World Car of the Year 2016 finalists announced

The World Car of the Year 2016 finalists have been announced, with the Audi A4, Mazda MX-5 and Mercedes GLC all in the running for top honours. The overall winners will be announced at the New York Motor Show (NYIAS) later this month.

In the World Performance Car category, the Audi R8 will fight it out with the Honda Civic Type R and Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe, while in the World Green Car segment, the Chevrolet Volt sees stiff competition from the hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai and all-new Toyota Prius.

• Auto Express New Car Awards 2015: the winners

World Luxury Car will be decided between the Audi Q7 SUV, BMW 7 Series and the Volvo XC90. We’re big fans of the XC90 here at Auto Express, crowning it our overall Car of the Year in 2015. Finally, the World Car Design of the Year will be challenged by the British-built Jaguar XE, Mazda CX-3 and Mazda MX-5.

The Mazda MX-5 is proving popular across the globe, in fact, narrowly losing out to the Vauxhall Astra in the recent European Car of the Year awards, which were announced earlier this month at the Geneva Motor Show.

A jury of 73 international automotive journalists – including Auto Express editor-in-chief Steve Fowler and special contributor Mike Rutherford, will decide the winners in each category. The results will be announced in New York on March 24 2016.

2016 World Car of the Year

14

• Audi A4• Mazda MX-5• Mercedes GLC

2016 World Luxury Car

14

• Audi Q7• BMW 7 Series• Volvo XC90

2016 World Performance Car

14

• Audi R8• Honda Civic Type R• Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupe

2016 World Green Car

14

• Chevrolet Volt• Toyota Mirai• Toyota Prius

2016 World Car Design of the Year

14

• Jaguar XE• Mazda CX-3• Mazda MX-5

What would be your choice as World Car of the Year? Let us know in the comments section below...