2013 World Car Awards top finalists

Following a second round of voting by a jury of sixty-six motoring journalists, the top contenders for the 2013 World Car Awards have been announced.

World Car of the Year

Usually at this stage of the competition it’s the top three finalists that are named. However, this year the ballot must have been very close because four models have been listed:
  • Mercedes-Benz A-Class
  • Porsche Boxster / Cayman
  • Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ / Toyota GT86 / Toyota 86
  • Volkswagen Golf
Given that it has just been declared the 2013 European Car of the Year, the Golf is certainly a strong runner in this category. A win would see Volkswagen taking the title for a second year in succession, after 2012’s success with its Up! city car.

Volkswagen Golf GTD (2013) Front Side
2013 Volkswagen Golf

World Performance Car

As can be seen, there’s a lot of overlap between the World Car of the Year and World Performance Car nominees:
  • Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
  • Porsche Boxster / Cayman
  • Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ / Toyota GT86 / Toyota 86
All three finalists appeal to very different market segments, which makes the result very tricky to predict. The Scion / Subaru / Toyota triplets should get the award though, as they combine rear-wheel drive, light weight and accessible power in a fresh package.

Scion FR-S (2013) Front
2013 Scion FR-S

World Green Car

Similarly, the World Green Car candidates represent a broad spectrum of technologies:
  • Renault Zoe
  • Tesla Model S
  • Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid Diesel
Of the three, the Volvo most deserves recognition because of its efficient diesel-hybrid powertrain and decent electric-only range.

Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid (2012) Rear Side
2012 Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid Diesel

World Car Design of the Year

This category features the only two British models to make it this far in the contest:
  • Aston Martin Vanquish
  • Jaguar F-Type
  • Mazda 6
While the Vanquish is undoubtedly a striking car, it still looks very similar to any other Aston Martin coupé of recent years. Conversely, the F-Type’s design is much more original, so it ought to be the victor.

Jaguar F-Type (2013) Side
2013 Jaguar F-Type


The winners of each award will be revealed at the New York International Auto Show on the 28th of March.

Related posts:
2013 Euro COTY winner
2013 World Car Awards finalists
2013 NACTOY winners
2012 World Car Awards

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts:

i10 N Line versus the Up! GTI

Image
Hyundai has confirmed specifications and pricing for its sporty i10 N Line. This new variant – which arrives at dealers later this month – benefits from some cosmetic tweaks, unique suspension components and a more powerful 1.0 litre T-GDi turbocharged petrol engine.
Read more

‘New’ Jensen Interceptor

Image
There’s something very retro-chic about using a classic car as a daily driver, but it’s an activity that comes with the permanent risk that aged mechanicals might expire at any time. Hence the concept of regeneration by substituting ancient components with fresh replacements. Handling, brakes and reliability are all dramatically improved, while the outward appearance remains unmolested. Various models have received this treatment in recent years, including numerous Jaguars and even the Shelby G.T.500CR . Now it’s the turn of the Jensen Interceptor, a car originally built during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Jensen International Automotive , based in Thame, Oxfordshire, has just delivered the first of its Interceptor R models. And, with an annual production figure of 18 cars, it’s a product that will be very exclusive. In a process lasting around five months, each Interceptor R is totally rebuilt from a suitable donor car. The body shell is stripped back to bare metal before it
Read more

Kawasaki W800 revealed

Image
19 January 2011 Update: For confirmed Kawasaki W800 pricing, please click here . Kawasaki has unveiled its retro W800 at the Cologne Intermot motorcycle show. There are a few differences between this production-ready version and first image of the W800 , which was released last month. The most obvious is that the limey-green paint has been ditched, replaced by a much more attractive dark green and silver metallic colour scheme. Other changes include the seat unit, which looks a bit plusher but loses its contrast piping around the edge. There are now knee pads on each side of the fuel tank, too, that sit just behind very large chrome ‘W’ emblems. No surprises in the engine department - it’s an air-cooled twin with a capacity of 773 cc, driving through a five-speed gearbox. Unfortunately Kawasaki hasn’t released any power or torque figures yet, but given that its W650 predecessor managed to get 49 bhp (37 kW / 50 PS) from its 675 cc, somewhere approaching 60 bhp (44 kW / 60
Read more