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THE ROAD AHEADW O R L D C A R A W A R D S
INTRODUCTION
Peter Lyon - Chairman, World Car Awards
Happy New Year. And welcome to World Car’s 14th year
and fifth as the planet’s No 1 car awards program in terms
of media reach. Speaking of media exposure, many drive
stories from our Los Angeles Test Drives last November
have, or are in the process of, appearing in global
publications and websites. So keep an eye out for those.
By the time this newsletter reaches you, our 82 jurors
would have just completed their first round of online voting
and KPMG would have tabulated those secret results and
prepared them for our second round in February, a time
when we select this year’s winners in six categories.
Jurors may have already voted in five categories – WCOTY,
Performance, Luxury, Green and Urban – to whittle down
the contenders for this year, but as far as our sixth award,
the World Car Design of the Year, is concerned, we look
forward to some extra styling expertise. Legendary
designers Gordon Murray and Shiro Nakamura will join
World Car’s four other design experts to narrow down the
field of over 30 contenders this year.
And just as the first voting round got underway, the motor
show season started in earnest with the CES and Detroit
Auto Shows happening back to back.
J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 8
T H E R O A D T O W O R L D C A R T A K E S M A N Y P A T H S
Many of our jurors attended both events to check out
upcoming models and focus on the latest developments in
self-driving, electrification, facial recognition technology,
A.I. and connectivity.
World Car is always looking to develop as well. In addition
to announcing the finalists in six categories inside the
Bridgestone stand at the Geneva Motor Show on March 6,
we will for the first time introduce the World Car Person
of the Year award to a distinguished member of the
automotive community.
Following on from 2017, we will once again open the New
York International Auto Show on March 28 with our media
breakfast and high profile awards ceremony in front of
over 600 media and OEM representatives.
For the third year in a row, World Car will display at least
two category-winning vehicles at a special stand inside the
London Motor Show site from May 17-20.
The World Car steering committee would like to take this
opportunity to welcome Japanese luxury leather goods
manufacturer, Neu Interesse as World Car’s most recent
official supporter who teamed up with us in early 2018.
We look forward to seeing you at the Bridgestone stand
in Geneva for our inaugural World Car Person of the Year
trophy presentation and at the Javits Center for our prize-
giving ceremony in New York City.
Until then, safe travels.
The motor show season has started in earnest with typically spectacular NAIAS and CES events
World Car will display at least two category-winning vehicles at a special stand inside the London Motor Show
T H E R O A D T O W O R L D C A R T A K E S M A N Y P A T H S
WORLD CHAMPIONS IN THE MAKING
B Y M I K E R U T H E R F O R D , D I R E C T O R A N D V I C E - C H A I R M A N , W O R L D C A R A W A R D S
Twenty vehicle manufacturers from across Asia, Europe
and North America are through to the final stages of the
2018 World Car Awards.
Nine of those finalists are in the running for the most talked
about, sought after and important automotive award on
the planet - the 2018 World Car of the Year title.
It’s no great shock that familiar stalwarts and past WCOTY
winners such as BMW, Mazda, Nissan and VW have been
voted into the prestigious Top Ten this time around. But
fast-improving Kia and born again Alfa Romeo are welcome
additions to that ten-strong list, too - as is a buoyant Volvo
which can do little wrong at present.
The same goes for Land Rover which has just achieved the
unthinkable by winning enough votes to ensure that two of
its all-new models are in a position to compete for WCOTY
glory.
Nissan, with its new LEAF, will be defending the title it
won with the original version back in 2011. And although
Volkswagen should be relieved that its T-Roc has qualified,
there must be disappointment at the company’s HQ in
Wolfsburg that its latest version of the Polo did not.
This year VW was hoping to repeat what it achieved in
2010 when it won the WCOTY trophy with its (previous
generation) Polo. But a follow up victory in 2018 is not to
be, following the revelation that the latest version of its
big-selling supermini has not earned Top 10 status and is
therefore out of the WCOTY running.
That elimination was unexpected but is possibly a sign
of the times. After all, Volkswagen has been producing
Polo superminis for the last 43 years. And its latest (sixth
generation) version that will see it through to Polo’s 50th
birthday is not as cute, distinctive and VW-like as its
predecessors.
But at least the all-new Polo stands a one in five chance
of claiming the World Urban Car crown at our prize-giving
ceremony in New York on the morning of March 28.
VW knows it’s up against stiff competition, though - from
conventional, up to 4.2m long superminis such as the Ford
Fiesta, Nissan Micra and Suzuki Swift, plus the cleverly-
designed Hyundai KONA SUV which looks large in the flesh,
but is in fact only 4.165m long and therefore just within the
new World Urban Car rules.
