The Mazda2/Mazda Demio was declared the 2008 World Car of the Year this week at the New York International Auto Show.

 

The Mazda2/Mazda Demio was chosen from an initial entry list of 39 entries nominated by 47 World Car jurors from 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.

 

The MIDWAY GROUP, Mobil 1 and the New York International Auto Show hosted the announcement.

 

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," says 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," he adds.

 

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.

 

The 2008 World Performance Car award, presented by Mobil 1, went to the Audi R8. 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 500 vehicles.

 

"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," says 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."

 

Previous World Performance Car winners were the Audi RS4 in 2007 and the Porsche Cayman S in 2006.

 

The BMW 118d with EfficientDynamics was declared the 2008 World Green Car.

 

"BMW is very excited that the BMW 118d with EfficientDynamics won the World Green Car title," says Tom Purves, chairman and CEO of BMW of North America. "The measures that we've implemented within our EfficientDynamics 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."

 

Jurors felt that BMW's EfficientDynamics 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.

 

The top three contenders for the third annual World Green Car in addition to the BMW 118d with EfficientDynamics were the Mercedes-Benz Smart fortwo cdi and the Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI.

 

Previous World Car winners were the Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec in 2007 and the Honda Civic Hybrid 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.

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