countries throughout the world.
While the winner of the overall World Car of the Year award must excel in a broad range of attributes, there is a segment of the car-buying public for whom performance – in its broadest sense – overrides all other priorities. Vehicles appealing to that clientele may be too narrowly focused to appeal to the masses, but it is an important element in the overall automotive mix. It is for that reason that the World Performance Car award was created in 2005.
Candidates for the World Performance Car award must demonstrate a specific and overt Sports/Performance orientation. They must also satisfy the same availability criteria as for the overall World Car award and may be chosen from that list of eligible vehicles.
Additional entrants may include 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.
The jurors voted in January 2008 in order to establish a top ten shortlist. The 2008 World Performance Car was chosen from those finalists as tabulated by the international accounting firm KPMG.
WCOTY's jurors observed that the Audi R8 has solid credentials on paper thanks to its mid-mounted 420-horsepower, 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 KPH (62 MPH) acceleration of 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 187 MPH. The R8’s 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. The R8 is a surprisingly good value for its class.
The top three contenders for the third annual World Performance Car in addition to the Audi R8 were the BMW M3 and the Audi S5 Coupé.
“Last year, the Audi RS 4 won the World Performance Car award and we are thrilled to have retained the title with the Audi R8,” said Johan De Nysschen, Executive Vice President of Audi of America. “This award is recognition for the superb work done by the engineers and designers who worked on the R8. It has immediately taken up a leadership position in the super sports car segment. We are also delighted that the World Car of the Year jurors voted the Audi S5 into the top three."
Mobil 1 announced its sponsorship of the World Performance Car award in November 2007. “Mobil 1 has long been recognized as the world’s leading fully synthetic motor oil by authorities, such as vehicle engineers, manufacturers and car enthusiasts. We understand the value and honor of being singled out and acknowledged as a global leader noted for outstanding and superior performance in lubrication," said Nancy Carlson, strategic global alliances - sales director, ExxonMobil Lubricants & Petroleum Specialties. "The Mobil 1 team was pleased to sponsor the 2008 Performance Car of the Year award and congratulates the Audi R8 on the achievement of being named the 2008 world’s top performance car by the global panel of renowned automotive journalists serving on the Car of the Year jury."
Previous World Performance Car winners were the Audi RS4 in 2007 and the Porsche Cayman S in 2006.
Now in their fifth year, the annual World Car awards have become one of the most prestigious and credible programs of their type in the world.
The awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as well as to recognize and reward automotive excellence on an international scale. The awards are intended to complement, not compete, with existing national and regional Car of the Year programs.
The awards are administered by a non-profit association, under the guidance of a Steering Committee of pre-eminent automotive journalists from Asia, Europe, and North America. There is no affiliation with, nor are the awards in any way influenced by any publication, auto show, automaker, or other commercial enterprise.
03-20-08, 07:44 AM
#5
Super Moderator
Thread Starter
BMW 118d 2008 WORLD GREEN CAR
BMW 118d with EFFICIENT DYNAMICS DECLARED
2008 WORLD GREEN CAR
________
March 20, 2008 – New York, NY - For Immediate Release
At a press conference hosted by the MIDWAY GROUP, Mobil 1 and the New York International Auto Show at the Jacob Javitz Centre in Manhattan, New York, the BMW 118d with Efficient Dynamics was declared the 2008 World Green Car.
The BMW 118d with Efficient Dynamics was chosen from an initial entry list of ten (10) contenders nominated by forty-seven (47) World Car jurors from twenty-four (24) countries throughout the world.
The World Car of the Year Awards are intended to reflect today’s auto industry and market trends. In that respect, nothing is more au courant than concern for the environment – hence the creation of this eco-friendly category in 2005.
To be eligible for the 2008 World Green Car award, a vehicle 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.
In addition, the candidates had to satisfy one or more of the following "green" criterion:
a. Tailpipe emissions equal to or better than California SULEV or US EPA Tier 2, Bin2, or Euro V regulations, or equivalent.
b. Fuel consumption equal to or lower than 5.0 L/100km (47.6 mpg US) combined (55% City + 45% Highway) or equivalent.
c. Use of an advanced power plant technology (beyond engine componentry) aimed specifically at increasing their environmental responsibility (e.g. hybrid).
