World Car of the Year Awards by Keith Nicol

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2008 World Car of the Year Awards www.wcoty.com

Prix mondial de la Voiture de

l Reality of “World Car of the Year Awards Reflect Globa Today’s Automotive Industry”

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2008 World Car of the Year Awards www.wcoty.com

INTRODUCTION

WORLD CAR RDS OF TH E YEAR AWAl’a nnée

Eligibility

WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Prix mondial de la Voiture de l’année

About WCOTY The World Car of the Year Association is a non-profit association whose sole objective is to organize, conduct, administer, and promote the World Car of the Year Awards program. It is administered by a Steering Committee of five automotive journalists, comprising: Peter Lyon – Co-chair – Japan Gerry Malloy – Co-chair – Canada Dan Carney – Director – United States John McCormick – Director – United States Matt Davis – Director – Italy The work of the Steering Committee and voting jurors is voluntary. Beth Rhind is the Association’s Executive Manager Contact Information: World Car of the Year Awards Association P.O BOX 851, M.P.O. Cobourg, Ontario, K9A 4L1, Canada Telephone: +1+ 705.924.3444 Email: beth@wcoty.com

Publisher: Niel Hiscox, CLB Media Inc. Executive Editor / Executive Manager: Beth Rhind Editor: Gerry Malloy Website Manager: Ryan Blair, IntraNet Consulting 142 BlackDuck Terr., Hammonds Plains Nova Scotia, Canada, B4B 1Z6 Telephone: +1 + 902.830.6398 Email: rblair@inext.ca Website: www.wcoty.com Creative Director: Einar Rice Production Manager: Lisa Drummond Acknowledgements: New York International Auto Show KPMG LLP The Midway Group CLB Media Inc., is one of Canada's leading providers of information and marketing services to business professionals in a number of industry sectors. Our media properties include more than 20 business-to-business publications, web sites and a range of services including custom publishing, business lists, research, web development and industry events. CLB Media is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canada Law Book Inc. - a leading provider of information-driven services and solutions serving Canadian professionals since 1855.

2008 World Car of the Year Awards www.wcoty.com

Eligibility Requirements 2008 World Car of the Year

Vehicles are selected and voted on by an international jury panel comprised of forty-seven (47) top-level automotive journalists from twenty-four (24) countries around 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. Because cars are introduced in different countries at different times, a new car must be available in a minimum number of markets before becoming eligible for World Car of the Year consideration. Specifically, for the 2008 award, the car had to be on sale on at least two continents before January 1, 2008. In addition, each candidate needs to prove to the panel of international jurors that it is the best overall choice, based on multiple criteria. They include the usual parameters of styling, performance, handling, comfort, and utility, but also safety, environmental responsibility, significance, and the intangible but highly important “wow” factor known as emotional appeal.

2008 World Performance Car

While the winner of the overall World Car of the Year Award must excel in a broad range of attributes, the World Performance Car award must demonstrate a specific and overt sports/performance orientation while satisfying the same availability criteria as for the overall World Car of the Year award. Entrants may be chosen from that list of eligible vehicles, or they may be 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.

2008 World Green Car

Candidates for the 2008 World Green Car award 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. Tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and use of a major advanced power plant technology (beyond engine componentry), aimed specifically at increasing the vehicle's environmental responsibility, were all taken into consideration.

2008 World Car Design of the Year

Contenders for this award are taken from the list of World Car candidates. A design panel consisting of four highly respected world design experts was 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 experts’ recommendations.

Table of Contents Introduction ............................................ 3 Eligibility ............................................... 4 The Vote.................................................5 The Jurors ........................................... 6 - 7 Finalists - World Car..................................... 8 The Top Three - World Car................................ 9 New York International Auto Show-2007 Pictorial......... 12

Awards Venue ......................................... 13 Finalists - Performance Car.............................. 14 The Top Three - Performance Car......................... 15 Finalists - Green Car .................................... 16 The Top Three - Green Car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Finalists - World Car Design ............................. 18 The Top Three - World Car Design........................ 19

product of a fair and thorough assessment process that considered the needs and wants of consumers the world over – not just the winner of a subjective popularity contest.

The process began with individual voters evaluating and rating the candidates, as they drove them during the year. To help standardize that rating process, they were provided with WCOTY Rating Forms, delineating 20 separate parameters to be considered – everything from styling and quality to performance and safety. Each parameter was rated from 1-10, in 1/2-point increments, using a standardized Subjective Rating Scale, to promote consistency. Adoption of this scale was not intended to remove individual subjectivity from the ratings. To the contrary, different journalists may have different opinions, for example, of what constitutes “good” performance for a particular parameter.

