World Car of the Year Award 2007 goes to ...

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Lexus won the Worlds best car of the year for the LS460, Performance car of the year going to the Audi RS4 and the TT gets the 2007 World Car Design of the Year award.

The Lexus LS460 and the other winners was chosen from an initial entry list of twenty-eight (28) contenders nominated by World Car jurors from 22 countries throughout the world.

Lexus is 2007 World Car of the Year

WCOTY jurors considered the prestigious LS 460 to be “the embodiment of the Lexus brand's motto – the pursuit of perfection. Classically luxurious, with modern execution, unquestioned quality and more than ample power, it also offers a green alternative in the form of the soon to be launched LS 600h hybrid variant for those who seek guilt-free indulgence.”

The jurors also recognised that Lexus continues to build its reputation with this luxury flagship boasting many firsts, including a novel automatic parking system and an 8-speed automatic transmission.

"We are honoured to receive this prestigious award recognising the LS 460 as the '2007 World Car of the Year,'" said Bob Carter, Lexus group vice president and general manager.

Rather than being just a popularity contest, the objective of WCOTY is to ensure that the award would be the product of a fair and thorough assessment process that considered the needs and wants of consumers the world over. The process began with individual jurors evaluating and rating the candidates using a variety of standardised parameters - everything from styling and quality, to performance and safety. The jurors then voted in January to establish a top-ten short-list. The World Car of the Year was chosen from those finalists with the results tabulated by the international accounting firm, KPMG.

The top three contenders for the third annual World Car of the Year in addition to the Lexus LS 460 were the Audi TT and the MINI.

Audi RS4 is 2007 World Performance Car of the Year

According to the World Car of the Year jurors, the Audi RS 4 is "the virtual definition of a sports sedan". They praised the quattro permanent four wheel drive system, 420 hp engine and build quality that is "beyond reproach". The jurors also thought that the very best part of the Audi RS 4 was "the wonderful roar it emits when you put your right foot down".

The Audi RS 4 features a high-revving 420 hp eight-cylinder engine with FSI technology, quattro permanent four wheel drive with 40/60 asymmetric/dynamic torque distribution and DRC (Dynamic Ride Control). It reaches the 60 mph mark in 4.8 seconds, and 125 mph 16.6 seconds. Top speed is limited electronically to 155 mph.

Audi TT Is the 2007 World Car Design of the Year

The World Car of the Year jurors praised the new TT’s flared wheel arches, signature singleframe grille and sleek silhouette. They commented that "while there is a clear connection to the original TT’s Bauhaus styling, the second-generation model evolves it into a more modern form". The jurors also noted that Audi had worked hard to create "a more spacious, driver-focused cabin".

The new Audi TT Coupé is available with a 200 hp turbocharged FSI four cylinder engine or with a 3.2 litre six-cylinder engine with 250 hp and quattro permanent four wheel drive. Despite being longer, wider and better equipped than its predecessor, the new TT Coupé is lighter thanks to its hybrid aluminium/steel ASF (Audi Space Frame) body.

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