The long list of 35 candidates for the 2013 Car of the Year award have just been announced, which will eventually be downsized to seven cars from which a winner will be picked.
58 journalists representing 22 European countries come together to choose the Car of the Year every year. Each one is hand picked by the existing board, and no profit is gained by any of the participating members.
The cars are judged based on 10 categories, which are: design, comfort, safety, economy, handling, performance, functionality, environmental requirements, driver satisfaction, and price. Only vehicles that have been released in the last 12 months and that are essentially new qualify for the award. If a car simply received new options this year, it will not qualify. It must also be available in at least five European countries, and have a projected sales number of at least 5,000 units a year.
In January, the list will be downsized to seven finalists from which the Journalists will pick a winner. Each voting member gets 25 points that he or she can assign across five cars, with 10 points being the maximum number that can be assigned to a single car. Categories are forgone in this competition, so that there is one clear and decisive winner in the end.
2013 Car of the Year candidates.
Audi A3
BMW 3-Series
Chevrolet Malibu
Dacia Lodgy
Fiat 500L
Ford B-Max
Honda CR-V
Hyundai i30
Hyundai Santa Fe
Kia Cee’d
Kia Optima
Lancia Flavia
Mazda Mazda6
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
Mitsubishi Outlander
Mitsubishi ASX/Citroen Aircross/Peugeot 4008
Opel/Vauxhall Adam
Opel/Vauxhall Mokka
Peugeot 208
Porsche Boxster
Renault Clio
Renault ZOE
Skoda Rapid/SEAT Toledo
smart fortwSo electric drive
Subaru Impreza
Subaru XV
Subaru BRZ/ Toyota GT86
Tata Vista
Toyota Auris
Toyota Yaris plug-in hybrid
Toyota Prius Plus
Volkswagen Golf
Volvo V40
Volvo V60 plug-in hybrid