NEW YORK MOTOR SHOW: World Car of the Year

The most cheerful part of Mazda’s product surge has taken the world’s most prestigious automotive award.

The fourth generation of Mazda’s two-seat, convertible sports car today became the second Mazda to take both the World Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year crowns.

After single-handedly resurrecting the market for two-seat rear-drive accessible convertible sports cars since 1989, it has now followed up on the Mazda2’s 2008 World Car of the Year outright win.

In an award judged by 73 motoring journalists from 23 countries, the
MX-5 overcame more practical final-three opposition from Mercedes-Benz’s GLC SUV and Audi’s all-new A4 sedan and wagon.

“What a wonderful honor, to have the Mazda MX-5 named World Car of the Year,” said Masahiro Moro, President and CEO of Mazda North American Operations and Managing Executive Officer, Mazda Motor Corporation.

“As our iconic MX-5 roadster approaches one million units of production, this award is proof that it is as young, vibrant, fun and relevant as ever.

“While I accept this award on behalf of the company, I do so representing every Mazda employee, retail partner and customer around the world who has ever felt the joy of driving a pure roadster.

“We say ‘driving matters’ in our advertising and we prove it in our cars.”

In an era of cars gaining size and weight with each generation, the MX-5 has bucked the trend. It is 105mm shorter and 100kg lighter than the car it replaces.

Mazda has held the line on driving purity by refusing to turbocharge the direct-injection 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engines, and it delivers the choice of either six-speed manual or automatic transmissions.

“With the launch of its all-new MX-5, Mazda has thrown out the blueprint and gone back to basics – back to 1989 basics,” the World Car Awards jurors noted.

“Shorter, lower, wider and – most importantly – lighter, the new MX-5 comes with a choice of either 1.5 or 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engines and the promise of unparalleled ‘Jinba ittai’ – a term meaning oneness between car and driver. And yes, it’s still one of the best driver’s cars around.”

Previous WCOTY awards have gone to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2014), Audi A3 Sportback (2014),  Volkswagen Golf (2013), the Volkswagen Up (2012), the Nissan LEAF (2011), the Volkswagen Polo (2010), the Volkswagen Golf VI (2009), the Mazda2 (2008), the Lexus LS460 (2007) and the BMW 3 Series in 2006.

In the other class awards announced in New York today, Toyota’s hydrogen-powered Mirai edged out the petrol-electric hybrid Prius and Chevrolet Volt to the World Green Car award.

BMW's 7 Series edged out Audi’s Q7 SUV and the Volvo XC90 to win the World Luxury Car award.

The Audi R8 Coupe has continued its love affair with the World Car Awards by sweeping past the Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupe and the Honda Civic Type-R to win the World Performance Car award. The original R8 V8 won the same award, as well as the World Car Design award.

In this year's World Car Design of the Year award, the MX-5 edged past Mazda’s own CX-3 and Jaguar’s XE sedan.

2016 WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR WINNERS

Overall 2016 WCOTY:
1. Mazda MX-5
2. Mercedes-Benz GLC
3. Audi A4

World Luxury Car:
1. BMW 7 Series
2. Audi Q7
3. Volvo XC90

World Performance Car:
1. Audi R8 Coupe
2. Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupe
3. Honda Civic Type-R

World Car Design:
1. Mazda MX-5
2. Mazda CX-3
3. Jaguar XE

World Green Car:
1. Toyota Mirai
2. Toyota Prius
3. Chevrolet Volt

Other 2016 World Car of the Year Finalists:
BMW 330e
BMW X1
Hyundai Tucson
Land Rover Discovery Sport
Skoda Superb
Cadillac CT6
Chevrolet Camaro
Jaguar XF
Land Rover Discovery
Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe
Range Rover Sport SVR
Skoda Superb
Volkswagen Passat GTE

* Note: An earlier version of this story listed incorrect 2016 WCOTY winners