MOTORING NEWS - In the eighth Women's World Car of the Year awards, the Hyundai IONIQ has won the "Supreme Award". 

All three models in the range - the IONIQ Electric, Hybrid and Plug-in hybrid - were treated as one car for voting purposes.

To identify the supreme winner, the jury first voted for the winning models in six different categories such as family car, budget car, green car, SUV and crossover, luxury car and performance car. 

The IONIQ came out on top in the green car category and was then chosen as the overall winner.

"Since entering the market last year, more than 23 000 customers in Europe have chosen the IONIQ range," says Andreas-Christoph Hofmann, vice-president of marketing and product at Hyundai Motor Europe. 

"The Women's World Car of the Year award proves that the world's first car offering hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric powertrains in a single body type is a real champion. 

"The Hyundai IONIQ, which already holds several 'Car of the Year' titles for its performance and design, is one of the most acclaimed, best-valued eco-cars and a symbol of Hyundai Motor's technical capability and innovative spirit."

Among the technical highlights of the product range, the IONIQ Hybrid and IONIQ Plug-in provide class-leading fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions of 92-79g/km and 26g/km respectively. 

The IONIQ Electric can travel 280km on a single charge, providing greater flexibility and peace of mind for customers seeking a zero-emission car with a practical driving range. 

The IONIQ plug-in derivative can drive up to 63km in electric mode, increasing the possibility of fuel-free driving for those customers who typically cover shorter distances.

The Women's World Car of the Year is the only car award in the world with an all-female jury.

The jury consists of 25 established motor journalists from 20 different countries. Initially they nominate 420 cars before whittling them down to a list of the top 60. 

They then vote by secret ballot, allocating points to each one. 

The final results are audited by the New Zealand office of international accountancy firm Grant Thornton.

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