RATING 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

PERFORMANCE PERFECT EXCELLENT VERY GOOD GOOD FAIR FAIR TO POOR POOR VERY POOR BAD TERRIBLE NOT APPLICABLE

DISTURBANCE NONE TRACE LIGHT MODERATE SEVERE NOT APPLICABLE

THE VOTE

SUBJECTIVE RATING SCALE

From the outset, our objective was to ensure that the World Car of the Year would be the

Based on those personal assessments, each juror was asked to submit a short-list of the ten eligible vehicles he or she rated most highly. Those individual short-lists were then compiled to establish the Top-Ten list of finalists from which the overall winners would ultimately be selected. It was then back to work again, as the jurors were asked to give the top-ten a final assessment and to vote on each for one last time, rating them from six different perspectives, using the same rating scale. Each of those ratings would count for a portion of the final score, as follows:

Merit – a measure of how good the car is in all its consumer-relevant characteristics, such as performance, ride, handling, comfort, styling, quality, NVH, etc – most of the factors on the initial rating sheets. Price should not be a factor here, just absolute merit. (40% of the total score.) Value – a measure of the car’s value, both short and long term; in essence, how much do you get for what you pay? (20% of the total score.) Safety – a measure of the car’s safety features and performance, including active and passive safety features and crash test results, and innovative technologies applied to address those issues. (10% of the total score.) Environment – a measure of the car’s environmental responsibility; consider fuel economy/CO2 output, emissions, recyclability, and innovative technologies applied to address those issues. (10% of the total score.) Significance – a measure of the car’s significance, or importance, to the market, the industry, or its manufacturer. (10% of the total score.) Emotional Appeal – the Wow Factor! Apart from all its practical considerations, how does the car make you feel? (10% of the total score.)

2008 World Car Ballot Merit

Value

Safety

Environment

Significance

Emotion

Audi A5 Coupé / Audi S5 Coupé Audi R8 Cadillac CTS Ford Mondeo Ford S-Max Mazda2 / Mazda Demio Mercedes-Benz C-Class Nissan Qashqai/Dualis Nissan Skyline Coupe/Infiniti G37 Coupe Volvo C30

2008 World Car of the Year Awards www.wcoty.com

2008 Steering Committee

THE Jurors

GERRY MALLOY Co-Chair

PETER LYON Co-Chair

DAN CARNEY Director

MATT DAVIS Director

JOHN MCCORMICK Director

Contributor: Toronto Star MSN Autos (Canada), EDITOR: Canadian Auto Dealer

Japan-based contributor to Edmunds Insideline, Auto Bild, Auto Express, Herald Sun, Quattroruote, Motor magazine, Evo, Holiday Auto, Best Car, Automotive Testing

MSNBC.com, The Wall Street Journal.com, Edmunds Inside Line, Automotive Engineering International, Sports Car International, Truck Trend,

Winding Road, European Car (U.S.); Auto Express, UK International Press (U.K.); Genroq (Japan); Expressen (Sweden); Gente Motori (Italy); et al.

Contributor: Detroit News, Consumers Digest, Bloomberg Markets magazine, Top Gear, Die Welt, Automobil Produktion

UNITED STATES

ITALY

CANADA

JAPAN ARGENTINA

BELGIUM

CARLOS ALBERTO ANGIĂ&#x201C; Director: Mega Autos Magazine, MegaNews

XAVIER DAFFE Editor-in-Chief, Le Moniteur Automobile

FERNANDO MIRANDA Editor-in-chief: Autoplus, Transporte Mundial, La Moto, and Maxituning magazines

AUSTRALIA BILL MCKINNON Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Car Buyer, 4WD Buyer

SAMANTHA STEVENS Contributor: Sunday Telegraph, Wheels magazine

DR. HORST BAUER Motoring Editor, Kurier

2008 World Car of the Year Awards www.wcoty.com

MIKE RUTHERFORD Columnist - The Daily Telegraph and Auto Express

BRAZIL

FRANCE

JASON VOGEL Editor, O Globo Newspaper

LUC BAZIZIN Reporter - France 2 TV

CHINA

GERMANY

XIA DONG Chief Editor of Auto, Motor and Sport

THOMAS GEIGER Contributor, Welt am Sonntag, Frankfurter Allgmeine Zeitung, Deutsche Presse Agentur, Der Spiegel (on-line)

