Volvo XC60 named World Car of the Year 2018
The final results of the 2018 World Car of the Year awards are out and it's going to be a good 2018 for Volvo
The Volvo XC60 has won the prestigious World Car of the Year 2018 title, with the Range Rover Velar scooping the design award and the British-built Nissan Leaf claiming the title of best green car
The WCOTY winners were revealed at the New York International Auto Show. Judges from around the world, including Auto Express editor-in-chief Steve Fowler and chief columnist Mike Rutherford, put the XC60 ahead of other contenders including the Mazda CX-5 and the Velar.
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Volvo CEO, Håkan Samuelsson, who was recently awarded the inaugural World Car Person of the Year Award at the Geneva Motor Show, said: “I am pleased to see our company’s product investments paying off.
“We are up against some tough competition, but this award for the XC60 shows that Volvo has the right combination of design, connectivity and safety that appeals to customers across the world.”
It wasn’t all bad news for the Velar, though, with the JLR newcomer taking the World Car Design of the Year Award. Jaguar Land Rover boss Dr Ralf Speth collected the award saying: “The Range Rover Velar is an outstanding, superior SUV. Compelling modernity, eye-catching design, innovative Touch Pro Duo infotainment technology and a clear focus on sustainability - what a combination.”
The all-new British-built Nissan Leaf was named World Green Car of the Year, while BMW’s M5 was named World Performance Car of the Year and the Audi A8 took the World Luxury Car trophy.
Eligible cars have to be on sale on at least two continents between January 1 2017 and May 31 2018. Previous overall winners include the Jaguar F-Pace in 2017 and the Mazda MX-5 in 2016. The original Nissan Leaf won the overall trophy in 2011, with the Polo winning in 2010.
World Car Person of the Year 2018
This year one WCOTY award was dished out early. Hakan Samuelsson, President and CEO of Volvo Car Group, was been named as the first ever 'World Car Person of the Year' at the Geneva Motor Show.
On presenting the award, the World Car of the Year judges said: "When deciding who should win our inaugural World Car Person of the Year award, we weren't concerned about the age, nationality or job title of the man or woman concerned. We simply wanted to identify the very best individual in the industry. And we think - in fact we know - that we've found that person.
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"He's someone who - against the odds - has successfully integrated his relatively small company into an automotive empire based on another continent. And as a result of this unlikely but seemingly happy marriage, both sides have emerged considerably stronger."
2018 World Car of the Year winners
Along with the overall WCOTY prize, there are five other awards categories. Details of each can be found below…
World Urban Car: VW Polo
The Ford Fiesta was the best selling car in the UK last year and the Suzuki Swift was the other strong contender but neither could see-off the Volkswagen Polo in the World Urban Car of the Year award.
World Luxury Car: Audi A8
The Germans dominated the running for the luxury car award with the highly coveted Audi A8 executive saloon beating the Porsche Panamera and the Porsche Cayenne SUV to the title.
• Audi A8
World Performance Car: BMW M5
The performance car category is one of the toughest on paper. Unsurprisingly the new BMW M5 has taken the crown despite stiff competition from the striking new Honda Civic Type R and the Lexus LC 500 coupe.
• BMW M5
World Green Car: Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf didn't win the overall WCOTY award but it is Green Car of the Year. It was the only fully electric car the panel could choose and it beat the BMW530e iPerformance plug-in hybrid and the Chrysler Pacifica hybrid which isn't sold in the UK.
World Car Design of the Year: Range Rover Velar
The Volvo XC60, the popular Range Rover Velar and the stunning Lexus LC were up for the design award but it was the Velar that won the day.
What do you think of the 2018 World Car of the Year results? Let us know in the comments section below...
