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And The Nominees For World Car of the Year Are….

K keshy
Posted onJan 28, 2009 at 12:30 PM

gtr

Currently in its fifth year running, the World Car of the Year competition is back for 2009 and the jurors have finalised their 11 finalists. The WCoty is determined by the votes of over 50 journalists from all over the world including Malaysia (‘(00) is not part of the jurors). Some of the finalists include the Nissan GT-R, Jaguar XF and the Honda Jazz and Audi A4. Due to a tie for 10th place, there are 11 finalists this year. Judges will next narrow their choice to the top three by March 9 and the winner will be announced at the New York Auto Show on April 9. Read on for the full press release and the full list of finalists.

PRESS RELEASE

World Car of the Year Announces Top Ten Finalists

Celebrating its fifth annual awards program, the World Car of the Year, held in conjunction with the New York International Auto Show, is pleased to announce this year’s top ten finalists.

The 2009 World Car finalists are:

Audi A4 / Avant
BMW 7 Series
Citroen C5 Sedan / C5 Tourer
Fiat 500
Ford Fiesta
Honda Fit / Jazz
Jaguar XF
Mazda Atenza / Mazda6
Nissan GT-R
Toyota iQ
Volkswagen Golf VI

Vehicles are selected and voted on by a volunteer jury of close to 50 distinguished automotive journalists representing many of the world’s most renowned automotive outlets. All jurors hold significant stature with their own regions and countries, which include: Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Turkey, and the United States.

The jurors’ next step is narrowing the top ten field to the top three, which will be announced March 9. Today’s top ten announcement includes 11 vehicles because two of the vehicles are tied for a spot.

The overall 2009 World Car of the Year as well as the winners of the World Performance Car, World Green Car and World Car Design of the Year will be declared on April 9, 2009 during a press conference at the New York International Auto Show.

Visit www.wcoty.com for more information on the 2009 World Car of the Year Awards. For Auto Show updates, go to www.autoshowNY.com.

Post Views: 471
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    andyjian
  • Jan 28, 2009
GT-R!!
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    vincent
  • Jan 28, 2009
I think it should be lined up like this :
World Performance Car
Nissan GT-R
Jaguar XF

World Green Car
Fiat 500
Ford Fiesta
Honda Fit / Jazz
Toyota iQ
Volkswagen Golf VI

World Car Design
Audi A4 / Avant
BMW 7 Series
Citroen C5 Sedan / C5 Tourer
Mazda Atenza / Mazda6
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    NISSAN
  • Jan 29, 2009
Can someone take the ugly Nissan GT-R out of the list please?
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    hause
  • Jan 29, 2009
I wouldn't be surprised if the Toyota iQ would win. Considering the panel of WCOTY are based on people who focus and judge according to a broad list of requirements. And they compromise of people who aren't all performance junkies like you and me and the ZTH audience, but mostly sensible people like your mom and dad.

The GT-R would win performance car, hands down. But I personally think that the iQ would trump it to the WCOTY in packaging design, environmentally-friendliness, affordable, and everyday use.

Forget the fact that the GT-R beats a Porsche Turbo round a track, that its engine was built in a sealed environment, that it spent two years in a wind tunnel, that the car was proven to the boss with the tyres complete deflated and driven round a track, that the engineers shot the car with an air rifle to make sure the paint doesn't chip, that the engine is cantered forward to enable optimum power channeling under hard acceleration, that the brakes a bedded in before delivery by a lap round their track with the brakes full on and traveling at 80mph, and that it costs a fraction less than any supercar in the market.

But its still a large 2+2 seater with a giant engine, and doesn't mean a thing to the ordinary Joe.

Don't look at me as an anti-performance car person, to be honest I am a petrol head at heart, its just that I'm looking at it through the perspective of the panel of judges. It would be fun if they surprised me with a GT-R winner.
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    meals
  • Jan 29, 2009
GTR will surely win...hands down!
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    jobs
  • Jan 30, 2009
hmm..no proton here?hahaa
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    markIItrd
  • Feb 3, 2009
when replacement of supra will rebirth 2 counter this godzilla
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