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World Car of the Year shortlist

2010-02-04 08:31

 

The World Car of the Year shortlist has been announced – and yes, there are some shockers.

Now running for its seventh year (and on the cusp of a seven year itch perhaps?), the World Car of the Year award (WCOTY) winners will be presented at the New York auto show on 1 April.

Last year the Volkswagen Golf and Nisan GT-R won the World Car and Performance Car of the Year categories, respectively.

A global group of 59 motoring journalists (including one South African and way too many Australians) make up the WCOTY voting panel.

With preliminary voting completed the panel has selected its top 10 list of candidates for the overall WCOTY winner and the 2010 Performance Car award.

Car of the Year

The 2010 World Car of the Year nominees most probable to take the title include Toyota’s Prius, Porsche Panamera, Audi Q5 and the new Volkswagen Polo.

Other shortlisted contenders (with an outside chance at the title) are BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Mazda3 and Kia Soul. GM’s Chevrolet Cruze and Opel Insignia round off the list as rank outsiders.



Really fast car of the year

The World Performance Car of the Year candidates list a particularly strong field. Aston Martin V12 Vantage, Audi R8 V10, Audi TT RS coupe/roadster, BMW Z4, Ferrari California, Jaguar XFR, Lotus Evora, Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, Nissan 370Z, Porsche 911 GT3 and Zuffenhausen's Boxster/Cayman.

If you are a meticulous reader you’ll notice there are eleven WCOTY Performance Car contenders — allegedly because the first round of voting produced a tie. We think the committee should get its house in order, but no matter…

Pretty and clean car of the year awards too

The WCOTY process germinates two other awards too: World Green Car and World Car Design of the Year, as voted on by a different (allegedly specialist) panels.

The 2010 WCOTY Green Car finalists include the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Honda Insight, Merc’s S400 hybrid, the Toyota Prius (as always) and VW's BlueMotion family (Golf, Passat, Polo).

When it comes to the WCOTY Design award there are four contenders. The Citroën C3 Picasso (most deserving in our estimation), Kia’s funky Soul and the Toyota Prius (again?). Pandering to America’s wounded pride the Camaro also makes the design shortlist…



Pick your winner(s)

In the first week of March at the Geneva auto show a top-three shortlist of each category will be announced, before the big winners are tabled at the New York auto show on 1 April.

Our winners from the esteemed jurors’ rather odd list of candidates? Car of the year: Porsche Panamera. Performance car of the year: Audi R8 V10. World Green Car: Honda Insight. WCOTY Design: Citroën C3 Picasso.

Toyota’s Prius with three nominations despite its pending recall? Makes one wonder about the WCOTY’s credibility coefficient, doesn’t it?