SEAN X.H.QIU Editor-in-chief of "Autoworld"

ENGLAND NAT BARNES Motoring Editor, Daily and Sunday Express

AUSTRIA

UNITED STATES

PETER BURGESS Editor-in-chief: World Car Guide; Editor: Auto Express Car; Contributor: MSN

GREG KABLE AutoCar UK, AutoWeek USA, Motor - Australia, Sydney Morning Herald Australia, Melbourne Age Australia, Car Top Japan, Motoring Singapore, Car Taiwan JUERGEN ZOELLTER Contributor: Autobild, Autozeitung, Focus, Welt am Sonntag plus 30 international outlets

GREECE MICHAEL STAVROPOULOS Chief Editor: 4Wheels (4TROXOI) magazine

KOREA

UNITED STATES

HORMAZD SORABJEE Editor: Autocar India magazine

JOOSIK CHOI Editor in Chief: Carlife

MIKE ALLEN Associate automotive editor: Popular Mechanics magazine

IRELAND

MEXICO

PADRAIC DEANE Publisher/ Managing Editor, Automotive Publications

JAVIER BARRANCO Editor: Automovil Panamericano magazine and Automovil TV

ITALY MARCO MARELLI Gente Motori and Auto & Fuoristrada

JAPAN MASATSUGU ARIMOTO Contrbutor: Axis, Rosso, J's Tipo, Car & Driver Japan, Car Styling YASUHIKO KAWAMURA Contributor: Car and Driver (Japan), Autobytel-japan.com, Motor Magazine, Motor Fan, Rosso, Web Car Graphic HIDESHI MATSUDA Contributor: Best Car, Holiday Auto, Motor Magazine, Navi, J's Tipo, Car Sensor, Xacar, Genroq, Response PETER NUNN Contributor: Automobile Magazine, Car Graphic, Wheels, Auto Motor Und Sport, Globalautonet.com, Automobile Year, Auto, News from JAMA, La Repubblica plus contributions to CAR, Evo and Top Gear. KOJI OZAWA Contributor: Best Car, Engine, Lapita, webCarGraphic, Smart, Begin, Takarajima, Form, nikkeibp.jp KENICHI SAKURAI Rosso Magazine

ALEJANDRO GUILBERT PASTRANA Founder and Editor-in-Chief, 4Ruedas Magazine

NEW ZEALAND BRIAN COWAN Editor-at-large: Autocar

EZRA DYER Contributor: Automobile, Esquire, New York Times

JAMIE KITMAN Top Gear (UK) - US Editor; Automobile Magazine - New York Bureau Chief

THE Jurors

INDIA

JORGE KOECHLIN Contributor: AutoMundo

POLAND MACIEJ PERTYNSKI Contributor: Auto-Moto, Motor

ROBERT PRZYBYLSKI Contributor: Rzeczpospolita

JOHN RETTIE Contributor: New Car Test Drive (US), Motor Trend (US), European Car (US), The Car Connection (US), Auto Express (UK). JIM SCOUTTEN Contributor: Car and Driver Radio

RUSSIA LEONID GOLOVANOV Deputy Editor: Autoreview

PERRY STERN Editor, MSN Autos

SOUTH AFRICA HANNES OOSTHUIZEN Deputy Editor, CAR

SWEDEN ROBERT COLLIN Staff writer: Aftonblade

2008 World Car of the Year Awards www.wcoty.com

finalists - World Car 8

Audi A5 Coupé / Audi S5 Coupé

Mazda2 / Mazda Demio

Audi R8

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Cadillac CTS

Nissan Qashqai/Dualis

Ford Mondeo

Nissan Skyline Coupe/Infiniti G37 Coupe

Ford S-Max

Volvo C30

2008 World Car of the Year Awards www.wcoty.com

After 2007’s semi-new Focus and the eagerly expected new Fiesta world car (called Verve as a concept), the primarily Euro family-hauling Mondeo is a big player for Ford on the global stage. This was first shown as the Iosis concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2005 and it has been the first startto-finish project for Ford Europe’s design boss Martin Smith. The all-new Ford global look is called “Kinetic Design” and it brings a lot of premium feel to this quasi-premium car. In fact, due to the early start on hype over this new Mondeo, it hasn’t exactly caused a big uproar of enthusiasm. Be that as it may, the third-generation Mondeo – as sedan, station wagon, or hatchback – is sure to be deemed a sleeper hit over the next few years, offering a truly quality drive and packaging that has been luring buyers away from far costlier cars such as the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-class, and Lexus IS.

