At a press conference presented by the MIDWAY GROUP and hosted by the New York International Auto Show at the Jacob Javitz Centre in Manhattan, New York, the Audi TT was declared the 2007 World Car Design of the Year.
The Audi TT was chosen from an initial entry list of twenty-eight (28) contenders nominated by World Car jurors from 22 countries throughout the world.
Style sells. No matter how rational a buyer's approach to a new car purchase may be, the ultimate decision is typically based as much on emotion as on reason - perhaps more so. Nothing evokes that emotion more strongly than the vehicle's appearance, be it a sports car or a minivan or anything in between. Good design knows no boundaries or borders, which is why we established an award for the World Car Design of the Year in 2005.
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.
All vehicles eligible for the overall award are also eligible for the Design award. A global panel of acknowledged design experts reviewed all the entries and established a short-list of five vehicles that demonstrate design excellence, from which the overall jury made the final selection.
The four design experts were:
- Silvia Baruffaldi: Managing Editor, Auto & Design magazine
- Peter Brock: designer, Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe.
- Robert Cumberford: design critic, Automobile and Auto & Design magazines
- Akira Fujimot Editor-in-Chief, Car Styling magazine.
WCOTY jurors lauded the new TT's design with its flared wheel-arches, signature Audi grille, and sleek silhouette. While there is a clear connection to the original TT's bauhaus styling, the second-generation model evolves it into a more modern form. Beyond its distinctive bubble canopy and aggressive nose, there are also significant changes inside. From the driver's seat it is clear that the firm has worked hard to offer a more spacious, driver-focused cabin, and that Audi's celebrated build quality prevails.
The top three contenders for the third annual World Car Design of the Year in addition to the Audi TT were the Citroen C4 Picasso and the Fiat Grande Punto.
"We are very pleased to receive the World Car Design of the Year award for the new Audi TT," said Johan De Nysschen, Executive Vice President of Audi of America, on accepting the award. "The iconic status of the original TT was at the heart of every discussion about its successor. We decided to create a new TT that was thoroughly modern, but that did not make the original look outdated. This award shows that we got the balance just right."
