(MAHWAH, NJ) – April 12, 2017 – Today, Jaguar North America is proud to announce the 2017 Jaguar F-PACE has been named the winner of the 2017 World Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year Awards at the New York International Auto Show.
The performance SUV is the fastest selling model Jaguar has produced and is only the second vehicle to claim the historic double in the 13-year history of the World Car Awards. To win the pair of trophies, the F-PACE saw off the competition in a vote of 75 influential motoring journalists from 24 countries.
Dr. Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover CEO, said, “The F-PACE was designed and engineered as a performance SUV with exceptional dynamics, everyday usability and bold design. Winning this award endorses the talent and great work of our teams that have delivered the world’s most practical sports car and Jaguar’s fastest-selling vehicle”.
The World Car Awards jury comprises influential motoring journalists and to win the 2017 World Car Design of the Year prize the F-PACE saw off the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet and Toyota C-HR in the final three.
Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar said, “The F-PACE is our first ever SUV but it is clearly recognizable as a Jaguar and for it to win the 2017 World Car of the Year trophy vindicates our decision to bring our unique design principles and dynamic qualities to a new sector of the market.”
Mike Rutherford, Juror, Director and Vice-Chairman of the World Car Awards/World Car of the Year said, “Jaguar has done the unthinkable by first securing the World Car Design of the Year award, then lifting the big one – the overall World Car of the Year trophy. With F-PACE, the British company and its proud and talented workers have taken on and beaten far bigger, wealthier European, Asian and North American rivals.”
The F-PACE is Jaguar’s first performance SUV and has contributed to record sales growth by attracting new customers to the brand.
Receiving high acclaim throughout the year, the F-PACE was also named winner of the Daily News Auto Award for Luxury SUV, Popular Mechanics Automotive Excellence Award for Crossover of the Year, and Autotrader Must Test Drive award. The Jaguar brand also received the 2017 Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Award for Best Car Styling – Luxury Brand.
These awards come after a record-breaking year for Jaguar in North America, with 2016 sales up 116 percent and a breakout performance of the Jaguar F-PACE, which became the brand’s top seller in its first year. In 2017, this momentum continues with Jaguar sales up 132 percent in March for the brand’s best sales month since 2003. The Jaguar F-PACE also had its best sales month since its start of sale in 2016.