Mazda2 / Mazda Demio

This fresh Mazda sub-compact makes the first-generation one-box-ish Mazda2/Demio fade into the mists of time. The new version is completely new particularly on the outside. This is Mazda’s true people’s car now that it has the more useful two-box design of a four-door hatchback. The twodoor sportier look was recently unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show and reviews around the world have been primarily one big thumbs up. From the start, the Mazda2/Demio has been meant for economical driving, hence the mechanical strategy onboard is literally geared to just this. At the same time, many wealthier customers are drawn to the new Mazda compact because of the very appealing looks and high levels of standard equipment for the price.

top three - World Car

Ford Mondeo

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

For some reason, some car people have commented that Mercedes’ strategy with the new C-class of offering two separate faces – Luxury or Sport – is a bit off. We vigorously disagree with this since the two looks offer buyers a new sort of choice that has really helped sales take off from the start. More important, however, is the overall wise investment Mercedes made to create what looks and feels like a totally new car. Driving the fourth-generation C-class is a more precise and upmarket experience now due to the re-engineered front axle and standard Agility Control suspension. Rather than a traditional “baby Benz” of yore, this “W204” C-class drives and looks like a mature car for mature people. While the S-class profile of the sedan body is good work, the star for many judges has been the station wagon. Soon these two will be joined by the CLC two-door coupe as well.

2008 World Car of the Year Awards www.wcoty.com

OFFICIAL SPONSOR:

2008 WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS WINNERS’ PRESS CONFERENCE NEW YORK, NY THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2008

Midway_WorldCar_2007 1

3/15/07 9:54:49 AM

New York International Auto Show â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2007 12

2008 World Car of the Year Awards www.wcoty.com

Announcing the annual World Car of the Year awards at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) is a fitting finale to the auto show season that begins each fall with either the Paris or Frankfurt motor shows. Next, it’s on to Tokyo in alternating years. The Detroit show takes centre stage in January while Geneva claims the spotlight in March. Finally, in early spring, the season reaches its exciting climax at New York. When selecting a suitable venue for the World Car of the Year (WCOTY) awards presentation, the Steering Committee members were unanimous in their choice of the New York International Auto Show as the most appropriate site.

2008

Firstly, the NYIAS’ status as a major international auto show continues to grow year by year. An increasing number of manufacturers, both domestic and foreign, target New York as a venue to reveal new product and concepts. This makes the high level of media exposure an alluring prospect for our WCOTY awards. With several, significant new vehicle launches, the New York International Auto Show also gives jurors an early

chance to review models that will potentially become next year’s WCOTY champ. Commonly known as the most culturally active melting pot of nationalities in the world, New York City (NYC) generates a no-nonsense, can-do atmosphere of international cooperation and five-star organizational capabilities that enable it to expertly host countless world-class events and shows. This very feature fits right in with the WCOTY philosophy. We see New York as holding a dual role: in addition to it being the global barometer of design, fashion, music and entertainment trends, it is also the global launch-pad for such trends. The bottom line? The world sits up and pays attention to what happens in NYC. As WCOTY is a relatively new awards program on the international scene – launched in 2004 and first presented in 2005 – we are convinced that New York is not only the right place to disperse word of our award presentations to the world, but in an indirect way, to add status and prestige to the program as well. Put simply, the world is addicted to what happens in New York and that makes it the prime location for the WCOTY awards.

2008 World Car of the Year Awards www.wcoty.com

Awards venue

NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW

Finalists - perFormance car

AMG Mercedes-Benz S 63

Honda Civic R (Japanese & European spec)

Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster

Maserati GranTurismo

Audi R8

Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series

Audi S5 CoupĂŠ

Renault Clio F1 Team R27

BMW M3 14

2008 World Car of the Year Awards www.wcoty.com

“A warmed-over Lamborghini Gallardo,” groused skeptics, when Audi proposed building its own mid-engine supercar. As if that were a bad thing. But the hardworking team in Ingolstadt did more than rebadge the Lambo; they advanced its capabilities and produced a car with surprising agility and poise reminiscent of the Acura/Honda NSX. Like that car, the 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 km/h (62 mph) acceleration of 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 187 mph. The R8’s raptor-like visage and 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. That Audi is able to offer such capability for a price that undercuts the Porsche 911 is incredible.

