The new Mazda MX-5 has won the 2016 World Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year title - the first car to win both titles in the history of the awards.
The MX-5 has won more than 30 awards, including 2015-2016 Car of the Year Japan and 2016 UK Car of the Year.
The World Car Awards were announced at the recent New York Auto Show. The most powerful Audi road car built, the R8 coupe won the World Performance Car 2016 award. The World Luxury Car 2016 title was won by the BMW 7 Series.
And finally, the 2016 World Green Car was won by the Toyoya Mitai. The hydrogen car beat off two of the top hybrids models to take the award.
The vehicles were selected and voted on by an international jury panel comprising 73 automotive journalists from 23 countries around the world. Each juror was appointed by the World Car Steering Committee on the basis of expertise, experience, credibility, and influence. Each juror typically drives and evaluates new vehicles on a regular basis as part of their professional work.
Eddie Cunningham, the motoring editor of the Irish Independent is the Irish juror for the World Car Awards. He succeeded Padraic Deane who had completed a six year term as the Irish juror.
