| European
Car of the Year |
| Voted
by 58 motoring writers from 22 European countries. Any car which is on
sale in at least 5 European countries that year, having expected annual
production volume not less than 5,000 units, can be nominated. This is
recognised as the highest honour award for European cars.
Comment:
traditionally favours small cars and does no justice to premium and
sports
cars, but European COTY is still the most recognized award around the
world
because it has the best cars involved. Voters are sometimes
national-biased,
but even so they are open-minded enough to elect Nissan Micra and
Toyota
Yaris. Winning this award usually guarantees success, but sometimes
not,
e.g. Fiat Brava/o, Lancia Delta and oh my God, NSU Ro 80.
|
2008 Fiat 500
2007 Ford S-Max
2006 Renault Clio
III
2005
Toyota Prius
2004
Fiat Panda
2003
Renault Megane II
2002
Peugeot 307
2001
Alfa Romeo 147
2000
Toyota Yaris
1999 Ford
Focus
1998 Alfa
Romeo
156
1997
Renault Scenic
1996 Fiat
Brava
/ Bravo
1995 Fiat
Punto
1994 Ford
Mondeo
1993
Volkswagen
Golf
1992 Nissan
Micra
1991
Renault Clio
1990
Citroen XM
1989 Fiat
Tipo
1988
Peugeot 405
1987 Opel
Omega
1986 Ford
Granada
1985 Opel
Kadett
1984 Fiat
Uno
1983 Audi
100
1982
Renault 9
1981 Ford
Escort
1980 Lancia
Delta
1979
Simca-Chrysler
Horizon
1978
Porsche 928
1977 Rover
3500
1975-76
Simca 1307-1308
(Chrysler Alpine)
1974
Citroen CX
1973
Mercedes 450
1972 Audi 80
1971 Fiat
127
1970
Citroen GS
1969 Fiat
128
1968
Peugeot 504
1967 NSU
Ro80
1966 Fiat
124
1965
Renault 16
1964 Austin
1800
1963 Rover
2000 |
2008 - Fiat 500
1997
- Renault Scenic, set new trend
1990
- Citroen XM, advanced suspensions
1978
- Porsche 928, the only sports car here
|
| Japanese
Car of the Year |
| Voted
by industry insiders in Japan. Only cars produced by domestic
manufacturers
can participate. Others can only compete in Import COTY.
Comment:
in the country giving birth to Sony, high-tech cars are always
preferred.
Another finding: every generation of Civic seemed a default winner
while
Corolla - the best selling car there - never took an award. K-cars also
seemed being ruled out.
|
2008 Honda Fit
2007 Lexus LS
2006 Mazda MX-5
2005
Honda Legend
2004
Subaru Legacy
2003
Honda Accord
2002
Honda Fit
2001
Honda Civic
2000
Toyota Vitz
1999 Toyota
Altezza
1998 Toyota
Prius
1997
Mitsubishi
Galant
1996 Honda
Civic
1995
Mitsubishi
FTO
1994 Honda
Accord
1993 Nissan
March
1992 Honda
Civic
1991
Mitsubishi
Diamante
1990 Toyota
Celsior
(Lexus LS400)
1989 Honda
Civic
1988
Mitsubishi
Galant
1987 Nissan
Pulsar
1986 Honda
Accord
1985 Toyota
MR2
1984 Honda
Civic
1983 Mazda
Capella
1982 Toyota
Soarer
1981 Mazda
Familia
(323) |
2007
- Lexus LS
1995
- Mitsubishi FTO
|
| American
Car of the Year |
| This
award is the highest honour award in USA, voted by a group of
forty-eight
top motoring journalists from American and Canadian magazines,
newspapers,
news agencies, radio and television. Normally announced in the North
America
Auto Show. Truck of the Year is also elected alongside COTY.
Comment:
this is a rather new award, but it becomes decreasingly important as
America
builds more trucks than cars now. They don't have much choices.
|
2007 Saturn
Aura
2006 Honda Civic
2005
Chrysler 300
2004
Toyota Prius
2003
BMW Mini
2002
Nissan Altima
2001
Chrysler PT Cruiser
2000
Ford Focus
1999
Volkswagen New Beetle
1998
Chevrolet Corvette C5 |
2007
- Saturn Aura
|
| Car
& Driver magazine - 10 Best |
| Every
year Car And Driver chooses the 10 best cars on sale in the USA, no
matter
where they are produced. All nominees must not be dearer than a certain
price, for 2008, it is $72,000 (i.e. 2.5 times the average price of
cars sold in the USA).
Comment:
Car And Driver's award is renowned for not national-biased and it
covers
most categories, from small cars to sports cars. However, sometimes I
think
it loves Honda too much.
|
2008:
BMW 3-series
Cadillac CTS
Chevrolet
Corvette
Chevrolet
Malibu
Honda Accord
Honda Fit
Mazda MX-5
Mazdaspeed 3
Porsche
Boxster & Cayman
Volkswagen GTI
|
|
| Motor
Trend magazine COTY |
| Established
since 1949, Motor Trend's COTY award is the oldest among any
publications.
It used to separate domestic cars and import cars, but since the 2001
award
they are combined into one.
Comment: really
open to foreigners
? Detroit is still the default winner.... until 2003.
|
2008 Cadillac CTS
2007 Toyota Camry
2006 Honda Civic
2005
Chrysler 300
2004
Toyota Prius
2003
Infiniti G35 Sedan & Coupe
2002
Ford Thunderbird
2001
Chrysler PT
Cruiser
2000
Lincoln LS |
|
