DRIVEN TO WIN

Putting a field running the gamut from an ultra-luxe electric SUV to a petrolburning 12-cylinder GT through its paces on both track and street, this year's judges had their work cut out for them. So who would take the crown?

- Robert Ross and Viju Mathew

A BLURRING LANDSCAPE

A logical mind seeks order. Taxonomy within the natural sciences is what allows zoologists to identify species. Even in medicine, doctors use different standardised codes to bill insurers when a patient is ‘bitten by crocodile’ versus ‘bitten by alligator’. One can only wish that things were as straightforward in the automotive world. Today more than ever, the lines are blurred when classifying cars; each model can be, and do, so many different things. When Robb Report created its Car of the Year contest 21 years ago, categories such as Sports Car, Convertible, GT and Sedan were clear demarcations of a vehicle’s purpose and capability. Back then, it was unthinkable that an SUV might out-sport a sports car while being every bit as comfortable as a four-door luxury sedan. Yet in 2019, Lamborghini’s Urus SUV was voted our Car of the Year, stealing so many judges’ hearts by doing everything so well.