The New York Auto Show started today for the international media with the 2018 World Car Awards conference, where the new Volvo XC60 was crowned World Car of the Year.
Unveiled last March in Europe, the Swedish company’s BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC’s rival was favored over the other two finalists – the Range Rover Velar and Mazda CX-5.
The luxury car of the year
Battling in the World Luxury Car category were three Volkswagen Group products: the Audi A8, Porsche Cayenne and Porsche Panamera. And walking home with the award was Ingolstadt’s flagship sedan, which is more modern and mature than ever, after the new generation debuted last summer.
Best performance model
Another big winner is the latest BMW M5, but in the Performance Car this time. The super sedan beat its competitors in terms of power, as it was easily the most potent of the three, and in all other chapters, too, turning out to be better overall than the Lexus LC 500 and Honda Civic Type R.
But it’s not all about power, luxury and state-of-the-art technology, because the Volkswagen Polo sits among the winners. The supermini beat the Ford Fiesta and Suzuki Swift in the Urban Car award.
The new Nissan Leaf faced the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid and BMW 530e iPerformance in the Green Car award, and claimed the big prize.
Finally, the World Car Design was won by the Range Rover Velar. The British SUV stood out among the other two finalists: the Volvo XC60 and Lexus LC 500.
World Car of the Year – Volvo XC60
World Luxury Car of the Year – Audi A8
World Performance Car of the Year – BMW M5
World Urban Car of the Year – Volkswagen Polo
World Green Car of the Year – Nissan Leaf
World Car Design of the Year – Range Rover Velar
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