The Nissan Leaf charged past two German luxury sedans to win “World Car of the Year,” a huge validation of the car — and of electric vehicles in general.

A panel of 66 automotive journalists from 24 countries named the Leaf the best thing on four wheels, choosing it over the BMW 5-Series, Audi A8 and 34 other automobiles from around the world. The jurors called it “the gateway to a brave new electric world.”

They’re absolutely right. We’ve spent a lot of time driving the Leaf and several other cars with cords, and it is the benchmark for electric vehicles. A whole lot of people who may not have considered an EV ought to, because the Leaf is that good. Nissan is to be commended.

“It is a great joy that the world’s first mass-marketed electric vehicle, the Nissan Leaf, has won the prestigious award of 2011 World Car of the Year,” said Nissan boss and EV evangelist CEO Carlos Ghosn. “It validates Nissan’s clear vision and the values of sustainable mobility that we want to offer to customers around the world.”

It also validates EV technology. Yes, there are still hurdles to be cleared in terms of cost and range, but any car — and the technology underpinning it — that tops a field of 39 cars ranging from the Aston Martin Rapide to the Peugeot RCZ to the Volvo S60 must be taken seriously.

In an odd twist, the Nissan Leaf placed third in the World Green Car category, behind the BMW 320d and the Chevrolet Volt. We’re not sure how it could win one but not the other, but the Chevrolet Volt is an equally impressive automobile and a new direction for the industry.

Auto journalists love to put the hammer down as much as the next guy, which is why they named the Ferrari 458 Italia the World Performance Car of the Year. It beat the the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and Porsche 911 Turbo.

Photo: Brian Carolin, senior VP of sales and marketing for Nissan Americas, holds the winner’s trophy alongside World Car Awards honchos Peter Lyon and Gerry Malloy. (World Car Awards)