Car of the Year Newsfeed

CEOs of Chevrolet Europe and Opel collected the CotY 2012 trophy

Eduardo Azpilicueta — 2012-03-07 00:00:00

For the first time in Car of the Year history, the 2012 winner was announced on the eve of Geneva Auto Show press days, in front of many journalists ready to attend the show. Both CEOs of Chevrolet Europe, Susan Docherty, and Adam Opel AG, Carl-Friedrich Stracke, were at hand, eager to collect the coveted trophy for the winning Chevrolet Volt/Opel Ampera.

Ampera/Volt sweeps on Car of the Year 2012

Eduardo Azpilicueta — 2012-03-05 00:00:00

The joint candidacy of Opel/Vauxhall Ampera and Chevrolet Volt, with 330 points, has been distinctly preferred by CotY 2012 Jury members, who put Volkswagen Up! second with 281 points and Ford Focus third, with 256.

Final test in Mortefontaine

2012-03-01 00:00:00

The Mortefontaine facilities of CERAM test institution, not far from Paris, was the stage for the final testing event available to CotY Jury members, organized by its Secretariat General in a two-day session previous to the final vote for Car of the Year 2012 award.

Euro NCAP: More protection for pedestrians

2012-01-09 00:00:00

For 2010 Euro NCAP introduced more stringent criteria to rate with 5 stars the crash result of any new car. In top of other checked results, electronic stability control had to be a standard item in the model to obtain that mark. In spite of that, and along the past two years, the majority of tests have awarded the cars the coveted 5-star rating.

Tannis 2011, the early chance

2011-10-13 00:00:00

Car of the Year award has changed much its timing, with the announcement of 2012 winner on early March. But Tannistest in Northern Jutland sticks to its usual schedule on late September. The reason why is obvious when you visit this idyllic part of Danemark and enjoy the scenery and good weather in the end of the tourist season. Doing it only a few weeks later, to get closer to voting time for jurors, would likely mean bad weather and fewer daylight hours.

5-star new harvest in Euro NCAP

2011-05-31 00:00:00

Euro NCAP has announced a new batch of tests on six new cars, all of them receiving the 5 star general rating: Citroandeuml;n DS4, Ford Focus, Lexus CT200h, Nissan Leaf, Peugeot 508 and Volvo V60. The presence on this group of the Car of the Year 2011, the Nissan Leaf, comes to prove that a new-generation electric car may be as safe as conventional cars, in spite of the considerable space and weight dedicated to batteries; battery damage or high voltage leeking have also been well cared for, following the result of the test.

CotY winner to be announced in Geneva Show

2011-05-20 00:00:00

The Car of the Year award will change its procedure for the announcement of the winner, that will be made each year on the eve of press day in Geneva Motor Show, starting with the 2012 edition. After almost half a century of publicizing the result on late November, the CotY Organizing Committee has reached an agreement with the Swiss annual show to disclose the winner in Palexpo each Monday prior to the first press day, at 15:00.

Prizegiving in Paris: electric triumph

2011-01-28 00:00:00

Headquarters for L'Automobile magazine -host in turn for Car of the Year 2011 award- Paris is also one of the poles of Renault-Nissan Alliance. Pavillon Gabriel, close to Champs-Elysees, was therefore the appropriate venue for the prizegiving event. Carlos Ghosn collected personally the trophy from the hands of Car of the Year Jury President, Hakan Matson. The presence of the CEO and President of Nissan, but also of Renault, stressed the commitment of the Alliance with the future of electric cars. Nissan Leaf has marked a precedent in the history of this award with the first win for an electric vehicle, but other Alliance models will soon follow it in the market. Nissan first won a CotY trophy in 1993 with the Micra, and the second accolade comes in due time. The General Assembly of the Jury, held previously, recorded the retirement of four members, Peter Aaboe of Denmark, Christophe Bonnaud of France, Wolfgang Peters of Germany and Maria-Angeles Pujol of Spain, after long services to the Jury.

Car of the Year 2011: Close win for Nissan Leaf

Eduardo Azpilicueta — 2010-11-29 00:00:00

Nissan Leaf, the first full electric vehicle finalist in this contest, is the Car of the Year 2011. As it has been usual in recent years, it was a close victory, with 257 points, against the 248 points of Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Opel/Vauxhall Meriva took the third place, with 244 points.

CotY 2011: Seven finalists

2010-11-04 00:00:00

The Car of the Year 2011 award has now seven finalists: Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Citroandeuml;n C3/DS3, Dacia Duster, Ford C-Max/Grand C-Max, Nissan Leaf, Opel/Vauxhall Meriva and Volvo S60/V60.

Massive tests in Tannis 2010

Eduardo Azpilicueta — 2010-09-27 00:00:00

The mid-September meeting in Northern Denmark starts the high testing season for CotY Jury members. Tannistest has been organized by the Scandinavian jurors for more than 30 years, but it is open to anyone in the Jury, including honorary members. Among a total of 140 attendees, including the engineers and vehicle servers, 22 former or current jurors seized the unique opportunity of gathering the majority of cars in the list of (41) candidates for the 2011 award. That's the trademark of Tannis, while later tests in Boxberg, Silverstone and Balocco will focus in the short-listed cars, the nominees, along November.

Countryman, the grown-up Mini

2010-05-28 00:00:00

Theoretically born as a niche product, Mini has developed into a brand with a whole range. We have already known three body styles, and there will probably be a coupe derivative too. We witness now the presentationof the Countryman, a 5-dr SUV model that doesn't honour the name Mini for size but it does for spirit and looks. It is, not only taller than the other Minis, also much longer at 4.1 m, and based in a different platform with 2.6 m wheelbase and multi-link rear suspension. Countryman is also roomier than its brothers and with a more generous cargo space. Boot can be extended by sliding longitudinally the rear seats in individual portions, in top of conventional folding. The chic packaging is with four seats and a Centre Rail from front to rear of cabin where accessories can be arranged; but a 3-seat rear bench is also available at no cost.

