Was surfing last night when I stumbled on an article from UK’s Telegraph, where Andrew English, a judge in the 2013 European Car of the Year award, talks about this year’s hopefuls. Mr. English pointed out that this year, the 58 judges overlooked big money and/or high-tech cars for more bread and butter models. Appropriate, considering the state of the European economy.
The eight “quarter finalists” are Ford’s B-Max, Hyundai’s i30, Mercedes-Benz’s A-Class, Peugeot’s 208, Renault’s Clio, the Subaru BRZ/Toyota GT86 twins, Volkswagen’s Golf Mk7 and Volvo’s V40. They were shortlisted from a list of 32 new cars that will be on sale in Europe next year.
The writer pointed out that after two years of green car winners (Nissan Leaf, Opel/Vauxhall Ampera), judges lost appetite for the two plug-in hybrids from Volvo (V60 diesel plug-in) and Toyota (Prius plug-in). Also ignored were all-aluminium-alloy posh cars like the Mercedes-Benz SL and Range Rover. SUVs such as the Peugeot 4008, Citroën C4 Aircross, Honda CR-V, Subaru XV and Mitsubishi Outlander also didn’t stand out enough.
The down to earth menu dominated by hatchbacks and seasoned with one affordable sports car and one MPV will be judged on safety, driver appeal, value for money and ride/handling. The winner will be announced on the eve of the 2013 Geneva Motor Show in March.
Which of the eight do you think deserves the gong more? Armchair critics, state your case!
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AI-generated Summary ✨
Comments on the blog post reveal a mix of excitement and skepticism about the European Car of the Year finalists. Many highlight the Volkswagen Golf Mk7 and Mercedes A-Class as top contenders due to their innovative features and engineering advancements, while others favor the Volvo V40 and Hyundai i30 for their safety and practicality. There is also significant discussion about the influence of market perception, with some criticizing the inclusion of cars like the Toyota Vios and Proton Preve in Malaysia, perceiving them as overpriced or less innovative. Several comments express skepticism about the fairness of the voting process, questioning the criteria and the demographics of voters. Overall, the comments reflect a mix of admiration for certain models, doubts about others, and strong opinions based on regional preferences and market differences.