# TopGear Car of the Year Awards — Highlights & Insights
TopGear, the renowned automotive media outlet, has revealed its **“Car of the Year”** list, selecting around 20 *outstanding* models from across market segments.
Interestingly, many winners remain relatively unknown to Chinese consumers — some have **never been officially launched domestically** and are yet to reach the mainstream spotlight.
Yet niche does not mean insignificant: **practicality can coexist with personality**, and in the electrification era, the visceral roar and mechanical feel still carry precious value.
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## Selected Highlights
We’ve picked the most **representative award winners** from the list, with brief introductions to help you understand — from a European perspective — what the global automotive industry is watching, celebrating, and both excited and concerned about.
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## 🚗 Car of the Year — BMW Neue Klasse iX3
TopGear’s test impressions:
> This iX3 is renewed inside-out, top-to-bottom. After years of hesitation, BMW’s designers have found the right path. Calm and elegant cabin atmosphere, with a pure BMW driving feel — neither a heavy EV crossover nor a soulless digital gimmick.
**Why it won:**
- First in BMW’s “Neue Klasse” strategy.
- Built **on dedicated NCAR EV platform**, abandoning shared ICE-EV architecture.
- Enhanced handling, range, and charging speed.
- Features **visual cone** cabin design philosophy — a rare bright innovation in today’s conservative interior trends.
The iX3 is praised in Europe as one of the few **truly excellent pure EVs**, making its win well-deserved.
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## 🎨 Best Design — Dacia Hipster Concept
A 3m-long, 1.5m-wide **pure electric city concept** fitting four seats and **up to 500L trunk space**. Range ~150 km — enough for most urban trips.
**Smart cost & weight saving design:**
- Fabric straps replace door handles.
- Manual sliding side windows.
- Taillights built into rear glass.
Minimalist interior: **no large central screen**, just a smartphone dock.
TopGear says:
> If you make something people want, you’re already halfway there. Hipster is proudly “a box on four wheels” — but it’s a happy box.
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## 👨👩👧👦 Family Car of the Year — Kia PV5
Unveiled at the **Japan Mobility Show**, the Kia PV5 debuts the **PBV (Platform Beyond Vehicle)** modular platform:
> *One base, multiple purposes* — passenger car, van, taxi, shuttle, or specialist vehicle.
### Notable Features:
- Passenger MPV version: 4.7m length, 5 seats, large trunk.
- Electrified design language: zigzag DRLs, dual electric sliding doors.
- Commercial-inspired cockpit: floating console, compact instrument cluster.
- Trunk rail systems for instant customization — perfect for camping.
TopGear:
> High seat and sweeping view feel ship-like. Luxurious ride and that “delight factor” seen in VW ID. Buzz.
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## ⭐ Car of the Year (Compact) — Mercedes-Benz Pure Electric CLA
Elegant European-focused design, built on **MMA pure EV platform** with **800V architecture**, SiC inverter, and **two-speed transmission**.
### Performance:
- WLTP energy usage: **12.2 kWh / 100 km**.
- Max claimed range: **792 km** (85 kWh battery).
- RWD: 175 kW, 0–100 km/h in 6.7s.
- AWD: Dual motors, ~4s sprint.
### Interior:
- Triple dashboard screens.
- White real wood trim + curved physical controls.
- Ambient lighting with luxury vibe.
### Exterior:
- Dynamic **142 illuminated stars**, breathing light animation.
- Linked front/rear light strips built on star motif.
> As a life companion, it’s simply perfect.
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## 🚙 Wagon of the Year — Audi A6 Avant
Longer, sleeker, and more elegant than its predecessor, with **Cd 0.25** — the lowest drag fuel-powered Audi estate ever.
### Cabin:
- Curved OLED dual displays.
- Optional passenger entertainment screen.
- Wider ambient lights with adjustable temperature.
TopGear:
> Estate cars > SUVs. The A6 Avant is the most capable estate launched this year.
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## 🛻 Off-Road Vehicle — Land Rover Defender OCTA
A ultimate Defender with **626hp 4.4L twin-turbo V8**. Updated exterior, accessory packs, and exclusive colors/trims.
Large 13.1-inch screen, improved seats, **adaptive off-road cruise control** for speed management in tough terrain.
The Defender remains an overseas off-road icon.
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## 🏎️ Supercar — Ferrari 296 Speciale
**881hp** from 3.0L V6 twin-turbo + plug-in hybrid — fastest RWD Ferrari.
0–100 km/h in 2.8s, 330 km/h top speed.
### Track-focused changes:
- Removed comfort extras.
- Extensive carbon fiber, weight down to 1410 kg.
> GTB/GTS are “for everyone,” Speciale is “not for everyone to handle.”
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## 🔊 Best Sound — Ford Mustang GTD
**Nürburgring lap: 6:57.685** — first NA production car under 7 minutes.
### Specs:
- 5.2L supercharged V8, **815hp**.
- Akrapovic titanium exhaust — visceral roar.
Strict buying rules: racing experience/social influence proof, 2-year no-resell, limited to **2,000 units**.
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## 🏁 Moment of the Year — Yangwang U9
**Nürburgring EV record**: 6:59.157 — fastest production EV lap.
Also **top speed record**: 496.22 km/h.
TopGear:
> Breaking Bugatti speed might just be the beginning. Next stop: 500 km/h.
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## 🏆 Other Awards
- Crossover — Renault 4
- Luxury — Rolls-Royce Black Badge Spectre
- Lifetime Achievement — Andreas Preuninger (Porsche GT director)
- Supermini — Hyundai Inster
- Hypercar — Ferrari F80
- Manufacturer — Renault Group
- Performance — Kimera EV037
- Super SUV — Aston Martin DBX S
- Most Anticipated (2026) — Bugatti Tourbillon
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## 📊 Trends & Market Perception
In the **new energy era**, overseas vs. domestic market perceptions differ sharply in **styling, functionality, and pricing**.
Example:
- BMW iX3 praised in Europe for Neue Klasse design; ~80% of Chinese poll respondents called it “ugly”.
- Mercedes-Benz GLC EV criticized for over-localizing in Europe, under-localizing in China — plus missing features at high price points.
**Chinese buying priorities**: smart interaction, local ecosystem compatibility, practical space.
> Global one-size-fit-all designs are no longer viable.
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## 📌 Final Insight
Automotive winners this year showcase diversity: from **BMW’s refined EV drive** to **Dacia’s clever minimalism** and **Kia’s modular versatility**.
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