And Now There Is One....Porsche Boxster / Cayman Declared 2013 World Performance Car

NEW YORK, March 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- At a press conference hosted by the New York International Auto Show and Bridgestone Corporation, the Porsche Boxster / Cayman was declared the 2013 World Performance Car.

This is the second consecutive year that Porsche has won the prestigious World Performance Car title and the third overall.  The Porsche 911 won last year's award and the Porsche Cayman won the inaugural World Performance Car award in 2006.

The Porsche Boxster / Cayman was chosen from an initial entry list of twenty new cars from all over the world, then a short list of ten, then three finalists:  the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, the Porsche Boxster / Cayman and the combined entry Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ / Toyota 86 / GT 86.   

"To be chosen as the winner of the World Performance Car by this global jury is extremely rewarding," said Detlev von Platen, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. "The new Boxster is a serious sports car and has become a worldwide success. Its brother, the new Cayman, is launching this month and has already captivated sports car enthusiasts around the world."

The World Car jurors observed that, "The Job One for this new generation of Porsche's littler two-doors was actually two-fold. The Boxster needed to be seen as less of a fancy secretary's car and the Cayman needed to be set loose to be an even better Porsche sports car than the iconic 911. In both instances, mission over-accomplished. Both cars are now allowed out of their company cages and they drive as if they're celebrating."

Candidates for the World Performance Car award must demonstrate a specific and overt sports/performance orientation while satisfying the same availability criteria as for the overall World Car of the Year award.  Candidates may be chosen from the World Car of the Year list of eligible vehicles, or they may be newly introduced variants that satisfy the same criteria, but are derived from existing rather than brand-new models. In all cases, they must have a minimum annual production rate of five-hundred (500) vehicles.

Previous World Performance Car winners were the Porsche 911 in 2012, the Ferrari 458 Italia in 2011, the Audi R8 V10 in 2010, the Nissan GT-R in 2009, the Audi R8 in 2008, the Audi RS4 in 2007 and the Porsche Cayman S in 2006.

Vehicles are selected and voted on by an international jury panel comprised of sixty-six (66) top-level automotive journalists from twenty-three (23) countries around the world.  Each juror was appointed by the World Car Steering Committee on the basis of his or her expertise, experience, credibility, and influence.  Each juror typically drives and evaluates new vehicles on a regular basis as part of their professional work.  Through their respective outlets they collectively reach an audience of many millions world-wide.

About the World Car Awards
Now in their ninth 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), Mike Rutherford (U.K.), Eddie Alterman (USA), 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.

Prime Research International, a global leader in strategic communication research and consultancy is the World Car Awards' research partner.  The company will provide strategic reports in 2013 that analyze our awards global automotive media coverage.

PHOTOS from today's press conference are available for download on our web site at www.wcoty.com > Award Photos.

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 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 the 2013 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS)
Showcasing the latest automotive trends, the 2013 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 2013/2014 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: March 27 & 28, Public Show Dates:  March 29^th – April 7^th
Show Hours:  Monday – Saturday:  10 a.m. - 10 p.m.    Sundays:  10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

www.autoshowNY.com; Twitter: #NYIAS @NYautoshow; Facebook: Like us, we like you!
Mobile: Download our iPhone app; on iTunes for Show info on the go

For a list of past World Car Awards winners, please visit our web site:  www.wcoty.com

SOURCE World Car Awards