Audi S5

While the R8 is a surprisingly good value for its class, its six-figure price and limited production mean that it will only reach the fortunate few. Audi’s solution is to offer the S5, a more practical and affordable sport coupe which combines racy styling with the practicality of a useable back seat. For the S5, Audi made significant changes under the skin to its familiar front-drive-based quattro architecture. The 4.2-liter V8, which has been detuned from R8 specs to 354 horsepower, was moved rearward instead of cantilevered out ahead of the front axle, giving the car balance similar to that of a rear-drive car. Despite its seeming horsepower handicap, the S5 accelerates to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.9 seconds and reaches an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). The all-wheel-drive system has also been tuned to more closely resemble the performance of a rear-drive car, granting enthusiastic drivers the response and feel they crave from a rear-driver while providing the security of all-wheel-drive grip. It is not an R8, but no driver should feel shortchanged in an S5, especially if they are enjoying it with three friends, two of whom wouldn’t fit in an R8.

BMW M3

While the BMW and its iconic M3 sport sedan have built their reputations on the strength of the company’s signature inline six-cylinder engines, the Munich mechanics decided that the new M3 would need V8 power to remain competitive in the industry’s spiraling horsepower war. A bulging power dome on the M3’s hood provides clearance for the big new engine, trumpeting its presence to onlookers. With its 8,400 rpm redline, the 420-horsepower V8 produces the racing-inspired sound and performance needed to win over the six-cylinder traditionalists while perhaps attracting new V8 fans to the BMW marque. Stirring the traditional six-speed manual transmission should keep enthusiast drivers of all backgrounds engaged and happy. As expected from an M3, the newest version is responsive, with accurate steering and effective brakes that make the car feel at home both on the road and track. The muscular new M car accelerates to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 4.8 seconds en route to an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). This most-powerful M3 yet seems certain to attract more buyers than ever. 2008 World Car of the Year Awards www.wcoty.com

Top Three - performance car

Audi R8

finalists - Green Car 16

BMW 118d with Efficient Dynamics

Nissan Altima Hybrid

Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle

Saturn Aura Green Line

Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon Hybrids

Saturn Vue Green Line

Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid

SmartForTwo cdi

Lexus LS 600h L

Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI BlueMotion

2008 World Car of the Year Awards www.wcoty.com

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. 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 %). In addition, air flaps at the front of the car are opened only when the engine actually requires cooling air, and ancillary units such as the coolant pump and a/c compressor are switched off when not really needed. 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.

Smart For Two cdi

Powered by what is said to be the world's smallest directinjection diesel engine, the Smart For Two cdi claims the distinction of being its most economical combustion-driven production car. The 45-hp two-seater consumes just 3.3 L/100 km and can travel approximately 1000 km without refuelling. Emitting just 88 g/km of CO2, it is the champion for low CO2 emissions in a production car. Engine improvements, including a boost in fuel-injection pressure from 1350 to 1600 bar, make the 800-cc, threecylinder, common-rail diesel even more efficient than its predecessor. Power and torque are both up 10 percent, while fuel consumption is reduced by 13 percent. Depending on the driving situation and engine load, up to 60 percent of its exhaust gases are returned to the combustion chambers. And thanks to a compact but highly efficient turbocharger housed in the exhaust manifold, more than three-quarters of the engine’s maximum torque output is available from just 1500 rpm.

Top Three - Green Car

BMW 118d with Efficient Dynamics

Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI BlueMotion

The Passat BlueMotion represents the first application of Volkswagen’s BlueMotion diesel technology to a mid-size car. Powered by a 1.9-litre TDI diesel engine rated at 105 hp, it achieves a combined fuel consumption rating of just 5.1L/100 km – an improvement of 0.6 L/100 km from its conventional counterpart – giving it a range of 1350 km on a tank of fuel. Correspondingly, CO2 emissions are reduced by 15 g/ km to just 136 g/km and 137 g/km. Equipped with a diesel particulate filter, the Passat BlueMotion satisfies Euro 4 emissions standards. Those low fuel consumption and emission values were achieved by a combination of drivetrain, chassis and body optimization, which included aerodynamic fine tuning that involved lowering the body and adding underskirting. The resultant coefficient of drag is reduced by 12.2 percent. As a side benefit of the car’s aero improvements and longer gearing, its top speed has increased by five km/h. 2008 World Car of the Year Awards www.wcoty.com

Finalists - World Car design 18

Audi R8

Volvo C30

Mazda2 / Mazda Demio

Cadillac CTS

Design Experts A panel of four design experts established a short-list from the initial list of thirty-nine World Car of the Year candidates. The jurors then voted on the short-list. Akira Fujimoto Car Styling magazine

