And Now There Is One....Mercedes AMG GT Wins 2015 World Performance Car Award

NEW YORK, April 2, 2015 -- The MERCEDES AMG GT has been declared the 2015 World Performance Car during today's press conference hosted by the New York International Auto Show, Bridgestone Corporation and Autoneum.

Mercedes-Benz is no stranger to the World Car Awards program – now in its 11th year. Mercedes-Benz previously won the inaugural 2014 World Luxury Car award for the S-Class. The company has also won two World Green Car awards: one for the S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY in 2012 and for the Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec in 2007.

The Mercedes AMG GT was chosen from an initial entry list of 12 cars from all over the world, then a short list of ten, then three finalists: today's winner as well as the BMW M4 Coupe/M3 Sedan and the Jaguar F-Type R Coupe.

Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars said, "Driving Performance is our brand promise. The Mercedes-AMG GT has everything to live up to this promise: from its proportions and full-blooded motor sport technology to the optimal weight distribution. We are extremely delighted that the jury evidently shares our point of view".

The World Car Awards jurors observed: "Its on-road presence alone is almost enough to qualify it as a 'Top 3' finalist. But in addition to its ruggedly handsome looks it has an impressive spec sheet comprising biturbo 4.0-litre V8 engine, seven speed dual-clutch transmission, 456bhp (minimum)...and much, much more."

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.

Vehicles are selected and voted on by an international jury panel comprised of 75 top-level automotive journalists from 22 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. The international accounting firm KPMG tabulates the jurors' ballots.

Previous World Performance Car winners were three Porsche's in a row: the 911 GTE in 2014, the Boxster/Cayman in 2013, and the 911 in 2012. Ferrari won the 2011 World Performance title for the 458 Italia while the Audi R8 V10 won 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.

The Road to the World Car began in Paris on October 2, followed by a stop in Los Angeles for a test-drive of the North American contenders in November, and the announcement of the "Top Three in the World" finalists at the Geneva International Auto Show in March. The journey has now ended today with the winners' declaration at the New York International Auto Show.

The Global Trends Report, co-presented by Prime Research and Autoneum, was presented just before the winners' press conference. Autoneum CEO Martin Hirzel said, "Smart efficiency is the most important trend in the automobile industry. With Autoneum's lightweight and multifunctional products for acoustic and heat management in vehicles, smart innovations are making an important contribution to the future of the automobile."

About World Car Awards

The World Car Awards (WCA) are more than just an awards program. The WCA's judging panel is made up of 75 prominent automotive journalists from around the world that form a global community of experts. The jurors ensure the integrity and credibility of the awards but also serve as an important resource for the industry with a focus on excellence and innovation on a global scale.