British motors dominate Car of the Year awards – Jaguar I-Pace takes top gong
The Jaguar I-Pace is the first electric car to win the top prize, and was named best in class as well
CARS made in Britain reigned supreme at the Auto Express Car of the Year 2018 awards, with the overall winner named as the Jaguar I-Pace.
Built in its Solihull factory, the I-Pace is Jaguar’s first attempt at an all-electric car.
The SUV was also given the title of the Best Premium Electric Car for 2018, and is the first ever EV to win the top gong.
Warwickshire-based Aston Martin was rewarded by Auto Express readers, with its Vantage voted as the best-looking car of 2018 in the Design Award.
The quintessentially English carmaker’s president and CEO Andy Palmer was also named the most influential person of the industry in the past three decades.
Other British winners included the Land Rover Discovery that took the title of the best large premium SUV, the Sunderland-built Nissan Leaf claimed the Technology Award, and the Honda Civic Type R was named the best hot hatch, having been made in Swindon.
Family Car of the Year was given to Luton-based Vauxhall’s Insignia Grand Sport and MINI’s Convertible was named best in class.
Starting from £63,495, the Jaguar I-Pace is said to be “the most exciting new car” by Auto Express editor-in-chief Steve Fowler.
“We love the way it looks, the space and quality of the interior and most of all that it drives exactly how a modern-day Jaguar should – it’s fantastic fun,” he added.
“On top of all that, it’ll cover city-to-city distances on a single charge in complete comfort – it’s a massively impressive car that bodes well for our electric future.”
Jaguar claims the SUV can travel nearly 300 miles from full battery and can reach 60mph in 4.5 seconds.
Ian Callum, Jaguar’s Director of Design, said: “We started with a blank canvas and the goal of creating the world’s most desirable electric vehicle and recognition like this from Auto Express shows that the I-PACE certainly meets that challenge.
“What I’m most proud of is that we have created a Jaguar first and foremost, a Jaguar that happens to be electric.
"The I-Pace has all of the stunning design cues, characteristics and breadth of dynamic capability that is inherent in our vehicles. It is the Jaguar of the future, here today.”