The finalists for the 2018 European Car of the Year award have been revealed, and the list has been whittled down to seven candidates after a first vote from the 60 jury members from across the continent. The finalists are:
- Alfa Romeo Stelvio
- Audi A8
- BMW 5 Series
- Citroen C3 Aircross
- Kia Stinger
- Seat Ibiza
- Volvo XC40
It’s a pretty open field, and so everyone will fancy their chances – we could well see a brand taking home its maiden win, as four of the seven have never won an European COTY before. The remaining three that have will also have much reason to celebrate.
Alfa Romeo had the Giulia in the running last year, but it had to play second fiddle to the Peugeot 3008. This time, it’s the turn of the Stelvio, the brand’s first-ever SUV, to try taking home the coveted gong, which it last won in 2001 with the 147.
Meanwhile, a win for the new fourth-gen D5 Audi A8 would end a three decade wait for a title (it last won in 1983). Likewise, Citroen’s C3 Aircross, which follows on the C3 that was a finalist last year – the French automaker last picked up a Euro COTY award in 1990.
Strangely enough, BMW hasn’t won the European COTY before, but it’ll fancy its chances with the G30 5 Series. The impressive Kia Stinger might spring a big surprise, and the fifth-gen Ibiza could give Seat its first-ever win. As for Volvo, it came close two years ago with the XC90, and it’ll be hoping to go one better with the new XC40.
Voting will take place in March next year, with each of the 60 jurors apportioning 25 points among at least five nominees – the winner will be revealed ahead of the Geneva Motor Show. The 2017 edition saw the Peugeot 3008 being crowned champion, ahead of the Alfa Romeo Giulia and the W213 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
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Kia stinger? really? i’m impressed
Buy Peugeot 3008, European Car of the Year. RM140K only.
kia stinger must be very good. sounds like a sting, also like stingy. but it must be a very good car to be able to join the top rankings of european coty list.
The Koreans were the butt joke 15 yrs ago. In Malaysia, everybody made fun of the Kia Spectra and Kia Sephia.
Look at them today. They worked hard to improve their image. Instead of lepakking and relaxing, every minute of the day they worked hard to transform their company.
This is why, today, Kia and Hyundai sell 8 million cars globally. Kia and Hyundai was born only 10 years earlier than our Proton and yet, 8 million global sales and award winning cars.
This Stinger is one of them.
We Malaysians, especially Proton, need to learn from the Koreans how to work hard.
Since the Waja 15 yrs ago, now Proton have Persona. the Rakyat car
Coz those car not design by Korean but Germany & 300% they backup by Korean Govt.. If not they are same as P1
What do you expect for less than 150 K per year sales volume with 5 or 6 model variants. The beauty in Korea is their people…people in Korea have the same spirit and mind set…buy korea, Korea is no 1. Korea is incomparable right now…Malaysia do not have full flash of automotive insfrastructure and Thailand is even better than us.
Yes, and we can start with u. Get of that keybod warrior lazychair now.
5 Series and the rest!
XC40 for me. But honestly based on what I have read about the A8 in all European media (better even than the S class in most ways), I believe it will eventually win
I concur 5 series is the ultimate driving machine.
perfect
no Jap manufacturer in the list? interesting….
Volvo > all
P1 alredi sent in their EU rep: XC40. But mana toyota/P2 rep?
Sir, i seeing same > all from you. Does it mean Volvo has most mechanical problem? Mind to explain?
wow a non-European make makes into the list.. amazing indeed
Toyota Prius and Nissan Leaf had won this before. Amazing japs indeed
Congrat to Kia, Kia Stinger > other finalists
Korean cars are the same as their kpop group singers. Beautiful/handsome on the outside, terrible on the inside (inside here refers to the engine and etc). Bought a kia once, will never buy another one again for the rest of my life. And the customer service suck like eff, even worser tham honda.
*than