21.04.2011



Nissan Leaf declared 2011 World Car of the Year

At a press conference hosted by Bridgestone Corporation and the New York International Auto Show today, the Nissan Leaf has been declared the 2011 World Car of the Year.



The Nissan Leaf was chosen from an initial entry list of thirty-nine (39) new vehicles from all over the world, then a short list of ten, then three finalists:  the Nissan Leaf, the Audi A8 and the BMW 5 Series.

"It is a great joy that the world's first, mass-marketed electric vehicle, the Nissan LEAF, has won the prestigious award of 2011 World Car of the Year," said Nissan Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn. "This accolade recognizes Nissan LEAF, a pioneer in zero-emission mobility, as comparable in its driving performance, quietness and superb handling to gas-powered cars. And it validates Nissan's clear vision and the values of sustainable mobility that we want to offer to customers around the world."

To be eligible for the overall World Car award, the candidates must become available for sale on at least two continents during the period beginning January 1, 2010 and ending May 30, 2011.

2011 World Performance Car

The Ferrari 458 Italia was declared the 2011 World Performance Car.
The Ferrari 458 Italia was chosen from an initial entry list of fourteen (14) new cars from all over the world, then a short list of ten, then three finalists:  the Ferrari 458 Italia, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, and the Porsche 911 Turbo.

"Our goal in engineering the 458 Italia was to match the technology and extreme performance developed for our racing activities with the demands of our drivers, who wish to enjoy their cars on the road and experience the unique emotions that only a Ferrari can provide" said Marco Mattiacci, President and CEO, Ferrari North America.  "Today's award as 2011 World Performance Car makes us very proud and confident that we achieved our goals" concluded Mattiacci. 

Candidates for 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.  Candidates may be chosen from the World Car of the Year 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.

Previous World Performance Car winners were the Audi R8 V10 in 2010, the Nissan GT-R in 2009, the Audi R8 in 2008, the Audi RS4 in 2007 and the Porsche Cayman S in 2006.

2011 World Car Design of the Year

The Aston Martin Rapide was declared the 2011 World Car Design of the Year.
"Aston Martin's Director of Design, Marek Reichman who led the in-house design team which penned the Rapide said: "Like a race horse standing still, you can see its power and elegance, the shape of Rapide's rear haunches are muscular conveying the power that lies beneath while its low stance produces a powerful look.

"There is a real sense of proportion with this car, akin to a tailored suit; the new double grill gives more presence on the road while the iconic signature side strake has been lengthened through to the rear doors to enhance its lateral proportions in a subtle, yet elegant way. The car's purity makes it look right from every angle."

The World Car Design of the Year category, and the corresponding award, is meant to highlight new vehicles with innovation and style that push established boundaries. 

2011 World Green car

The Chevrolet Volt was declared the 2011 World Green Car*.
The Volt was chosen from an initial entry list of twelve (12) new vehicles from all over the world, then a short list of ten, then three finalists:  the Chevrolet Volt, the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition and the Nissan Leaf.

"The selection of the Volt as the World Green Car is a further proof point of the fuel efficient technologies that are now being offered by the Chevrolet brand around the world," said Rick Schiedt, Vice President of Chevrolet Marketing. "This award, and the others that have preceded it, validate the efforts of the development team to build a truly remarkable vehicle with the potential to transform transportation around the globe."

The World Green Car award is presented by Bridgestone Corporation (Japan).  Ryoji Yamada, General Manager of Brand Management said, "We are very pleased and honored to sponsor the 2011 World Green Car award.  The environment is everyone's responsibility. And throughout our global family of companies, we take this responsibility very seriously.  We believe it is our mission to serve society with superior quality... not just with eco-friendly products but also in the way we produce those products and the way in which we support our many communities with environmentally-friendly activities such as wildlife habitats and our Lake Biwa initiative in Japan".

To be eligible for the 2011 World Green Car* award, a vehicle had to be all-new, or substantially revised, in production and introduced for sale or lease to the public in quantities of at least 10 in at least one major market during the period beginning January 1, 2010 and ending May 30th, 2011.  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.



Vehicles for the above awards are selected and voted on by an international jury panel comprised of 66 top-level automotive journalists from 24 countries around the world. 

Ireland is represented by Padraic Deane, one of Ireland's most experienced automotive journalists and the Publisher and Managing Editor of Automotive Publications.

He represents Ireland on the World Car of the Year, World Green Car, World Performance Car and the World Car Design of the Year juries.


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