Jurors felt that BMW’s EfficentDynamics technology, as applied to the 118d, comprises a range of features and improvements with the specific purpose of reducing fuel consumption and lowering 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 %). 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.
The top three contenders for the third annual World Green Car in addition to the BMW 118d with Efficient Dynamics were the Mercedes-Benz Smart fortwo cdi and the Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI.
“BMW is very excited that the BMW 118d with Efficient Dynamics won the World Green Car title,” said Tom Purves, Chairman and CEO of BMW of North America. “The measures that we’ve implemented within our Efficient Dynamics strategy into every BMW mean that we’re able to provide customers with the driving pleasure they expect from a BMW, while still meeting the stringent requirements for fuel-efficiency and low emissions.”
Now in their fifth year, the annual World Car awards have become one of the most prestigious and credible programs of their type in the world.
The awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as well as to recognize and reward automotive excellence on an international scale. The awards are intended to complement, not compete, with existing national and regional Car of the Year programs.
The awards are administered by a non-profit association, under the guidance of a Steering Committee of pre-eminent automotive journalists from Asia, Europe, and North America. There is no affiliation with, nor are the awards in any way influenced by any publication, auto show, automaker, or other commercial enterprise.
SOURCE : wcoty.com
2008 WORLD GREEN CAR
________
March 20, 2008 – New York, NY - For Immediate Release
At a press conference hosted by the MIDWAY GROUP, Mobil 1 and the New York International Auto Show at the Jacob Javitz Centre in Manhattan, New York, the BMW 118d with Efficient Dynamics was declared the 2008 World Green Car.
The BMW 118d with Efficient Dynamics was chosen from an initial entry list of ten (10) contenders nominated by forty-seven (47) World Car jurors from twenty-four (24) countries throughout the world.
The World Car of the Year Awards are intended to reflect today’s auto industry and market trends. In that respect, nothing is more au courant than concern for the environment – hence the creation of this eco-friendly category in 2005.
To be eligible for the 2008 World Green Car award, a vehicle 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.
In addition, the candidates had to satisfy one or more of the following "green" criterion:
a. Tailpipe emissions equal to or better than California SULEV or US EPA Tier 2, Bin2, or Euro V regulations, or equivalent.
b. Fuel consumption equal to or lower than 5.0 L/100km (47.6 mpg US) combined (55% City + 45% Highway) or equivalent.
c. Use of an advanced power plant technology (beyond engine componentry) aimed specifically at increasing their environmental responsibility (e.g. hybrid).
Jurors felt that BMW’s EfficentDynamics technology, as applied to the 118d, comprises a range of features and improvements with the specific purpose of reducing fuel consumption and lowering 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 %). 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.
The top three contenders for the third annual World Green Car in addition to the BMW 118d with Efficient Dynamics were the Mercedes-Benz Smart fortwo cdi and the Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI.
“BMW is very excited that the BMW 118d with Efficient Dynamics won the World Green Car title,” said Tom Purves, Chairman and CEO of BMW of North America. “The measures that we’ve implemented within our Efficient Dynamics strategy into every BMW mean that we’re able to provide customers with the driving pleasure they expect from a BMW, while still meeting the stringent requirements for fuel-efficiency and low emissions.”
Now in their fifth year, the annual World Car awards have become one of the most prestigious and credible programs of their type in the world.
The awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as well as to recognize and reward automotive excellence on an international scale. The awards are intended to complement, not compete, with existing national and regional Car of the Year programs.
The awards are administered by a non-profit association, under the guidance of a Steering Committee of pre-eminent automotive journalists from Asia, Europe, and North America. There is no affiliation with, nor are the awards in any way influenced by any publication, auto show, automaker, or other commercial enterprise.
SOURCE : wcoty.com
Trending Topics
03-20-08, 12:31 PM
#9
Wow, congrats to Mazda, and I guess Ford as well...!
A very different choice for WCOTY, the prior 3 were all luxe marques, but at the same time, the World population mostly doesn't drive luxury vehicles.
A very different choice for WCOTY, the prior 3 were all luxe marques, but at the same time, the World population mostly doesn't drive luxury vehicles.
03-20-08, 05:11 PM
#10
Pole Position
i saw the mazda 2 in my recent travels in asia a couple of weeks ago! Awesome car and has garned many praises and accolades from the press there. too bad we wont get it. 
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post