BMW, Ford and Volkswagen among 2015 World Car of the Year finalists
Ten models from Europe, the US and Asia are in the running for the main World Car of the Year award, with further shortlists for luxury, performance, green and design categories.
The shortlist for the 2015 World Car of the Year awards features ten contenders from a broad spread of manufacturers, with the BMW 2-Series Active Tourer, Citroën C4 Cactus, Ford Mustang, Hyundai Genesis, Jeep Renegade, Mazda2, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, MINI 5-door, Nissan Qashqai and Volkswagen Passat all making the cut. The finalists were selected by a panel of 75 international automotive journalists, with the overall winner to be announced at the New York Auto Show in April 2015.
The selection process began in October 2014 at the Paris Motor Show and continued through the North American circuit in November. The list will be further narrowed to three finalists for each category at the Geneva Motor Show in March, before the winners are revealed in New York.
Main category finalists: a mix of segments and regions
The ten models vying for the main World Car of the Year title reflect a broad cross-section of the global market. The Ford Mustang and Hyundai Genesis represent American and Korean manufacturers, while the Citroën C4 Cactus and Volkswagen Passat highlight European design and engineering. The list includes hatchbacks, saloons and SUVs, with both mainstream and premium badges represented.
- BMW 2-Series Active Tourer
- Citroën C4 Cactus
- Ford Mustang
- Hyundai Genesis
- Jeep Renegade
- Mazda2
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class
- MINI 5-door
- Nissan Qashqai
- Volkswagen Passat
Luxury, performance, green and design categories
Alongside the main award, the World Car of the Year programme recognises achievements in four specialist categories: Luxury, Performance, Green and Car Design. Each has its own shortlist of finalists, again chosen by the international jury.
- World Luxury Car: BMW i8, BMW X6, Cadillac ATS Coupe, Cadillac Escalade, Kia K900, Lexus NX, Lexus RC, Lincoln MKC, Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe, Range Rover Autobiography Black LWB
- World Performance Car: Audi S1, Audi S3, Audi TT/TTS, Bentley Continental GT Speed, BMW M4 Coupe/M3 Sedan, Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, Jaguar F-Type R Coupe, Lexus RC F, Mercedes-AMG GT
- World Green Car: BMW i8, Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell, Kia Soul EV, Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine, Volkswagen Golf GTE
- World Car Design: BMW 2-Series Active Tourer, Citroën C4 Cactus, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Porsche Macan, Volvo XC90
The BMW i8 stands out as a finalist in both the Luxury and Green categories, reflecting its dual positioning as a plug-in hybrid sports car. The World Performance Car shortlist is dominated by German marques, with three Audis, two BMW M models and the Mercedes-AMG GT, but also features American muscle in the form of the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. The Design shortlist recognises both mainstream and premium models, with the Citroën C4 Cactus and Volvo XC90 up against the Porsche Macan and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
What happens next
The next stage will see the jury narrow each category to three finalists at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The winners will then be announced at the New York Auto Show in April 2015, following a final round of voting. The awards are intended to recognise global appeal rather than regional preference, with eligibility based on availability on at least two continents during the judging period.