Honda CR-Z: Hybrid and sporty

2010-05-19 00:00:00

In 1999 Honda was a pioneer in production hybrid cars with the 'subcompact' Insight, a lightweight ultra-aerodynamic two-seater with sporty airs and modest performance level that never got true popular acceptance. With the CR-Z, conceptual heir of the compact 2+2 CR-X of the '80s, Honda has taken big care in avoiding the negative traits of its first street hybrid. It's an appealing coupe, 4.08 m long, roomy enough in the front and with two seats for children in the rear. Easy-to-read 3-D dials and dash design contribute to the nice cabin. There is also some rear cargo space that may be extended by folding the seat backs. With a 0-100 km/h in around ten seconds, CR-Z has good acceleration and speed (200 km/h) when both engine and electric power are demanded. And, of course, very low fuel consumption can be achieved -especially in city traffic- when that is the aim.

Mitsubishi ASX, more than a funny face

2010-05-10 00:00:00

Sat on an Outlander platform that provides roominess, functionality and some off-road capabilities, the crossover ASX offers a friendly face and a fresh style that has gained staunch supporters in Japan, prior to its launch in Europe. The body front with the jet fighter grille theme has been used in previousMitsubishis, but ASX enhances it with its very short overhangs, producing an overall length of only 4.3 m. The new model, therefore, inhabits the C-segment as a compact companion to the more conventionalLancer. And can be specified with an outstanding level of equipment, with stability control and 7 airbagsalways as standard.

New Giulietta: Alfa does it again

2010-04-27 00:00:00

Alfa Romeo has revived again the glorious name of Giulietta, a successful mid-50s model that put the Milanese manufacturer in the map of volume production. The new Giulietta is a promising compact 5-door car with front wheel drive, based in a new Fiat-group architecture. The flexible platform will also be used in several Fiat and Chrysler future models, including 4X4 ones, and is focused in structural rigidity, aural comfort, climatization efficiency and, especially, weight saving. It also boasts a good compromise of ride comfort and road behaviour, with a multi-link rear suspension. A wheelbase of 2.63 m and overall length of 4.35 set this car well ahead of the superseded 147, with an approach of better usefulness for families.

RCZ, the fun Peugeot

2010-04-19 00:00:00

The fresh-looking 3008 and 5008 illustrate that Peugeot is determined to offer products other than correct, conventional cars. The 2+2 seat RCZ, that has passed from show concept to production model in two and a half years, follows the path, or perhaps it starts a new one in the style area. Compact at 4,29 m in length, it has looks, driving fun and good equipment, is reasonably practical and affordable too. The low, pleasant coupe silhouette has a chic 'double bubble' roof (no open version is expected) and a screen in the rear hatch made of real glass that extends such graceful shape; quite a construction feat.

ActiveHybrid will top BMW 5-series

2010-03-31 00:00:00

The 5 GT launched in 2009 gave a peep of how the whole 5-series would develop into a complete range, topped by an efficient ActiveHybrid sedan. After the imposing Sports Activity Coupe, the series comprises now sedan and Touring body styles, blending sportivity, elegance and dynamic features. Sharing structural components with 7-series -also built at the Dingolfing factory- the new sedan and Touring 5-series increase their size to 4.9 m, yet fuel economy is improved: the 184 hp 520d, fitted as standard with a Start/Stop device, boasts an homologated consumption of 5.0 l/100 km, equivalent to an emission of 132 g/km of CO2. Two in-line six Diesels give 204 and 245 hp, while the gasoline offer has 6-cylinder engines from 204 to 306 hp, and the powerful V8 of the 550i, with 407 hp.

Nissan Micra and Juke shine in Geneva

2010-03-10 00:00:00

Kept tightly secret till the first press day, the fourth generation of Micra made a star appearance in Geneva auto show 2010, as part of a new Nissan offer in the small and compact segments that will also include the crossover Juke and the electric vehicle LEAF. While the commercialization of the zero-emission hatchback will start late in the year in selected markets, the more conventional Micra will be on sale soon at a global scale. The Nissan supermini utilizes a new small platform 'V'.

Prizegiving in Wolfsburg. Volkswagen kingdom

2010-02-16 00:00:00

Volkswagen was proud to celebrate the Polo's win of Car of the Year 2010 award in their own headquarters. The imposing complex made of classic and modern buildings where the big VW factory stands in Wolfsburg, was the venue for this prize giving event. The appealing and ever-changing exhibit Autostadt was, as usual, another point of interest close by. The manufacturer was again at the top of this contest, 18 years after the Golf III got the coveted trophy in Madrid. Plenty of top Volkswagen executives were in Wolfsburg representing the distinguished team of specialists behind the development and production of the Polo and the rest of a wide model range that explains the current success of the manufacturer in spite of a global economic crisis. Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, head of Volkswagen AG, was there to collect the trophy from the hands of Hakan Matson, president of CotY Jury. Prior to this event, the General Assembly of CotY Jury elected a new Secretary General, Frank Janssen, as a successor to Eduardo Azpilicueta, who has retired from the Jury after 25 years of membership.

Car of the Year 2010: VW Polo wins the match

2009-11-30 00:00:00

The Volkswagen Polo is the Car of the Year 2010. It won a close contest with the Toyota iQ. Just ten points, 347 to 337, separated the two leading contenders, while the Opel/Vauxhall Astra took third place, with 221 points.