Volkswagen's new Polo: Out of the running for WCOTY, but in with a chance for World Urban Car glory
T H E R O A D T O W O R L D C A R T A K E S M A N Y P A T H S
It’s a hugely important category this, as small cars already
sell in colossal numbers in Europe and Asia and will become
increasingly popular as demand intensifies for precious
road space and parking bays across the globe. All over the
world the trend is that more people are moving from rural to
urban areas in search of employment and improved social
lives. This has to mean that small (but not necessarily tiny)
cars are the future for the motoring masses.
Over the years Audi has been awarded eight World Car
trophies - that’s more than any other company has won
in the history of the competition. But its German and
Japanese rivals in the World Luxury Car class are highly
impressive this year, so the serial World Car winner from
Ingolstadt may struggle to beat exciting offerings from
BMW, Lexus and Porsche - the latter having a 40 per cent
chance of winning the category thanks to the inclusion of
the Panamera and Cayenne.
But both Audi (with RS 3) and Lexus (LC 500) also have
a chance of victory in the World Performance Car sector
where the comparatively modest Honda Civic Type R has
also qualified as a finalist, along with the Alfa Romeo Giulia
Quadrifoglio and BMW M5.
The group of 2018 Word Green Car contenders is dominated
- surprisingly, perhaps - by American manufacturers.
Another surprise is that more pure-electrics have not made
it through to the Green finals this year, thereby suggesting
that there’s some way to go before the world accepts them
as genuine and affordable alternatives to petrol/gasoline,
diesel, and LPG models.
The finalists in the WCOTY division and the five supporting
categories are a deliciously diverse lot, though. In no
particular order of importance, there are - as expected -
conventional superminis, compact cars and mid-sized
to large saloons/sedans (some sporty, some not), plus
a traditional minivan/MPV in the mix. Hot hatches,
crossovers, sports cars, Grand Tourers, a luxury limo or
two, plus a pure-electric are other contenders.
But it’s the small/medium/large, modest/premium/
luxury crossovers or SUVs that dominate - not least
because they’re present in most of our 2018 World Car
categories. On this evidence, the petrol/gasoline or diesel
SUV remains in rude health and is still extremely popular
with World Car jurors based in cities, towns and rural areas
across the globe. At the very least, it’s fair to conclude that
these SUVs are among the best, most fit for purpose and
desirable cars in the world today.
Equally true is that with just one pure-electric candidate
(LEAF) in the World Car finals in 2018, the much talked
about ‘electric car revolution’ is still limping along slowly
instead of surging forward as it should be doing by now.
Despite the growing objections from politicians and
environmentalists to diesel and gasoline cars, they
continue to account for the overwhelming majority of sales
on the world stage.
At the same time, pure-electrics still sell in minuscule
volumes. And unless and until EVs cost less to buy new and
travel further after each recharge, demand and sales will
remain desperately low. The Nissan LEAF is the only pure-electric candidate left in the World Car finals
Luxury crossovers and SUVs continue to perform well - the Range Rover Velar is a WCOTY and World Car Design finalist
T H E R O A D T O W O R L D C A R T A K E S M A N Y P A T H S
W O R L D C A R
O F T H E Y E A R
Alfa Romeo Giulia
BMW X3
Kia Stinger
Land Rover Discovery
Mazda CX-5
Nissan LEAF
Range Rover VELAR
Toyota Camry
Volkswagen T-Roc
Volvo XC60
2 0 1 8 W O R L D
U R B A N C A R
Ford Fiesta
Hyundai KONA
Nissan Micra
Suzuki Swift
Volkswagen Polo
W O R L D L U X U R Y C A R
Audi A8
BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo
Lexus LS
Porsche Cayenne
Porsche Panamera
W O R L D P E R F O R M A N C E C A R
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
Audi RS 3
BMW M5
Honda Civic Type R
Lexus LC 500
W O R L D G R E E N C A R
BMW 530e iPerformance
Chevrolet Cruze Diesel
Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
Nissan LEAF
2018 WORLD CAR AWARDS FINALISTS
W O R L D C A R D E S I G N
O F T H E Y E A R
Citroen C3 Aircross
Lexus LC 500
Range Rover VELAR
Renault Alpine A110
Volvo XC60
N A T I O N S W I T H T H E M O S T
C O N T E N D E R S I N T H E
2 0 1 8 W O R L D C A R A W A R D S
F I N A L S
Germany 11
Japan 9
USA 3
Britain 2
Italy 2
Korea 2
France 2
Sweden 1
T H E R O A D T O W O R L D C A R T A K E S M A N Y P A T H S
CES 2018: ANOTHER GAMBLE
B Y J E N S M E I N E R S , V I C E - C H A I R M A N O F T H E W O R L D C A R A W A R D S
"What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas," is a
popular motto in the desert metropolis dedicated to
gambling and excess. But the Consumer Electronics Show
(CES) is an exception: "What happens in Las Vegas does
not stay in Las Vegas," Mercedes-Benz chief Ola Källenius
proclaimed in a press conference there.
