Admittedly, not as important as the Tarmac Life Car of the Year Awards, however, the countdown has officially begun for the 2025 World Car Finals powered by Brembo, with the announcement of the top ten and five finalists in six highly anticipated categories. This prestigious event kicked off at a press release in Las Vegas on January 8, 2025, and will culminate with the winners unveiling during the World Car Awards ceremony at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) on April 16, 2025.
Categories and Leaders
This year has seen incredible competition across the automotive industry, as a jury of 96 international automotive journalists from 30 countries cast their votes to determine the finalists. These distinguished members evaluated vehicles through professional testing, all while maintaining confidentiality via a secret ballot process overseen by KPMG.
World Car of the Year (WCOTY):
From an initial list of 52 contenders, the top ten finalists for the ultimate World Car of the Year include some of the most innovative and forward-thinking vehicles:
Audi A5/S5
BMW X3
Ford Mustang
Hyundai Inster / Casper Electric
Kia EV3
Mini Cooper Electric
Suzuki Swift
Toyota Camry
Toyota Land Cruiser / Land Cruiser 250
Volkswagen Tiguan / Tayron.
World Electric Vehicle:
This year’s top electric competitors are:
Hyundai Inster / Casper Electric
Kia EV3
Porsche Macan Electric
Volkswagen ID. Buzz
Volvo EX90.
World Luxury Car:
Among the luxurious top five, Porsche dominates with two entries:
Lexus GX
Porsche Macan
Porsche Panamera
Volkswagen ID. Buzz
Volvo EX90 .
World Performance Car:
Speed and performance stand out with these five finalists:
Bentley Continental GT Speed
BMW M5
Ford Mustang
Porsche 911 Carrera GTS
Porsche Taycan Turbo GT .
World Urban Car:
Practical yet stylish, the top small cars for urban life are:
BYD Seagull / Dolphin Mini
Hyundai Inster / Casper Electric
Mini Cooper
Mini Cooper Electric
Suzuki Swift.
World Car Design of the Year:
All finalists across the categories above are eligible for the design accolade; however, the initial shortlist selected by a panel of five global design experts includes:
Baojun Yunduo / Cloud / MG Windsor EV
Kia EV3
Mini Cooper
Toyota Land Cruiser
Volkswagen ID. Buzz .
The Road Ahead
The “Top Three in the World” finalists for each category will be announced virtually on March 4, 2025, via World Car TV, ahead of the grand finale in April . The awards, celebrating over 20 years of excellence, highlight not only automotive achievements but also the collaboration and shared vision of brands like Brembo, KPMG, and the New York International Auto Show . Jury members’ testing experiences from across the globe will continue to be shared with audiences through video reviews and commentary .
Daniele Schillaci, Brembo’s Chief Executive Officer, praised the finalists for their vision and innovation, reflecting Brembo’s own commitment to excellence: “The finalists of this esteemed award represent forward-thinking achievements that align perfectly with our core values” .
As President Mark Schienberg of NYIAS noted, this year not only celebrates the winners of the World Car Awards but also the 125th anniversary of North America’s first and largest-attended auto show. With nearly 1,000 cars on display and excitement building, it promises to be a historic year for the automotive community .
Stay tuned to World Car TV and social media channels as the #RoadtoNYC reaches its peak. With six categories, fierce competition, and global media attention, the 2025 World Car Awards are setting new benchmarks for automotive excellence.
