The BMW 3 Series added another feather to its cap, or shall we say fender, when it was adjudged as the 2006 World Car of the Year besting two other finalists, the Mazda MX-5 and the Porsche Cayman S. The award-winning BMW 3 Series received its latest accolade in a ceremony held in conjunction with the ongoing New York International Automobile Show. The World Car of the Year award is chosen by an independent panel of automotive journalists from all over the world. Contenders for the award must be available in most markets of the world. They are evaluated according to style, performance, handling, comfort, and utility. Other criteria include value, safety, environmental responsibility, and significance.

The BMW 3 Series, long considered around the world as an automotive icon, has met these criteria and emerged as the clear winner in this year’s competition. The BMW 3 Series is considered as the quintessential luxury sports sedan and a true world car. It is sold in over 140 countries worldwide and is available in four different body styles: sedan, sports wagon, coupe and convertible. It also has a wide variety of engines ranging from 4-cylinder diesel to high performance 6-cylinders. The BMW 3 Series is also noted for its excellent value due to its free scheduled maintenance for four years or 50,000 miles and the outstanding residual value.

The current model of the 3 Series boasts of such high tech features as aluminum inline six-cylinder engine with Valvetronic technology and advanced Dynamic Stability. Tom Purvis, Chairman and CEO of BMW of North America received the award. “We are delighted to receive this recognition for the 3 Series. The BMW 3 Series is the true embodiment of a world car, he enthused. Other winners of the car of the year awards where the Citroen C4 as 2006 World Car Design of the Year, Porsche Cayman S as World Performance Car and the Honda Civic Hybrid as World Green Car.