His company had a lot to show: A semi-autonomous
S-Class concluding its world tour there, an autonomous
Smart Vision EQ Fortwo concept, and a newly developed
user interface for the upcoming front-wheel drive models.
The Daimler presentation outlined the two most important
trends at CES: electrification and autonomous driving.
The show is predestined for these topics through its
roots in consumer electronics and its proximity to metro
Los Angeles and Silicon Valley. This is where engineers,
programmers - and futurologists - come together to absorb
trends and cultivate their contacts.
Asian manufacturers are leaving their mark with ambitious
new products as well. Toyota showed the autonomous
EV e-Palette Concept and extended the Concept-i series
launched last year with two additional models.
Kia showed the concept of a fully electric version of
the compact Niro, while Hyundai launched the Nexo, a
standalone model with a hydrogen-powered fuel cell.
Honda showcased robotics and an electric ATV, while
Nissan announced a technology that can detect and
evaluate brain signals.
On the pre-night, Volkswagen brand chief Herbert Diess
announced an offensive for "artificial intelligence" in
the car, together with the head of Nvidia, Jensen Huang.
Ford, on the other hand, surprised the public with critical
reflections on the automobile, formulated in Europe in
the 1970s: "Where people once gathered in the streets
and town squares, there are now highways and multi-lane
roads," CEO Jim Hackett lamented. The Daimler presentation outlined the two most important trends at CES: electrification and autonomous driving
Kia news conference during Media Days at CES 2018
T H E R O A D T O W O R L D C A R T A K E S M A N Y P A T H S
Many creative solutions to e-mobility have not been tried
yet. Boris von Bormann, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Energy
Americas, believes that the number of charging stations
can be significantly reduced with predictive software. And
there could be financial incentives for the use of electric
cars as energy storage. Plug-in hybrids, according to
Bormann, can be more than an interim solution for many
users, regions and applications.
If extreme demands are covered with an internal
combustion engine, the expansion of the charging
infrastructure and the design of the battery modules can
be more conservative and environmentally friendly,
One thing is certain: e-mobility will be costly, and
autonomous vehicles are still far from ready for series
production. And the political framework is shifting: The
current US administration has strongly disempowered the
once imperious EPA. As modern vehicles rely strongly on
electronics, security issues such as the recently discovered
"Specter" and "Meltdown" malware were heavily discussed.
Not only do they endanger data security, they also endanger
the performance of affected systems.
Meanwhile, the CES was struggling with more profane
problems: On Tuesday, Google's outdoor demonstration
area had to be closed because it rained. And on Wednesday,
the electricity went out on parts of the floor.
The future remains a gamble in Las Vegas.
These places will have to be returned "to the people" -
apparently by driving these very people out of their own
cars and delivering them to autonomous EVs as part of a
"sharing economy we need."
An ambitious look into the future was provided by the new
brands Faraday Future and BYTON, both launched with
Chinese funds and equipped with German engineers and
designers. Faraday Future has designed a veritable Tesla
killer with the FF91: Faster, more powerful and with a
more modern interior than a Model X. But the company is
running out of money and currently undergoing an exodus
of high profile executives.
Things look better for BYTON; the concept car with giant
screen shown in Las Vegas is supposed to go into production
soon. And the world champion of announcements, Henrik
Fisker, showed the EMotion, which, unfortunately not before
2023, will feature "revolutionary battery technology".
All of these brands rely on the breakthrough of
e-mobility. They will face strong competition: Established
manufacturers will soon play the electric niche with highly
competent products.
A number of suppliers presented innovative ideas to meet
the daunting challenges; ZF, for example, showcased an
Opel Astra station wagon called "Dream Car", with a variety
of sensors and cameras and equipped with a learning
software.
Ford's keynote at CES centred on mobility within 'Smart Cities'
The much anticipated BYTON Concept premiere
T H E R O A D T O W O R L D C A R T A K E S M A N Y P A T H S
NAIAS 2018: TRUCK TRENDS
B Y T I M S T E V E N S , D I R E C T O R O F T H E W O R L D C A R A W A R D S
Auto shows tend to ebb and flow, one year wowing us
with more debuts than we can process and the next
falling curiously silent. After a quiet 2017, we weren’t sure
just what to expect from the 2018 iteration of the North
American International Auto Show in Detroit, but we were
surely unprepared for the volume of global debuts.