Robert Cumberford Automobile and Auto & Design magazines

Tom Matano Executive Director, School of Industrial Design, Academy of Art University, San Francisco

Since 1979, Akira Fujimoto has been the Editor-in-chief of the bimonthly design magazine Car Styling. Mr. Fujimoto has a long and distinguished career as a judge: Japan's Car Design Award; International Car Design Competition; Car of the Century; Concept Car of the Year by Automotive News International; and the World Automotive Design Competition sponsored by Alias (now Autodesk) and hosted by the Canadian International Auto Show. Mr. Fujimoto also acted as a consultant in the 2004 set-up of the World Car of the Year Awards.

Both a car designer and a writer specializing in design, the first car made to his sketches - a one-off special body for a Jaguar chassis - was built when he was 15 years old. At 19 he was a designer for General Motors, working chiefly on Chevrolet Corvettes. From 1958 onward he has worked for major car manufacturers in Europe and the US. He taught transportation design at the Art Center College of Design, is the editorialist for Auto & Design magazine and has written a popular column on car design for Automobile Magazine for 21 years.

Matano has thirty years of experience in the automotive design industry. He began his design career at General Motors Design in the USA, then GM's Holden in Australia, followed by BMW in Germany. In 1983, he became a Chief Designer at Mazda North America. He eventually moved up to Executive Designer in the Global Advance Studio and the General Manager of Mazda Design when he worked for Mazda in Japan from 1999 to 2002. His accomplishments at Mazda include the MPV, MX 5, RX 7, Miata "M-Coupe" concept car, Miata "M-Speedster" concept car along with many other projects.

Silvia Baruffaldi Auto & Design magazine

Since 1988, Ms. Baruffaldi has been working for the bimonthly magazine Auto & Design, where she is currently Managing Editor. Thanks to Auto & Design, she has contacts with design centres of car makers and consultant studios from all over the world. Based in Turin (Italian car designâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital), Auto & Design is published in a bilingual edition, English and Italian, and it is sold in over 50 different countries worldwide. Ms. Baruffaldi also contributes design articles to Il Sole 24 Ore, an Italian financial daily newspaper, and to Autokampioen in The Netherlands.

2008 World Car of the Year Awards www.wcoty.com

At a stroke, Audi has transformed the sports car landscape with the arrival last year of the R8. Its design is striking, original and full of interesting details, from the nose strakes to the much discussed vertical ‘blade’ behind the B pillar. One of our design experts, Tom Matano, puts it this way: “It is a great visual representation of the technology within.” One could add that 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.” Designers around the world dream of creating a sports car, but given all the government and safety constrictions imposed on today’s auto industry, the job is much harder than it may seem. Consequently Audi’s achievement in breaking the mold of exotic car design is all the more remarkable.

Volvo C30

Not that long ago, it was widely assumed, only half in jest, that Volvo didn’t actually have a design department, so boxy and featureless were its cars. Then along came a dramatic shift in direction with curves and distinctive styling cues replacing the cereal box on wheels school of design. The C30 builds on this nouvelle Volvo theme, with a small car that looks unlike anything else in its class. Robert Cumberford describes the C30 “as a return to the kind of the car that made Volvo’s reputation outside Sweden back in the late ‘50s. It is one of the best looking Volvo production cars ever.” For Tom Matano the clever thing about the C30 is that it creates its own proportion – not an easy task in this category. The C30, says Matano truly captures the ‘urban chic’ look.”

Mazda2/Demio

A combination of soft surfaces, sharp contours and an aggressive wedge profile gives the Mazda2 a distinctive new look in a very crowded sub-compact market. The achievement is especially noteworthy given the challenge of creating an interesting design within such tight overall dimensions. The Mazda2 (known in Japan as the Demio) was designed to appeal to a diverse audience. For instance, its mellow, friendly appearance is favored by female Japanese buyers, but the car’s edgy, sporty visual character – underscored by the RX8like front wheel arches - also appeals to European consumers. Slightly shorter in length and lower than its predecessor, the visual dynamism of this junior Mazda is a welcome breath of fresh air in today’s field of automotive design. Cleverly, the 2 manages to make itself recognizable as a member of the Mazda family, a brand that is carving out a reputation for unique design among the Asian automakers. 2008 World Car of the Year Awards www.wcoty.com

Top Three - World Car design

Audi R8