The Countdown Begins! Top Finalists Announced

NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The countdown has begun in preparation for the 2013 World Car Awards winners' press conference hosted by the New York International Auto Show and Bridgestone Corporation on Thursday, March 28, 2013.   The 2013 World Car of the Year, World Performance Car, World Green Car and World Car Design of the Year will all be declared at this time.

The top three finalists in all award categories will be announced at the Geneva International Motor Show on Tuesday, March 5^th, 2013.

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.  For more details about our jurors, and their outlets, please visit our web site:  www.wcoty.com and choose 2013 Awards > Juror List.

The international accounting firm KPMG tabulated the jurors' ballots and announced the top ten finalists in both categories today.    

The 2013 World Car of the Year will be selected from the following top ten cars listed in alphabetical order:

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

The 2013 World Performance Car will be chosen from one of these top ten finalists:

• 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

The jurors' next step is to re-evaluate the top ten cars in both classes, in preparation for a final round of voting in February.  They will specifically 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 at the Geneva International Motor Show on March 5th during a press conference co-hosted by Bridgestone Corporation and the New York International Auto Show.

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.

The 2013 World Green Car category is handled differently.  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 then create a short-list of finalists for review by the sixty-six jurors in their second round of voting in February.  The finalists for 2013 are:

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

The five experts on the advisory panel are in alphabetical order:  Phil Berg (USA - PopularMechanics.com);  Richard Bremner (U.K. - cleangreencars.co.uk), Claus-Peter Koeth (Germany - automobil-industrie.de);  Tadashi Tateuchi (Japan- founder and chairman of the Japan Electric Vehicle Club) and John Voelcker (USA - GreenCarReports.com)

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.

Again, a design panel consisting of five highly respected world design experts was asked to first review each candidate, and then establish a short-list of recommendations for the jurors.  The design experts are: 

Masatsugu Arimoto (Japan – Freelance design journalist); Silvia Baruffaldi (Italy – Auto & Design magazine);
Gernot Bracht (Germany – Pforzheim Design School); Sam Livingstone (U.K.  - Car Design Research and Royal College of Art) and Tom Matano (USA - School of Industrial Design at Academy of Art University in San Francisco)

The finalists they've chose for the jurors are:

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

Prime Research International, a global leader in strategic communication research and consultancy is the World Car Awards' research partner.  The company will provide strategic reports in 2013 that analyze our awards global automotive media coverage.  

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.

About PRIME RESEARCH
PRIME Research International, a global leader in strategic communication research and consultancy, has joined forces with the World Car Awards to provide strategic studies in the fields of automotive assessment criteria and automotive awards. PRIME Research is a well-trusted research partner for the automotive industry with a broad range of automotive clients. Its full picture approach, which provides strategic benchmark information and SWOT analyses on over 100 brands and over 10,000 different automobile models, sets the standard in automotive media research.    

About BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. In addition to tires for use in a wide variety of applications, it also manufactures a broad range of diversified products, which include industrial rubber and chemical products and sporting goods. Its products are sold in over 150 nations and territories around the world.

About the 2013 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS)
Showcasing the latest automotive trends, the 2013 New York International Auto Show will unveil an extensive collection of the most technologically advanced vehicles on display anywhere in the world. More than four floors of displays, including the new Javits Center North exhibition hall, will house nearly 1,000 stunning new 2013/2014 vehicles as well as sensational futuristic concept cars.  NYIAS is owned and produced by the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association.

Important Show Information:   Press Days: March 27 & 28,  Public Show Dates:  March 29^th – April 7^th
Show Hours:  Monday – Saturday:  10 a.m. - 10 p.m.    Sundays:  10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

www.autoshowNY.com; Twitter: #NYIAS @NYautoshow; Facebook: Like us, we like you!
Mobile: Download our iPhone app; on iTunes for Show info on the go

For a list of past World Car Awards winners, please visit our web site:  www.wcoty.com

SOURCE New York International Auto Show