World Car Awards finalists

Sixty-six jurors from across the world have completed a first round of voting to determine the 2011 World Car Awards finalists.

With four different awards up for grabs, the shortlist models - in alphabetical order - are:


2011 World Car of the Year

• Audi A1
• Audi A8
• BMW 5 Series
• BMW X3
• Jaguar XJ
• Jeep Grand Cherokee
• Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
• Nissan Leaf
• Porsche Cayenne
• Volvo S60 / V60

Obviously, this is the big prize. Each of the finalists will be judged on ‘overall merit, value, safety, environmental responsibility, emotional appeal and significance’, a combination that has lead to some previous winners being very worthy but also just a bit dull.

What’s striking is that 2011’s entire crop is from premium or, in the case of the Volvo and Jeep, semi-premium manufacturers. Even the Nissan isn’t exactly mainstream, given its relatively high price.

The Leaf could well repeat its 2011 European Car of the Year victory, but it does tend to divide opinion. There are those who believe it almost makes petrol or diesel cars obsolete, while others won’t back an all-electric car until both battery range and the recharging infrastructure improve.



It’s hard to see either the SLS AMG or Cayenne winning, given their comparative lack of environmental responsibility. The BMW 5 Series has to be a contender given its all-round ability, but it would be good to see the Jaguar XJ clinch it, simply because it represents such a brave departure from previous generation XJ models.

Audi’s A1 probably ticks all the boxes. However, it’d be a shame for it to win because it’s essentially a tarted-up version of last year’s World Car of the Year, the Volkswagen Polo.


2011 World Performance Car

• Aston Martin Rapide
• Audi RS 5 Coupe
• Cadillac CTS-V Coupe
• Ferrari 458 Italia
• Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera
• Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG / CL 63 AMG
• Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
• Porsche 911 GT2 RS
• Porsche 911 Turbo
• Renault Mégane Renaultsport 250

This category is wide open, as it includes everything from a compact hot hatch to numerous supercars for the jurors to choose from. Audi has won the performance car award three times in the past five years, but it’ll be a surprise if the feat is repeated with the RS 5.




2011 World Car Design of the Year

• Alfa Romeo Giulietta
• Aston Martin Rapide
• Audi A7
• Citroën DS3
• Ferrari 458
• Honda CR-Z
• Kia Sportage
• Nissan Juke

There were originally fifty-one candidates in this category, which is expected to ‘highlight new vehicles with innovation and style that push established boundaries’ - a demanding set of criteria.

On that basis, the Aston Martin would seem to be a strong challenger, but arguably it’s the Nissan Juke that truly stands out as a unique design.

The shortlist was decided by a panel of five design experts but, as with all of the other awards, it’s now solely up to the jurors to arrive at a winner.



2011 World Green Car

• BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition
• Chevrolet Volt
• Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
• Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell
• Nissan Leaf
• Smart electric drive

Three environmental experts were asked to draw up the finalists for this award based on emissions, fuel consumption and the power plant technology employed.

Perhaps the Leaf stands a stronger chance of winning this category, but it may be the case that more jurors consider the Volt’s range extender concept as being more practical for everyday use.



But with its 109 g/km and combined cycle 68.9 mpg (4.0 l/100km), the 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition proves that cars with a traditional internal combustion engine can still be impressively green.



The next stage is that during February the jurors will vote again, but this time just on the finalists.

Following that ballot, the top three cars in each category will be announced at the Geneva International Motor Show on 1st March.

Then, bringing the process to a close, the 2011 World Car Awards winners will be declared during the New York International Auto Show in April.