Making The Grade: 2008 World Car Top Ten Finalists Announced

The countdown has begun in preparation for the 2008 World Car awards winners' press conference at the New York International Auto Show on Thursday, March 20, 2008.

    A jury of 47 distinguished international automotive journalists selected the finalists by secret ballot, based on their experience with each candidate as part of their professional work. The jury members constitute a balance of representation from Asia, Europe, North America,
South America, as well as other parts of the world. All hold significant stature within their own regions and countries.

    World Car - Top Ten Finalists:

    The following Top Ten World Car finalists are listed below in alphabetical order:

      Audi A5 Coupe / Audi S5 Coupe
      Audi R8
      Cadillac CTS
      Ford Mondeo
      Ford S-Max
      Mazda2 / Mazda Demio
      Mercedes-Benz C-Class
      Nissan Qashqai/Dualis
      Nissan Skyline Coupe/Infiniti G37 Coupe
      Volvo C30

    The 2008 World Performance Car, to be chosen from one of these top ten finalists:

      AMG Mercedes-Benz S 63
      Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster
      Audi R8
      Audi S5 Coupe
      BMW M3
      Honda Civic R (Japanese & European spec)
      Maserati GranTurismo
      Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series
      Renault Clio F1 Team R27
      Mercedes-Benz CL 63

    As there are ten candidates for the 2008 World Green Car title, they become by default the top ten finalists in this class.

      BMW 118d with Efficient Dynamics
      Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell Electric
      Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon Hybrids
      Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
      Lexus LS 600h L
      Nissan Altima Hybrid
      Saturn Aura Green Line
      Saturn Vue Green Line
      SmartForTwo cdi
      Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI BlueMotion

    The jurors' next steps are to re-evaluate the "Top Ten" cars in the above categories in preparation for a final round of voting. Jury members will specifically rate each vehicle in terms of overall merit, value, safety, environmental responsibility, emotional appeal, and significance.
KPMG will tabulate the vote results and the top three finalists will be
announced.

    The selection of finalists in the World Car Design of the Year category are handled quite differently. A panel of international design experts assists the jurors by developing for them a short list of finalists from the array of eligible candidates in the 2008 World Car of the Year
category. The jurors will choose the 2008 World Car Design of the Year winner from this short list when they vote in February. The top three contenders will also be announced by KPMG on February 20, 2008.

    "Announcing the annual World Car of the Year awards at the New York show is a fitting finale to the auto show season that begins each fall with either the Paris or Frankfurt motor shows," said Gerry Malloy, co-chair, WCOTY. "Next, it's on to Tokyo in alternating years. The Detroit and Geneva shows take center stage early in the year. Finally, in March, the season reaches its exciting climax at the New York International Auto Show."

mlevere1992 - 2/25/2008 4:41:41 PM

+12 Boost

Shoot me if the Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon Hybrids
get green car of the year.

Willis - 2/25/2008 4:43:33 PM

+14 Boost

Well, somebody shoot me if they pick the LS600h as green car of the year. Because there is nothing, absolutely nothing, green about it.

In fact, from the green car finalists, the only "green cars" that barely qualify in terms of fuel economy are the BMW 118d, Smart and the VW Passat TDI. All of them have low emissions too.

KZ258 - 2/25/2008 6:31:18 PM

+7 Boost

where do you two prefer to get shot so i can have the occasion ready and any special request for the type of firearm? (lol jk)

528i - 2/25/2008 5:09:09 PM

+1 Boost

where is the GT-R?

EL34 - 2/25/2008 9:57:17 PM

+6 Boost

Yeah, where is it?

o_O

S4cabriofoxone - 2/25/2008 7:07:52 PM

+11 Boost

You are simply an idiot.

What else does Bugatti make, exactly?

EvoAudi - 2/25/2008 6:22:02 PM

+5 Boost

Car-A5
Performance Car-R8
Green Car-ForTwo CDI, safe, small, green, and reduces congestion in cities.