 
Mr R
2/5/2010 11:49 AM
Meester, no BMW's? X1 and Z4 are both BMWs. Audi Fan, the R8 V10 is a nice car, but the Ferrari California would be a better choice. I have driven it over a reasonable distance and it's a Ferrari for every day use, with the normal Ferrari qualities as well is going to be had to beat as fast car award.
Elsa
2/5/2010 9:39 AM
Agree with Meester and AudiA4Away, although I have the Audi A6 Quatro Tiptronic. What a dream to drive!!
Vincent
2/5/2010 7:43 AM
@Meester: 'Other shortlisted contenders (with an outside chance at the title) are BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Mazda3 and Kia Soul. GM’s Chevrolet Cruze and Opel Insignia round off the list as rank outsiders. ' You should read the entire article before commenting.
Meester
2/5/2010 5:51 AM
No bmw, no merc, no volvo HAHAHAAAA .... geez it took them look to see what REAL quality is. AUDI!!
sandeno
2/4/2010 9:18 PM
The fiat Bravo is the most beautiful car in production, a masterpiece.
Joe
2/4/2010 6:04 PM
Haha so funny the new VW Polo has been nominated. I hope it wins so some stupid SA journalist can harp on about it without doing his homework and knowing the reason for it winning is its ultra fuel economy engine and SA still is using prehistoric engines in its Polos. The only thing the same with the SA version is the outside, the rest is still same old not worthy of a any prize.
Billy Moses
2/4/2010 5:09 PM
Check out the Historic racing at Killarney this weekend and then comment again
MKI THEMBELA
2/4/2010 4:46 PM
whitout any doubt AUDI RV10 IS THE WINNER. PS GOOD DECISSION TOYOTA FOR RECALL IT SHOWS YOU DON'T COMPROMISE QQULITY.
BMrules
2/4/2010 4:42 PM
what the big deal with that R8 V10 anyway? its cost two arms and one leg...(R2 mil) is only a two seater with a massive 5 litre V10.. it is SUPPOSED to go like a rocket.. and even then .. there are plenty other super cars that with thrash this overpriced brute... and after all said and done.. it will still be a bland Audi with less shelf life than a loaf of bread... BMrules!
Eric
2/4/2010 4:31 PM
I have a new Kia Soul diesel and what a nice car to drive. My second Kia love the brand
Dave Mel
2/4/2010 4:02 PM
BMW Z4 should be voted car of the year
Kassie
2/4/2010 3:50 PM
So what if they recalled Toyotas. The writer is as biased as the panel !! A kettle calling the pot .... huh! a mirror ! ....black? LOL...The Prius is there because ....uhmmm...they have improved the tech on this model....and are the class leading "green" car of the lot. It is a real fuel saver ... and comapred to the old one....a 40% improvement.....and it will win it.....and then be recalled !!
EL FATTO BATTO
2/4/2010 2:47 PM
What a load of rubbish cars in all sections. I would, without hesitation, choose a Corvette over any of the listed Performance cars and still have change to buy another car. The Alfa Mito would be my WCOTY which could be purchase with the change from the Vette. As for the green car -- what a load of rubbish, all these should be banned from our roads, they are ugly slow and are driven by idiotic left wing tree huggers. Here in the UK any car older that 1975 does not attracked a licence fee so my motto is: DON'T PAY TAX, KEEP THE PLANET WARM, DRVE AN OLD V8.
AUDIA4AWAY
2/4/2010 2:45 PM
AUDI , ALL THE WAY
peter
2/4/2010 1:44 PM
Comments about the KIA soul are unfounded.The vehicle is tough and nippy.Everyday I get people coming up to me inquiring about the Soul.Yep its eye catching and sure to increase in numbers on the road
Brain
2/4/2010 12:55 PM
How on earth can the Cruze form part of this reward? Honestly, isn't this award meant to be for a car that has move things FORWARD, or has offer new technologies?
Chris
2/4/2010 11:54 AM
I just love the Panamera. Its such a awesome piece of engineering, with the best cabin in the business, at a reasonable price. I think it will controversially take it.
Porsche Fan
2/4/2010 11:26 AM
You gotta love the Panamera it has got the mafia look, the trilogy continues!!!
jackhammer
2/4/2010 11:22 AM
x1 ?good one ha,ha,ha.
Johnathan
2/4/2010 10:51 AM
Heheh, the Kia Soul should actually be called the "Kia Roll". Have you seen how those things bodyroll around corners? Narrow wheelbase, high body - not a good idea!
elizabeth matseba
2/4/2010 10:46 AM
chev cruize
Divine Rapier
2/4/2010 10:35 AM
I also don't agree with the writer of the article. Nothing wrong with recall. In fact it is, how I expect a responsible manufacturer to act. And I totally agree with all the nominated cars.
Joe Soap
2/4/2010 10:25 AM
Yes Dagon. The biatch is rather ghey.
StrangeDog
2/4/2010 10:24 AM
The Panamera? You are having a laugh! It's monstrous to say the least.
Kirsten
2/4/2010 10:15 AM
Dagon, they picked the Prius three times. Toyota is on massive recall. You don't see a shortage of good judgment here?
Dagon
2/4/2010 9:29 AM
Whoever wrote this article is clearly ticked of at WCOTY for not picking him as part of the voting panel. Isn't journalism supposed to be unbiased? Yet the writers trying to enforce his opinion as to who's going to win. Irritating article. Anyway, I don't agree with him on the Porsche Panamera. Although it's an amazing car, the WCOTY should be an allrounder; accessible & practical. Performance - V12 Vantage & TT RS stand just as good a chance, especially with the TT's performance to price ratio compared to the other big cars.
AUDI FAN
2/4/2010 9:11 AM
If The R8 V10 doesnt win the fastest car award, the judges of this years COTY must be a bunch of blind people

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