6.2.2013 Car of the Year 2013 finalists announced

The countdown has begun in preparation for the 2013 World Car Awards winners' press conference hosted by the New York International Auto Show on Thursday, March 28th, 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 5th, 2013.

A jury of sixty-six distinguished international automotive journalists selected the following top ten finalists in both categories by secret ballot. The jury members constitute a balance of representation from Asia, Europe and the UK, North America, Russia, as well as other parts of the world.

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 CX-5
* 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. 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.

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

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 recognise and reward automotive excellence on an international scale.

Next Green Car will publish both the short-listed models, to be announced at the Geneva International Motor Show, and the final winners that will be announced at the New York International Auto Show, both in March.