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2013 World Car Awards - The Countdown Has Begun


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By Henny Hemmes
2013 WCA Jurist
Senior European Editor,
The Auto Channel


PHOTO

THE HAGUE, February 7, 2013; After being appointed a juror for the World Car Awards, last October, I could drive some more models that would be up on the list of nominated cars. A very long list indeed, that makes you realize how active the car manufacturers are with developing, testing and introducing new models last year: a quick count showed some 40 new vehicles.

We all sent in our (secret) ballots for the 2013 World Car of the Year and the World Performance Car of the Year by the first week of January. In the meantime, the ballots have been tabulated by international accounting firm KPMG, who announced the top ten finalists in both categories. I am happy that I have driven nine out of the ten models that are still in competition. We will rate each vehicle in terms of overall merit, value, safety, environmental responsibility, emotional appeal, and significance. KPMG will again tabulate the vote results. The top three finalists in both categories will be announced during a press conference at the Geneva International Motor Show on March 5th.

For this next round, we will have to re-evaluate the following models for the 2013 World Car of the Year:

  • - Audi A3
  • - Land Rover RangeRover
  • - Mazda6
  • - Mazda CX5
  • - Mercedes-Benz A-Class
  • - Peugeot 208
  • - Porsche Boxster / Cayman
  • - Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ / Toyota GT 86 / Toyota86
  • - Volkswagen Golf
  • - Volvo V40

We will rate each vehicle in terms of overall merit, value, safety, environmental responsibility, emotional appeal, and significance. KPMG will again tabulate the vote results. The top three finalists in both categories will be announced during a press conference at the Geneva International Motor Show on March 5th.

We also have to make cast a vote for the 2013 World Performance Car, for which the following ‘dream cars’ made it to the top ten :

  • - Aston Martin Vanquish
  • - Audi RS 5
  • - BMW M6 Coupe / Convertible
  • - BMW M 135i
  • - Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
  • - Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG
  • - Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster
  • - Porsche Boxster / Cayman
  • - Renault Clio Sport
  • - Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ / Toyota GT 86 / Toyota 86

But that is not all. The judges also have to make a choice for the Green Car and the Design Car of the Year. But those two categories are handled differently. For the World Green Car, five experts in ‘green’ technology were appointed by the World Car Awards Steering Committee to extensively review all documentation and specs associated with each candidate on the list of nominees. The experts have created a short-list of finalists for review.

  • - Renault Zoe
  • - smart Electric Drive
  • - Tesla Model S
  • - Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid
  • - Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid Diesel

Cars eligible for the 2013 World Car Design of the Year award are taken from the list of World Car candidates or they may be included as a stand-alone entry provided the vehicle is introduced and available for sale in at least one major market during the period beginning January 1, 2012 and ending May 30th, 2013.

The finalists chosen are:

  • - Aston Martin Vanquish
  • - Renault Clio
  • - Jaguar F-Type
  • - Land Rover Range Rover
  • -Mazda 6
  • - Volkswagen Golf

The top three in both categories will also be announced in Geneva. The winners of the 2013 World Car of the Year, World Performance Car, World Green Car and World Car Design of the Year will all be presented during a press conference hosted by the New York International Auto Show and Bridgestone Corporation on Thursday, March 28, 2013.

Please stay tuned.

About World Car Awards
A jury of sixty-six (66) distinguished international automotive journalists selected the following top ten finalists in both categories by secret ballot, based on their experience with each candidate as part of their professional work. The jury members constitute a balance of representation from Asia, Europe and the U.K., North America, Russia, as well as other parts of the world. All hold significant stature within their own regions and countries

Now in their ninth year, the annual World Car awards have become one of the world’s most prestigious, credible and significant programs of its kind. The awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as well as to recognize and reward automotive excellence on an international scale. The awards are intended to complement, not compete, with existing national and regional Car of the Year programs.

The awards are administered by a non-profit association, under the guidance of a Steering Committee of pre-eminent automotive journalists from Asia, Europe, and North America. Peter Lyon (Japan) and Matt Davis (Italy) are the co-chairs; John McCormick (USA), Jens Meiners (Germany), Mike Rutherford (U.K.), Eddie Alterman (USA), and Gerry Malloy (Canada) are the directors. There is no affiliation with, nor are the awards in any way influenced by any publication, auto show, automaker, or other commercial enterprise.

Previous World Car of the Year winners were the Volkswagen Up! in 2012, the Nissan LEAF in 2011, the Volkswagen Polo in 2010, the Volkswagen Golf in 2009, the Mazda2 / Mazda Demio in 2008, the Lexus LS460 in 2007, the BMW 3-Series in 2006, and the Audi A6 in 2005.

Previous World Performance Car winners were the Porsche 911 in 2012, the Ferrari 458 Italia in 2011, the Audi R8 V10 in 2010, the Nissan GT-R in 2009, the Audi R8 in 2008, the Audi RS4 in 2007 and the Porsche Cayman S in 2006.