Mazda2 named World Car of the Year

updated 5:24 p.m. ET March 20, 2008

NEW YORK - The Mazda2 has been named the World Car of the Year by a panel of international journalists. The award was announced Thursday at the New York International Auto Show.

The compact, two-door Mazda2 also is known as the Mazda Demio. It isn’t sold in the U.S. but is found in Japan, Europe and other markets. A four-door version goes on sale in China this spring.

Ford Motor Co., which owns a third of Mazda Motor Corp., is basing its new Fiesta subcompact on the Mazda2 platform. The Fiesta goes on sale in the U.S. in 2010.

Forty-seven jurors from 24 countries determine the winner based on styling, quality, safety and other factors.

The Ford Mondeo and the Mercedes C-Class were the other nominees.

Print this Email this Blog this  IM this

MORE FROM AUTOS

Autos Section Front

High gas prices are driving scooter sales up GM mulls selling Chevrolets in South Korea Memorial Day travel hit by high fuel costs Smart car gets highest score in crash tests Ford recalling more than 655,000 trucks How Tata is making the world's cheapest car What women want: Her favorite vehicles Macho Movers: Ten favorite cars for men High gas prices spawn songs, symbolic acts Honda shows off improvements in fuel cell Autos Section Front   Add Autos headlines to your news reader: