5 SERIES, A8, LEAF, NAMED AS 2011 WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

BMW 5 Series, Audi A8 and Nissan LEAF. What do they all have in common? They are the three finalists for the 2011 World Car of the Year Award. And as you can see, the votes will go to the whole range and not just one model in the range, as is normally done in some smaller COTY competitions. Having never driven the reigning European COTY LEAF, and with the A8 styled as if in passing, our money is firmly set on the subdued 5.

In the category of World Performance Car Award we have the Ferrari 458 Italia, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and the Porsche 911 Turbo battling it out. This will be a very close call indeed.

The award for 2011 World Car Design of the Year will be won by either the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, the Aston Martin Rapide or the Ferrari 458 Italia. Again, very tight at the last hurdle, but we would exclude the Rapide because we believe its proportions are not as balanced as the other two’s.

Finally we have the World Green Car award finalists in the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition, the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan LEAF. More jurors would have probably experienced the BMW more than the other two, especially the Volt. But if we are talking serious green, as in zero emissions (excluding manufacturing processes), then the LEAF should just about walk it. Of course there are other considerations, such as range, which the BMW will have plenty in store.

The category winners, as well as the overall WCOTY will be declared at the New York International Auto Show on Thursday, 21 April 2011.