KEY POINTS:
The Audi R8 has achieved a double victory at the 2008 World Car of the Year awards, winning the World Performance Car and the World Car Design of the Year awards.
The Audi supercar was chosen by 47 World Car jurors from 24 countries. They said the R8 had "solid credentials on paper thanks to its mid-mounted V8 engine and aluminium construction.
"But where it excels is in the exceptional balance, refinement and control that grant the driver the confidence to push to the limit.
"It has astonishing precision for a car of its size category."
Jurors praised the Audi R8 for "transforming the sportscar landscape. The R8 design is striking, original and full of details, from the nose strakes to the much discussed vertical 'blade' behind the B pillar."
World Car design expert Tom Matano, executive director of the School of Industrial Design in San Francisco, said the Audi R8 is "a great visual representation of the technology within, a complete package of techno-iconic design".
It is the second performance and design award in a row for Audi following the success of the RS 4 and TT coupe in 2007. The A5 coupe was also in the final three this year.
* The Mazda2 has been named the World Car of the Year, based on styling, quality, safety and other factors.
The Ford Mondeo and the Mercedes C-Class were the other nominees.
