Fourth consecutive year with an EV: Will it happen again?
The WCF, known as the World Car Finals Powered By Brembo, has recently revealed the Top 10 and Top Five nominees for six categories. The official announcement of the winners will take place at the New York International Motor Show on March 27. This unique competition stands out from others as it employs a panel of 100+ respected automotive journalists representing 29 different countries, offering a global perspective on car evaluations.
In November of the previous year, the WCF made public that there were 36 finalists for the prestigious 2024 World Car of the Year award. However, that number has significantly decreased to only 10 cars vying for the top spot. In recent years, there has been a strong inclination towards electric vehicles, with the Jaguar I-Pace taking home the trophy in 2019. Although an internal-combustion powered car, the Kia Telluride, won in the following year, all title holders after have been electric, including the Volkswagen ID.4, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (which swept the competition), and the Hyundai Ioniq 6, which claimed the accolade in 2023.
The coveted World Car of the Year award for 2024 is expected to once again be taken by an electric vehicle. Out of the 10 contenders, highlights include the BYD Seal, Ford Bronco, Hyundai Kona and Kona Electric, Kia EV9, Mazda CX-90, Subaru Crosstrek, Toyota Prius, Volkswagen ID.7, and the Volvo EX30. In my opinion, the deserving recipient would be the groundbreaking Toyota Prius for its ability to make hybrids fashionable, dynamic, and reasonably priced.
The WCF not only designates an overall champion, but also recognizes five subdivision winners for the top electric vehicle, luxury vehicle, high-performance car, urban car, and design of the year.Apart from crowning a grand victor, the WCF features five subgroups honoring the finest electric automobile, lavish car, outstanding sports car, city-friendly vehicle, and ultimate design of the year.
The top contenders in the global Electric Vehicle category consist of the BMW i5, Kia EV9, Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, Volkswagen ID.7, and Volvo EX30. The EV9 has shown exceptional technical prowess, making it our top pick.Grammar checked and fixed: The leading competitors in the international Electric Vehicle category include the BMW i5, Kia EV9, Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, Volkswagen ID.7, and Volvo EX30. The EV9 stands out for its impressive engineering, making it a strong contender for our bet.
Among the top contenders in the prestigious World Luxury Segment are the BMW 5 Series and i5, Lexus LM, Mercedes-Benz CLE, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and the Mercedes-Benz EQE. The market-leading brands of Mercedes and BMW offer unique features to entice consumers, such as a selfie camera and access to the popular app TikTok from Mercedes, and a gaming experience from BMW. It’s highly probable that one of these German brands will come out on top, but don’t count out the possibility of an unexpected upset by Lexus with their LM model.
We fully support four out of the five contenders for the coveted title of World Performance Car. The finalists include the BMW M2, Ferrari Purosangue, Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, and Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid. However, the odd one out is the BMW XM, which may excel as a luxury vehicle but falls short in meeting the standards of high-performance. Our preference for the winner would be Hyundai, particularly due to their dedication towards creating an electric vehicle with the same thrilling driving experience as a traditional car.
The Urban Car category finalists have been announced and include the Abarth 500e, BYD Dolphin, Lexus LBX, Volvo EX30, and Suzuki Fronx. While the EX30 is currently the only model available in America, there are speculations that Fiat will also bring out the high-performance 500e once their presence in the American market is solidified.
Although opinions on art may vary, WCF has created a team of six globally renowned design specialists to determine the most aesthetically pleasing car of 2024. The chosen finalists by this panel include the Ford Bronco, Ferrari Purosangue, Toyota Prius, Volvo EX30, and Zeekr X. While we hold out hope for the Prius to triumph, demonstrating that hybrid vehicles can be stylish and appealing, the Ferrari stands a chance with its innovative take on SUV design.
According to Daniele Schillaci, the Chief Executive Officer of Brembo, “Today, more than ever, cutting-edge technologies and megatrends are playing a crucial role in shaping the automotive industry.” He further added, “At Brembo, our forward-thinking approach has always set us apart, and we are eagerly anticipating the reveal of the winners. We extend our best wishes to all participants.”
