JUST IN: European Car (Magazine) Announces COTY Awards for '08

Here are the winners from each class, with a choice quote from their descriptions.

Overall Car of the Year: Audi R8
"It's fast, handles well, looks amazing, sounds freakin' great and is surprisingly easy to drive..."

Best Hot Hatch: MINI Cooper S
"You can't drive this thing and not smile while doing it."

Best Hot Hatch Runner-Up: VW GTI
"The GTI doesn't have the same raw feeling [as the MINI], but is still a great handler with plenty of power."

Best Sport Wagon: Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Estate
"It packs no less than 507hp, with sedan handling and the utility of that big back end."

Best Sport Wagon Runner-Up: VW Jetta Wagon TDI
"The Jetta has always been a great car; the new TDI diesel should make it that much better and hopefully draw a whole new set of buyers to VW dealers."

Best Full-size SUV: Land Rover Range Rover
"There may be no more capable four-wheel-drive vehicle....Paradoxically, on-road manners are frighteningly good."

Best Full-size SUV Runner-Up: Porsche Cayenne Turbo
"...the Cayenne is also probably the best handling truck-like thing on the road today."

Best Small SUV: VW Tiguan
"The Tiguan bucks the trend with quality materials and great features not found even on big SUVs."

Best GT: Aston Martin DBS
"The DBS builds on all that is good about the DB9..."

Best GT Runner-Up: Jaguar XKR
"A sweet, supercharged V8 sits up front and makes all the right sounds for a proper GT experience."

Best 4-door Compact: Audi RS4
"...the RS4 is beyond reproach. No other sedan out there provides anywhere near the driving experience."

Best 2-door Compact: BMW M3
"So far, the M3 reigns supreme."

Best Mid-size Sedan: BMW 535i
"The 535i is the best buy in the 5 Series range..."

Best Full-size Sedan: Audi A8 4.2
"The A8 is remarkably athletic for its size--luxurious and sporting with copious amounts of interior space."

Best Full-size Sedan Runner-Up: Mercedes-Benz S600
"There's just so much to love about Mercedes' bi-turbo V12."

Best Sports Car, $50K-100K: Porsche 911 Carrera
"...the 911 is still King."

Best Sports car, $50K-100K Runner-Up: BMW Z4 M Coupé
"No one can deny that the car is a true performance bargain."

Best Sports Car, $100K-200K: Ferrari F430
"The F430 is an exotic that can be driven daily and without fuss."

Best 'Money No Object:' Lamborghini Murciélago LP640
"It seems strangely inappropriate to refer to the LP640 as a car."

Best Value, Entry Level: VW Rabbit
"When you look at the quality of this car, the driving experience, even the safety ratings, and then look at the price, is anyone surprised that VW is losing money?"

Best Value, High End: Jaguar XK
"The XK offers amazing looks, tons of pedigree and great driving dynamics."

Best Mod Machine, High End: Porsche 911 Turbo
"Some would argue that the Turbo is fast enough as delivered. But how can you stop when making power is so disgustingly easy?"

Best Canyon Carver: Porsche Cayman S
"You're looking for a car that's predictable, handles and stops well, and has enough power to make things interesting, but not put you in a crater. The Cayman S is all these things and more."

Best Mod Machine, Entry Level: BMW 135i
"A compact, twin-turbo, rear-wheel drive car potentially accessible to loads of enthusiasts, this is what tuners dream of."

Best Track Weapon: Lotus Exige
"...there is no purer, more focused vehicle on the American market than a Lotus."

Best Mile Eater: Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG
"It only seats two, but aren't those the best kinds of gateways?"

Best 'First Real Job:' Audi S5
"It's time for something that has everything you want in a car, without looking like you're trying too hard. It can't have the stigma of a BMW or Benz, or the boss will think you're overpaid. The S5 is the answer."

Best IKEA Hauler: Volvo V70/XC70
"There are probably no cars more ideal for this scenario than the new Volvos."

Best Brat Packer: Audi Q7 4.2
"Substantially larger than the biggest sport wagon, the Q7 does so many things right that it can make you forget your kids altogether and simply drive on."

Best Night on the Town: Bentley Continental GT
"By any definition, the GT packs incredible performance, but the car is absolutely in its element when you're just out for a cruise."

Yes, it's a ridiculously long list, but one that's great to read. I recommend picking up the latest issue of 'European Car' from a Borders near you.

S4cabriofoxone - 11/17/2007 12:46:34 AM

-1 Boost

The R8 is the best car in the world.

Period.

S4cabriofoxone - 11/17/2007 1:16:33 AM

+1 Boost

This test is based on more than track numbers.

