In accordance with the decade-long tradition, the winners of the World Car of the Year have been announced on the New York Auto Show. The international jury of 69 journalists from 22 countries selected winners from 5 categories. In addition to the Grand Prize, they also announced winners in luxury, sport, green and design categories.
This year’s “World Car of the Year (WCOTY)” prize has been given to the third-generation Audi A3, that is a real high-tech car, full of new developments, and the range includes already hybrid and alternative-powered (like natural gas, e-gas) versions. The winner Audi A3 is entirely made in Győr, Hungary. The production of the series started last year, when the factory in Győr has been handed over after a 270 billion HUF investment and development.
photo:www.caranddriver.com
This is the first time when a car manufactured in Hungary won the World Car of the Year title and considering the fact, that the jury assessed the total model family, we can be even prouder of the collective of the factory in Hungary. Limousine and Cabrio versions are produced at Audi Hungaria too, and they have produced S3 and RS3 Sportback 340 hp models too since the existence of the factory.
The jury members were particularly impressed by the engines made in Győr: both the environmentally friendly and sporty diesel and petrol turbo have been acknowledged. The capacity and the product range of the factory is steadily expanding since last year, soon sporty models will roll off the assembly line too next to the Limousine and the Cabrio versions. A good indicator of growth is the fact that they have made five million units from the A3 so far.
Of course this is not the first recognition of the Audi: different models have won more than 100 awards, have received the European Car of the Year (COTY) award twice, they are three-time World Car of the Year winners, and have been awarded with 23 “Golden Steering Wheel Awards”. For example: in 2007, the year’s sports car was the RS4 and the TT got the Best Design in the World title. In 2008, the R8 got the same recognition, and in 2010 the R8 V10 became thePerformance Car of the Year.
Naturally, in addition to the grand prize, the four other award categories were allocated this year too on the New York Auto Show. The other category winners are:
„2014 World Performance Car of the Year”: Porsche 911 GT3
The 911 GT3, the world’s top performance car can produce a max 470 horsepower and hit a top speed of 195 miles per hour after going from 0 to 60 in 3.3 seconds.
photo:http://wallstcheatsheet.com
„2014 World Green Car of the Year” & „2014 World Design Car of the Year”: BMW i3
It’s a city car that provides a gasoline-free alternative for the growing urban population, made of sustainable materials in a sustainable facility and runs on an electric powertrain. The jury acknowledged the innovations of BMW in the use of carbon fiber materials for the i3 body as “game-changing”.
photo:http://wallstcheatsheet.com
„2014 World Luxury Car of the Year”: Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes’ motto, the “best or nothing” is true for the whole family, but in this year the flagship is the S550, that the award presenter appositely called “the dominator.”
photo: http://wallstcheatsheet.com