Autocar Names Best European Vehicles, Top Executives

This year’s Autocar Awards went to a mix of high-performance cars, luxury crossover/SUVs, all-electric models and small cars from a variety of carmakers.

The British enthusiast magazine and Vredestein Tyres named six “Game Changers” for bringing “higher standards to their class and/or “defying conventions to the benefits of buyers.” The 2017 winners are the Alfa Romeo Giulia compact luxury sedan, Aston Martin DB11 supercar, Renault Zoe electric city car, Seat Ateca compact crossover/SUV, Tesla Model X electric SUV and Toyota CH-R crossover.

The Porsche 911 R was hailed as Britain’s Best Driver’s Car, while the Ford Fiesta ST200 was deemed the best sub-£30,000 ($34,000) “real-world” performance car. The Lamborghini Huracan Performante was named the innovation award winner for its active aerodynamic system and other advanced technologies.

Three models received Autocar’s highest “five-star” rating based on road tested evaluations conducted by the magazine’s editors. The winners are the diesel-powered Bentley Bentayga SUV, McLaren 720s supercar and Porsche Panamera 4S Diesel sedan.

Autocar also honored several people for their contributions to the European auto industry. Jaguar Land Rover CEO Ralf Speth (pictured) received the Issigonis Trophy, which recognizes the person who “delivered the most to the health, excellence and competitiveness” of the industry, for quadrupling the carmaker’s sales since taking the leadership reigns in 2010.

Hyundai-Kia design chief Peter Schreyer received the Sturmey Award for innovation for overhauling the styling of the Korean marques. Autocar’s “Outstanding U.K. Leaders” awards went to Paul Philpott, who heads Kia’s U.K. operations; Jeremy Thomson, managing director of Mazda U.K.; and Malcolm Wilson, managing director for M-Sport, which builds race cars and runs World Rally Championship and endurance racing teams.

McLaren Automotive CEO Mike Flewitt received Autocar’s Editor’s Award for the person judged to having the biggest impact on their company. Over the last four years, McLaren has doubled its sales and just introduced the new 720S supercar.

The magazine’s three professional “heroes” are:

• Engineering: Tobias Moers, CEO of Daimler’s AMG performance unit
• Design: Thomas Ingenlath, Volvo’s chief designer
• Motorsports: Alan Gow, director for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race series