S4cabriofoxone - 11/17/2007 2:18:12 AM

-4 Boost

"So is the Evo test, why do you think the M3, Civic Type R, and 350Z are on the list."

They're all great track cars. Yes, even the Type-R.

It's pretty obvious that they chose the winner based on track times.

Anyway, what is the point of your posting that here?

Hyundai - 11/17/2007 11:08:02 AM

+1 Boost

"My point was you can't just say the R8 is the best car in the world. That is a very objective statement."

The word you are looking for is "subjective"... subjective... it is a very *subjective* statement..

S4cabriofoxone - 11/17/2007 12:30:43 PM

+2 Boost

"My point was you can't just say the R8 is the best car in the world. That is a very objective statement."

You're right, it is a subjective statement, but here is my reasoning:

• Amazing handling
• Stunning to look at
• Not overpriced
• Performance on par with the Gallardo, but with a V8
• Easy to live with
• Fantastic interior
• Makes everything else in this class look uninteresting

To be perfectly honest, I never expected a car this good to come from Audi. I do NOT say what I say because of its badge. I only think it's the best car in the world because it does everything so well.

1uberaudi - 11/20/2007 12:00:09 PM

+2 Boost

Yes, it is one of best cars ever built.

Rupert - 11/17/2007 6:07:46 AM

+3 Boost

I live in Europe and there was definitely no 745 in 2000.

Kinger - 11/19/2007 8:14:37 AM

+1 Boost

Yeah, I'm European too, and there was no 745i in 2000, in fact there was no 745i in that body-shape:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_E38

Also BMWpos, explain how you owned a 535i in 2004? Because that didn't exist either.

S4cabriofoxone - 11/17/2007 12:28:31 PM

0 Boost

This is European Car, the magazine. It's actually an American magazine.

And no, I'm really not surprised at this result. It's obviously a popular car.

farabira1 - 11/17/2007 5:01:25 AM

+5 Boost

Good to see Jaguar XK being universally praised. Hope the XF delivers along with it's looks, because only that way can jaguar start to compete with the likes of BMW and Mercedes once again, which they used to do about 5 years ago. Believe it or not 5 years ago: Jaguar, MERC, and BMW were considered the top trio of luxury car leaders. Nowadays there is a quartet of Luxury car leaders: MERC, BMW, Lexus, and Audi. If Jaguar can deliver, then it can take it's place among the top tier contenders once again.

xj13 - 11/17/2007 7:24:58 AM

-1 Boost

Great list, but where's the CL500? or AMG version?

S4cabriofoxone - 11/17/2007 12:31:48 PM

+2 Boost

That would be under "GT," and the DBS won.

xj13 - 11/17/2007 7:27:27 AM

+2 Boost

The RS4/R8/S5 are a real work of art in motoring, well done Audi.

Rupert - 11/17/2007 8:20:16 AM

0 Boost

I've just realised this isn't actually European COTY...this is just some random magazine's picks...

Rupert - 11/17/2007 12:43:30 PM

+4 Boost

Belgium?
Why would you think that?
If you must know I'm from Britain...where might you be from?

Rupert - 11/17/2007 7:44:44 PM

+1 Boost

Good for you.
You are now 20 minutes closer to me thanks to the new high speed rail link and St Pancras station.
Ou en la France?
I used to have a house in la Charante, department 16.

britbox - 11/17/2007 10:22:49 AM

0 Boost

well at least the RS4 and M3 won. I can't wait for the M3 sedan test against the RS4. I am super curious if the performance/ handling will be that different with 2 extra doors. However it turns out the back and forth bashing will be fun to read. lol

chris760 - 11/17/2007 6:01:47 PM

+1 Boost

i still dont get why magazines compare teh m3 rs4 and c63 amg--its not like anybody will turn down one of them when given the choice...

EL34 - 11/17/2007 11:47:19 AM

+2 Boost

That's an outstanding list of cars of you ask me and not one dumb lookin' one in the bunch.

investor27 - 11/17/2007 12:19:23 PM

0 Boost

I don't understand how they can rate the Audi R8 as the car of the year, yet in their Best Sports Car $100,000 to $200,000 the award went to the Ferrari?

Are they saying that the Audi R8 is not a sports car, nor a super sports car?

S4cabriofoxone - 11/17/2007 12:33:07 PM

+3 Boost

No. I wondered about that, too, but then realized that the car of the year always overlaps with another car they pick in the same class. The R8 was the overall winner, and the F430 just won in the class.

chris760 - 11/17/2007 6:02:22 PM

+3 Boost

anyway congrats to the r8

PassatR36 - 11/18/2007 4:32:58 PM

+1 Boost

Now I know Frenches are terrible with English.

AlexTx - 11/19/2007 10:12:17 AM

+2 Boost

how's your French??????