And I mean volume quite literally. The biggest debuts of the
show were physically very large, perhaps the most notable
being the new Chevrolet Silverado – though technically it
didn’t debut at NAIAS itself, rather at a pre-show event the
Saturday before.
That minor distinction aside, this is a major update to a
truck that Chevy sells over a half-million of annually. The
most startling change isn’t an addition but rather a deletion:
450 pounds worth of weight savings thanks largely to the
use of aluminum on many panels.
But, crucially, Chevrolet will still use steel in the bed,
ensuring that the acerbic marketing campaign the company
has lobbed against the all-aluminum Ford F-150 will live on.
That weight saving means more towing and hauling
capacity, though formal figures were not delivered to back
that up. Fuel economy should improve, and the Silverado
will also offer a new cylinder deactivation technology that
can shut down the ignition in individual cylinders, turning
the big V-8 into an effective one-cylinder! A 3.0-litre diesel
is also planned.
Dodge rolled out a new RAM 1500 as well, and it’s also
been on a diet: losing some 225 pounds. That’s rather less
impressive, and indeed the new RAM didn’t get nearly the
same coverage as the new Silverado, perhaps because the
most notable changes are on the inside.
The new RAM 1500 has a massive, 12-inch display situated
in the dashboard, vertically oriented à la Tesla Models S
and X. The Chevrolet Silverado sheds 450 pounds
The 2019 RAM 1500's most notable changes are on the inside
T H E R O A D T O W O R L D C A R T A K E S M A N Y P A T H S
No word on capacities or capabilities of the Ranger yet,
and its default power, at least to start, will be a 2.3-litre
EcoBoost – though rumors were swirling of a mini-Raptor
version to come.
And the final big addition was the new Mercedes-Benz
G-Class, that company’s iconic 4x4. Its debut marked the
first time I’ve ever seen a manufacturer brag about being
able to test the new car out in the open because nobody
could tell the difference between it and its predecessor.
Indeed, the new G looks much like the old, but a wholly new
interior is a massive step forward, finally adding the posh
accommodations it’s deserved. Underneath, the solid front
axle has been replaced by an independent setup for ride
quality, but the G still looks poised to be a fearsome off-
roader.
There were other, smaller unveilings too, like the Nissan
Xmotion (“Crossmotion”) crossover SUV and the sultry
Infiniti Q Inspiration Concept, but the trucks really
delivered a healthy NAIAS and kicked 2018 off in a big way.
If that weren’t enough, the RAM 1500 is also the first
vehicle we’ve seen to offer USB Type-C connectors, the
new standard used on most (non-Apple) smartphones.
Having this in the car means no more flipping your USB
cable around. Chevrolet confirmed the Silverado will also
have Type-C connectors, and that’s a trend I’m looking
forward to continuing.
And, while Chevrolet is adding a diesel to the Silverado,
RAM is actually getting rid of its diesels for now, with a
plan to return in a model year or two. That’ll surely be a
disappointment to the number of oil-burning loyalists the
brand has established.
Not to be outdone, Ford chose Detroit to roll out the
new Ranger, its compact pick-up truck that hasn’t been
available on the American market for five years. “New”
here is a relative term, as this is largely the same truck
that’s been available elsewhere for that duration, now with
a refreshed nose and some other tweaks.
Not to be outdone, Ford chose NAIAS to roll out the new Ranger
Mercedes displayed a 1979 G-Class in a block of 'amber' resin
T H E R O A D T O W O R L D C A R T A K E S M A N Y P A T H S
AUTONEUM: INNOVATIONS FOR FUTURE MOBILITY
B Y J E N S M E I N E R S , V I C E - C H A I R M A N O F T H E W O R L D C A R A W A R D S
As the megatrends of electrification, autonomous driving
and shared mobility are taking shape, automotive supplier
Autoneum is sharpening its strategy and portfolio. The
Swiss-based, globally operating company specialises in
acoustic and thermal management for vehicles.
In order to understand the specific requirements of electric
vehicles and to anticipate future trends even better,
Autoneum established a Competence Center for New
Mobility in the heart of the Silicon Valley last year. There,
company experts are working alongside established and
new automobile manufacturers on the optimal acoustic
performance of electric vehicles.
The path to electrification requires innovative products
for heat and noise protection. Among others, Autoneum’s
product portfolio for electric vehicles includes carpet
systems, inner dashes and floor insulators, underbody
systems and wheelhouse outer liners. Autoneum is
currently supplying a number of electric vehicles, including
the BMW i3, Chevrolet Bolt, Nissan LEAF and Renault Zoe.