Rupert - 2/25/2008 6:40:44 PM

+3 Boost

Car - Mazda2 (for saving weight over the old one) or the Mondeo
Performance - CLK63 AMG Black Series or the R8
Green - 118d Efficient Dynamics or the Smart CDI.

S4cabriofoxone - 2/25/2008 7:08:52 PM

+2 Boost

Car - Mondeo, A5/S5 or CTS

Performance - R8

Green - 118d or Passat BlueMotion

EL34 - 2/25/2008 9:57:57 PM

+4 Boost

Outstanding list!

Willis - 2/25/2008 7:53:57 PM

+11 Boost

Performance: Honda Civic R (Japanese & European spec)


You have got to be kidding...

Rupert - 2/26/2008 5:20:06 PM

+2 Boost

The least powerful, least sophisticated car in its class? Torsion bar suspension does not suit machines like the Type-R.

krispykreme - 2/25/2008 7:45:22 PM

+7 Boost

Wow, Porsche couldn't get in over a CL63 :)

enthusiastx11 - 2/25/2008 8:45:57 PM

+3 Boost

R8 for world car.
M3 for performance.
118d for green.

KZ258 - 2/25/2008 9:05:56 PM

-4 Boost

world car: Nissan Skyline Coupe/Infiniti G37 Coupe

world performance car: Audi R8


green: Lexus LS 600h L

american_made - 2/25/2008 9:17:45 PM

0 Boost

World = Cadillac CTS
Performance = BMW M3
Green = Yukon/Tahoe

Mark my words, these are the winners as the should be respectively because these are all major advancements in the areas specific to their categories....like it or not

farabira1 - 2/25/2008 10:33:21 PM

-2 Boost

What sort of a list is this? there is no Nissan GTR. After all that it has proven, GTR has recently bested even a 911 GT3 and a BMW M3 by quite some margin in recent tests by Car and Autocar. This list hold no respect from my part, because the most revolutionary car on the past decade gets no place in the performance car category. Who cares really, the GT 35R has already become a legend, people itch to get a chance to drive one. Only if i had 80 grand, well in my dreams, i would be driving the GTR now even over the Audi R8.

enthusiastx11 - 2/25/2008 11:21:59 PM

+4 Boost

a list of cars AVAILABLE who have made the cut.

the GT-R is not even on the market yet. so how could it have been reviewed for this list of finalists?

Need4Speed - 2/26/2008 11:17:12 AM

-1 Boost

fastone~ good catch lol!

MunichRob - 2/26/2008 2:13:22 AM

+2 Boost

Nono “amazinbimmer”... Rest assured coming from someone who has nothing to do with your little quibble with S4 there, you sound like the idiot.

BTW If you can find 1 person that feels any Bentley became a less desirable vehicle to own after VW took over, I just MIGHT start taking you serious again...but as we all know that’s most unlikely.

JUGNU - 2/26/2008 5:15:20 AM

-6 Boost

world car: Audi R8

world performance car: Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series

world green car: Lexus LS600h

JUGNU

JUGNU - 2/26/2008 2:03:34 PM

-5 Boost

and u r calling others retard. Look at yourself

JUGNU

MunichRob - 2/26/2008 6:27:28 PM

+1 Boost

Uhh is a 7-serious a Bentley that pre-dates VW's ownership? Let me be more clear & explain it to you straight up, since VW bought Bentley they are now more sophisticated, more reliable, stylish, athletic & better all around vehicles to own.

You know I’m a BMW fan & I love the 760li, but I know a superior product when I see one, & the Flying Spur is just that.

So unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past 10 -15 years, you can’t deny that Audi has caught up to & in some cases surpassed BMW in ways I didn’t think were possible at the beginning of the last decade, or even this one! You just simply can’t deny the fact that there are now 3 premium German automakers to recon with, & Audi’s the 3rd one not Porsche.

VISO - 2/27/2008 3:16:36 PM

+1 Boost

As has been stated by facts, the only similar platforms between Audi and VW is the A3/Golf and TT/Golf, though both Audi versions have been highly modified with use of aluminum and other technologies. Don't try to argue with him MunichRob. It is beyone ignorance, it is denial already.