Audi A3 wins 2014 World Car of the Year

The 8V Audi A3 has been named the 2014 World Car of the Year, beating a field of 24 finalists which had been narrowed down to three and included the BMW 4 Series and the Mazda3.

On awarding the A3 the grand prize the judges noted: “It might borrow styling hints from its bigger brothers, but the A3 still offers classic, chiseled contours and even better interior trim levels. With a superb choice of engines and 4 body styles, the A3 range packs a hefty premium punch in the small luxury segment.

“Audi should be complimented for making this A3 ride like no other A3. All the old shimmer over rough surfaces has gone, replaced by a silky smooth ride that approaches limousine quality.”

The WCOTY awards are in just their tenth year and Volkswagen Group cars have won the main award six times, including: Audi A6 (2005), Golf VI (2009), Polo V (2010), up! (2012), and Golf VII (2013).

And now there is one… Audi A3 declared 2014 World Car of the Year

New York, 17 April 2014 – At a press conference hosted by the New York International Auto Show and Bridgestone Corporation, the Audi A3 was declared the 2014 World Car of the Year.

Audi is no stranger to our World Car Awards program – now in its 10th year. Audi has now won a total of seven times, having previously collected the inaugural 2005 World Car of the Year title, three World Performance Car titles in 2010, 2008 and 2007, and two World Car Design of the Year titles in 2008 and 2007.

The Audi A3 was chosen from an initial entry list of twenty-four vehicles from all over the world, then a short list of twelve, then three finalists: The BMW 4 Series, the Mazda 3 and the Audi A3.

Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, said: “The Audi A6 was the first ever winner of this award and we are delighted that the Audi A3 has repeated that achievement by being voted 2014 World Car of the Year. The Audi A3 showcases Audi’s technical competence in all aspects of carmaking, not least in the areas of lightweight technology, drivetrain, mobile infotainment and driver assistance systems. This major award win is an achievement that the whole company can celebrate”.

The World Car Awards jurors observed that, “It might borrow styling hints from its bigger brothers, but the A3 still offers classic, chiseled contours and even better interior trim levels. With a superb choice of engines and 4 body styles, the A3 range packs a hefty premium punch in the small luxury segment. Audi should be complimented for making this A3 ride like no other A3. All the old shimmer over rough surfaces has gone, replaced by a silky smooth ride that approaches limousine quality”.

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, 2013 and ending May 31, 2014.

Vehicles are selected and voted on by an international jury panel comprised of sixty-nine top-level automotive journalists from twenty-two countries around the world. Each juror was appointed by the World Car Steering Committee on the basis of his or her expertise, experience, credibility, and influence. Each juror typically drives and evaluates new vehicles on a regular basis as part of their professional work. Through their respective outlets they collectively reach an audience of many millions world-wide.

Previous World Car of the Year winners are the Volkswagen Golf, the Volkswagen Up! in 2012, the Nissan Leaf in 2011, the Volkswagen Polo in 2010, Volkswagen Golf in 2009, the Mazda2 / Mazda Demio in 2008, the Lexus LS460 in 2007, the BMW 3-Series in 2006, and the Audi A6 in 2005.

About the World Car Awards

Now in their tenth year, the annual World Car Awards are now the number one awards program in the world based on Prime Research’s 2013 report. The awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as well as to recognize and reward automotive excellence on an international scale. The awards are intended to complement, not compete, with existing national and regional Car of the Year programs.

The awards are administered by a non-profit association, under the guidance of a Steering Committee of pre-eminent automotive journalists from Asia, Europe, and North America. Peter Lyon (Japan) and Matt Davis (Italy) are the co-chairs; Jens Meiners (Germany), Mike Rutherford (U.K.), Eddie Alterman (USA), and Gerry Malloy (Canada) are the directors. There is no affiliation with, nor are the awards in any way influenced by any publication, auto show, automaker, or other commercial enterprise.

Audi A3 is named 2014 World Car of the Year

• Third generation of Audi’s premium compact car is a world beater
• Second overall victory for Audi at World Car of the Year Awards

Ingolstadt/New York, 2014-04-17 – The Audi A3, the premium compact bestseller from the brand with the four rings, is the 2014 World Car of the Year. This is the second overall title for Audi in the ten year history of the World Car of the Year Awards as the Audi A6 won the inaugural overall title in 2005.

The third generation of the Audi A3 is now officially confirmed as a world beater. It overcame the challenge from 23 other cars to win the prestigious World Car of the Year title in 2014. The A3 was voted as the winner by an international jury panel comprising 69 top‑level automotive journalists from 22 countries around the world.

Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, said: “The Audi A6 was the first ever winner of this award and we are delighted that the Audi A3 has repeated that achievement by being voted 2014 World Car of the Year. The Audi A3 showcases Audi’s technical competence in all aspects of carmaking, not least in the areas of lightweight technology, drivetrain, mobile infotainment and driver assistance systems. This major award win is an achievement that the whole company can celebrate”.

The new Audi A3 is available as a 3 door, Sportback, Cabriolet and Sedan. It is powered by a range of TFSI gasoline and TDI diesel engines. The A3 Sportback can also be ordered as a g‑tron, which can be operated using e‑gas generated by Audi, natural gas, or gasoline – when powered by e‑gas, the A3 Sportback g‑tron travels CO2-neutral.

Later this year, the A3 Sportback will also be available as an e‑tron, whose plug‑in hybrid drive enables journeys of up to 50 kilometers in all‑electric mode. Audi is offering customers in Germany green electricity – Audi energy. The cooperating partner is the Hamburg energy provider LichtBlick SE. The power all comes from renewable energy sources and is generated exclusively at hydro-electric power stations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. With Audi energy, the A3 e‑tron is totally emission-free when operated electrically.

Audi can look back on a 16‑year success story with the A3. In 1996, the first generation of the model series established an entirely new market segment – the premium compact class. With the second generation, which followed in 2003, the brand extended its lead with the addition of a Cabriolet to the familiar 3 door and Sportback body styles. The third A3 generation is available in four body styles following the further addition of the Sedan.

With this win for the Audi A3, Audi has maintained its position as the manufacturer with the most World Car of the Year titles. The brand with the four rings has previously won three World Performance Car titles, two World Car Design of the Year titles and the inaugural World Car of the Year title. In total Audi has won seven titles at the World Car of the Year Awards:

• 2005 Audi A6 World Car of the Year
• 2007 Audi RS 4 World Performance Car, Audi TT World Car Design of the Year
• 2008 Audi R8 World Performance Car, Audi R8 World Car Design of the Year
• 2010 Audi R8 V10 World Performance Car
• 2014 Audi A3 World Car of the Year