The MX-5 beat fellow finalists, the Audi A4 Sedan/Avant and the Mercedes-Benz GLC, at the awards and also scooped the World Car Design of the Year title. The other finalists for World Car Design of the Year were the Jaguar XE and the Mazda CX-3.

“What a wonderful honour, to have the Mazda MX-5 named both World Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year,” said Masahiro Moro, President and CEO, Mazda North American Operations, and Managing Executive Officer, Mazda Motor Corporation. “As our iconic MX-5 roadster approaches one-million units of production, this award is proof that it is as young, vibrant, fun and relevant as ever, and proof that every Mazda looks as incredible as it drives, and drives as incredibly as it looks.”

“While I accept this award on behalf of the company, I do so representing every Mazda employee, retail partner and customer around the world who has ever felt the joy of driving a pure roadster.”

The 2016 World Car of the Year awards also saw the BMW 7 Series named World Luxury Car while the Audi R8 Coupe took the World Performance Car title. The World Green Car accolade went to the Toyota Mirai.

The World Car of the Year awards were established in 2004 by an international group of automotive journalists, and the judging panel this year consisted of 73 journalists from 23 different countries.