In an announcement that should really surprise no one who follows the car business, the Jaguar F-Pace won World Car of the Year this morning at NYIAS 2017. This very reporter predicted this victory weeks ago (“…the odds-on pick has to be the Jaguar F-Pace…”). But, I can’t behave as though I should open a psychic hotline service or set off to Vegas to beat the bookies.
Also: NYIAS 2017: Range Rover Velar Makes North American Debut
When I first drove the F-Pace during a special media event last year, I knew the vehicle was destined for statuettes and a game-changer for the automaker. When you’re setting around a posh dinner table in Aspen at a car media event, and you can’t find a single person who has anything negative to say about the given vehicle of the hour amongst the jaded and often crotchety crop of writers, you know the designers and engineers hit a straight six.
The 2017 Jaguar F-PACE beat back the Bosh as the Brits overcame German challengers in the form of the Audi Q5 and Volkswagen Tiguan. Earlier in the awards program, the F-Pace also took home the 2017 World Car Design of the Year over the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet and Toyota C-HR. In the 13 years of the World Car of the Year Awards, the F-Pace is only the second vehicle to win both “Car of the Year” and “Design.”
Flashing back to that Colorado F-Pace first drive event when I initially got my hands on the machine, I also needed only one afternoon behind the wheel to predict it would be Jaguar’s #1 seller in a year’s time. While accepting its awards, Jaguar announced the F-Pace is the fastest selling model the company ever produced. The reasons are clear: The F-Pace is the new badge on the block in the luxury crossover neighborhood; that crossover market is the hottest segment in the car business; and the F-Pace is just a beautiful piece of work.
So, while Jaguar basks in its April glory, I’m left wondering if bold and stone cold lock predictions means I should branch out from this writing thing and get into the consulting business somewhere. I’m open to offers, especially if there’s Dental.
