Hyundai has scooped the prestigious World Car Of The Year award at a ceremony in New York and bagged two other prizes - the World Electric Vehicle and the World Car Design Of The Year.
Kia wins too
It was a big night for the Korean car maker, which also saw its sister brand Kia take home the World Performance Car of the Year gong for the electric 585hp Kia EV6 GT.
The Ioniq 6 picking up three of the big awards on the night could almost have been predicted - the Ioniq 5 took home the same three prizes in last year's ceremony. SangYup Lee, Executive Vice President, Head of Hyundai and Genesis Global Design Centre, was named the 2023 World Car Person of the Year to cap the night off for Hyundai.
"This honour is not the recognition of an individual but a testament to a shared collective passion for creativity encouraged by the dedication of Hyundai top management who set us high standards to achieve. It is the unwavering diligence of the many talented people who contribute to making Hyundai Design what it is today," said Lee. "We always want to connect with customers on an emotional level and with the design of the Ioniq 6 we have created truly one of a kind. The daring streamliner styling combines strong emotional appeal with aerodynamic efficiency to give exceptional range. Inside, we set-out to create a personal studio which offers the mindful space and calm functionality which, we believe, elevates EV design."
Global leader in vehicle electrification
"We are thrilled to receive this prestigious honour two years in a row, which recognises the tremendous talents and unrelenting efforts of everyone at Hyundai Motor Company to bring EVs like Ioniq 6 to market," said Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. "This honour reinforces our commitment to be a global leader in vehicle electrification and will serve to embolden our efforts as a smart mobility solutions provider."
Marking the Performance category win for Kia, President and CEO of Kia Ho Sung Song said: "To be recognised in this way by the World Car Awards' judges is a tremendous honour. As Kia transitions to become a world-leading sustainable solutions provider, we are leaving no stone unturned to create vehicles which deliver exceptional practicality while also inspiring customers through their ingenuity, technology, and design. This latest prestigious accolade provides further confirmation of the success of our strategy."
Picking up the World Luxury Car of the Year award was the Lucid Air, a sleek and very expensive rival to the likes of the Tesla Model S and Mercedes-Benz EQS. "This honour by the Word Car Awards' jurors is validation of our goal to create a new kind of luxury sedan," said Derek Jenkins, Senior Vice President of Design and Brand at the Lucid Group. "Lucid Air not only highlights the company's focus on EV range and performance, but it's extremely compelling to look at while offering a fresh interior environment that embraces the company's California origins."
The Lucid Air beat out competition from the BMW i7 and Genesis G90 for the award. The trophies were designed by legendary ex-Jaguar, Aston Martin and Ford designer Ian Callum, who now runs an independent design studio.
"The World Car Awards are held in the highest regard by the industry and as a recipient, I appreciate how much it means to a design team to have it proudly on display in the studio," says Ian Callum. "Reimagining both the design and manufacture is a huge privilege and just the opportunity the team at Callum relish."
The World Car of the Year awards also publishes a 'top three in the world' list, which gives a few other cars than the best overall a chance of glory, and this year the top three were the Ioniq 6, the Range Rover, and the Lucid Air.
Urban car award for Citroen
"Our heartfelt congratulations to the winners in each category as representatives of automotive excellence. We are honoured to be associated with the World Car finals, an event that recognises and celebrates innovation so meaningfully, and thrilled to be part of a community that shares our values and passion for making a difference," said Daniele Schillaci, CEO of Brembo. This famous brake company sponsors the awards.
Other winners on the night included the Citroën C3, which took home the World Urban Car of the Year award. "We are particularly honoured to receive this award for C3. In addition to the commercial success of this model, it recognises the relevance of our growth strategy in India, Asia and South America. As the first model in a family of three cars, the Citroën C3 combines strong, modern styling with a high level of comfort, not to mention the connectivity and technology that customers in these regions expect," said Thierry Koskas, Citroën's CEO.