The top 10 finalists in the increasingly important World Car of the Year awards programme were announced yesterday. Now, the jury of 66 international motoring journalists, including the only South African, CAR’s Hannes Oosthuizen, will cast votes again before the top three in each of the categories are announced at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The World Car of the Year and World Performance Car of the Year winners, along with green and design awards, will be revealed at the New York International Auto Show in April.
The 2012 World Car of the Year will be selected from the following top ten cars listed in alphabetical order:
Audi A6 Saloon / Avant
Audi Q3
BMW 1 Series
BMW 3 Series
Chevrolet Volt / Opel/Vauxhall Ampera
Citroen DS5
Ford Focus
Land Rover Evoque
Porsche 911
Volkswagen Up!
The 2012 World Performance Car will be chosen from these top ten finalists:
Audi RS 3 Sportback
BMW 1 Series M Coupé
BMW M5
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Ferrari FF
Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4
McLaren MP4-12C
Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG
Mercedes-Benz C63 Coupe AMG Black Series
Porsche 911
Previous World Car of the Year winners were 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.
Now in their eighth year, the annual World Car awards have become one of the world’s most prestigious, credible and significant programs of its kind.