And Now There is One....Range Rover Evoque Declared 2012 World Car Design of the Year

NEW YORK--April 5, 2012: At a press conference hosted by Bridgestone Corporation and the New York International Auto Show, the Range Rover Evoque was declared the 2012 World Car Design of the Year.

Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Design Director and Chief Creative Officer, who led the design team said: "We are honored that the Range Rover Evoque has been named 2012 World Car Design of the Year. This prestigious accolade recognizes the overwhelmingly positive response we've received to the Evoque's bold, dramatic design. It is a car that truly resonates on an emotional level."

The World Car Design of the Year category, and the corresponding award, is meant to highlight new vehicles with innovation and style that push established boundaries.

It was a long list of hopefuls. Forty-six (46) candidates were eligible for the honour of being the 2012 World Car Design of the Year. Those candidates may be on the overall World Car of the Year list, or may be included as a stand-alone entry provided the vehicle is introduced and available for sale in at least one major market during the period beginning January 1, 2011 and ending May 30th, 2012

A design panel consisting of five highly respected world design experts was asked to first review each candidate, and then establish a short-list of recommendations for the jurors. The design experts were:

Masatsugu Arimoto: as Japan's foremost automotive design commentator, Arimoto is chairman of the Japan Auto Colour Award program, and a juror on Car Styling's "Car Design Awards" as well as judge on the Japan Car of the Year awards.

Silvia Baruffaldi: as Managing Editor of Auto & Design magazine, Silvia Baruffaldi has contacts with design centres of car makers and consultant studios the world over.

Gernot Bracht: former designer at Renault who now teaches at the Pforzheim design school in Germany.

Sam Livingstone: Director of the consultancy Car Design Research, Senior Tutor in Vehicle Design at the Royal College of Art and Associate Editor of Car Design News.

Tom Matano: currently the Executive Director, School of Industrial Design, at Academy of Art University, San Francisco. From 1983 to 2002, Matano worked at Mazda managing the Chief Designers group that created the entire Mazda car line designs. Judges on many Concours d'Elegances including Pebble Beach.

The experts had lots to say about the impressive design of the Range Rover Evoque:

"Land Rover once said the Range Rover Sport was born of the Range Stormer Concept which was much praised at the 2004 NAIAS. But I think this new Evoque is the very evolution of the concept vehicle from design view point. The shoulder line is higher, the roof is lower and the overall proportion consequently becomes more distinctive and sportier than the Stormer. Taut lines and clean surfaces suggest designer's conviction to create simple yet emotional product. This must be one of the best examples of so called "less is more" design norm." (Masatsugu Arimoto)

"True to the concept car it derives from, it is a contemporary automotive design masterpiece. Besides not having equals on the markets, it is able to deliver the Land Rover DNA in a more compact, sporty bodystyle. A premium products without the bad habit of showing off." (Silvia Baruffaldi)

"A totally fresh take on SUV--crossover that also delivers unquestionably on being from the long linage of Range Rover." (Sam Livingstone)

"New proportion and fine details. Another definition of a cross-over." (Tom Matano)

The sixty-four (64) World Car Awards jurors then voted on the expert's recommendations in February and their ballots were tabulated by the international accounting firm KPMG.

Previous winners of the World Car Design of the Year award were the Aston Martin Rapide in 2011, the Chevrolet Camaro in 2010, the Fiat 500 in 2009, the Audi R8 in 2008, the Audi TT in 2007 and the Citroen C4 in 2006.

Prime Research International, a global leader in strategic communication research and consultancy is once again the World Car Awards' research partner. The company will provide strategic reports in 2012 that analyze our awards global automotive media coverage.

PHOTOS from today's press conference are available for download on our web site at WCOTY Award Photos.

About the WORLD CAR AWARDS
Now in their eighth year, the annual World Car awards have become one of the world's most prestigious, credible and significant programs of its kind.

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; John McCormick (USA), Jens Meiners (Germany) 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.

About BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. In addition to tires for use in a wide variety of applications, it also manufactures a broad range of diversified products, which include industrial rubber and chemical products and sporting goods. Its products are sold in over 150 nations and territories around the world.

About PRIME RESEARCH
PRIME Research International, a global leader in strategic communication research and consultancy, has joined forces with the World Car Awards to provide strategic studies in the fields of automotive assessment criteria and automotive awards. PRIME Research is a well-trusted research partner for the automotive industry with a broad range of automotive clients. Its full picture approach, which provides strategic benchmark information and SWOT analyses on over 100 brands and over 10,000 different automobile models, sets the standard in automotive media research.

About the 2012 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS)
Showcasing the latest automotive trends, the 2012 New York International Auto Show will unveil an extensive collection of the most technologically advanced vehicles on display anywhere in the world. More than four floors of displays, including the new Javits Center North exhibition hall, will house nearly 1,000 stunning new 2012/2013 vehicles as well as sensational futuristic concept cars. NYIAS is owned and produced by the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association.

Important Show Information: Press Days: April 4 & 5, Public Show Dates: April 6 -- April 15th
Show Hours: Monday -- Saturday: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sundays: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.