Already in 2018, more e-models will follow.
The requirements for e-cars are different but no less
challenging than those for conventionally powered cars. In
fact, the demands on NVH performance are even greater.
In the absence of engine noise in EVs, more attention is
drawn to sound sources that are new or were previously
drowned out such as high-frequency sounds or rolling and
wind noise and therefore need a stronger treatment than in
a conventionally powered car.
There are thermal challenges as well with electric
powertrains: Batteries typically use 20 percent of charge
for vehicle temperature regulation. Therefore, thermal
insulation products are needed to shield the passenger
cabin from cooling and heating. Additionally, e-cars require
a stronger weight reduction through the use of lightweight
components in order to cut down battery weight.
There are also opportunities in industry trends like
autonomous driving and car sharing because passengers
will increasingly use their travel time for work and
recreation thanks to fully automated driving systems.
This requires innovative technologies and products that
enable undisturbed driving pleasure. For example, interior
surfaces need to be optimised with sustainable, sound-
absorbing and aesthetic materials.
In addition to anticipating new trends, Autoneum expects
to profit from digital transformation in manufacturing;
intelligent production systems will enable more efficient
processes, improvements in working conditions, a more
flexible and individual production as well as associated
cost savings. An Autoneum acoustic specialist measures interior noise
T H E R O A D T O W O R L D C A R T A K E S M A N Y P A T H S
CES vs. NAIAS: A DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH
B Y B E R N D H I T Z E M A N N , D I R E C T O R A T P R I M E R E S E A R C H
Since 2015, NAIAS has lost more than half of its global
impact in traditional media. The event is currently
fighting a battle to retain its “A-Show” status, as media
increasingly view it as a show for the domestic US market.
With few concepts, little electrification and few new
players, US-centric serial models historically dominate the
show. Media now see NAIAS as a show for fossil-fuelled
SUVs and trucks, and have criticised the event as being
“outdated”. In the current climate of plummeting US car
sales, high market saturation and nagging questions about
the automotive industry‘s future, many talked of a lack of
pioneering spirit at the 2018 show. But don’t write NAIAS
off just yet. Although the data shows an overall decline in
coverage, the Detroit Auto Show remains important on an
international level, with more than half of its traditional
coverage originating from outside the USA.
In contrast to the difficult times experienced by traditional
auto shows, as OEMs increasingly turn to standalone
events, CES remains impressive with a modern mix of
media coverage, stable representation from traditional
channels and a substantial social media resonance. And
with its future-oriented mix of topics, CES is making
traditional car shows like Frankfurt, Geneva and Detroit
look old-fashioned.
European carmakers such as Audi and BMW were barely
present at CES, leaving the floor open to new players; Asian
OEMs, automotive suppliers and tech companies. BYTON‘s
futuristic vision of a “smart device” at the 2018 show fit
perfectly into CES’ tech-backdrop and became the show
star from the off. Former BMW executives like Carsten
Breitfeld and Daniel Kirchert, as well as background
support from Tencent and Foxconn, provided the startup
with a high degree of credibility. The impact figures for
CES, although lower overall than those of Detroit, show a
healthy representation of traditional media, combined with
an increasing (now larger than NAIAS) social presence.
It too has international appeal, with more than half of
coverage generated by sources outside the US.
How automakers, show coordinators and journalists
will respond to these trends remains to be seen, but as
consumer tastes rapidly change, the success of these
shows is illustrative of the entire industry’s need to adapt
to stay engaging. Will we start to see traditional auto
shows like NAIAS incorporate more of a future-focussed
character, or will we see more of a divide, as automakers
save their newest technology and concepts for standalone
events and tech-shows. Whatever comes next, PRIME
Research will be keeping a close, analytical eye on the
trends as they unfold.
CES vs. NAIAS Benchmark
0m
300m
600m
900m
1,200m
1,500m
1,800m
2015 2016 2017 2018 2015 2016 2017 20182015[04. – 09.01]
2016[04. – 09.01]
2017[03. – 08.01]
2018[07. – 12.01]
SHOW-WEEKS
2015[11. – 16.01]
2016[10. – 15.01]
2017[08. – 13.01]
2018[14. – 19.01]
x 1.8
SOCIAL
TRADITIONAL
SOCIAL
TRADITIONAL
wcoty.com or Beth Rhind, Executive Manager, [email protected]
PARTNERS
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THE ROAD TO WORLD CAR:
BEGAN IN FRANKFURT SEPT. 12, 2017. ENDS IN NEW YORK MARCH 28, 2018.
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