COTY 2011: Euro seven

Jury European competition in 2011 COTY (Car of the Year Award 2011) chose the traditional Magnificent Seven nominees. Of this number will be chosen the best car in Europe next year. The car involved in the contest must be new or updated. He is obliged to sell at least five European countries in the amount of five thousand units a year at least. COTY jury is made up of 59 automotive journalists. Each of them must share 25 points between the five machines. Highest score - ten points. The first phase of voting ended in the semifinals out Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Citroen C3/DS3, Renault / Dacia Duster, Ford C-Max/Grand C-Max, Opel / Vauxhall Meriva, Volvo S60/V60, Nissan Leaf. As expected, among the nominees is dominated by small hatchbacks and odnoob'emnik. The largest car in the short list - a new vovskii "shestidesyatka with sedan and wagon. Volkswagen Passat and Suzuki Kizashi not so pleased with the jury. In general, European sedans are becoming rare, and the winners tend to lose more compact rivals. In 2008, the first time ten years later, won Opel Insignia. And among the semifinalists include Citroen C5 and Skoda Superb. Last year, the seven best hit only Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse and won in the end only the fifth place. And how was this year's celebrities at the highest level! Judge for yourself: Jaguar XJ, Audi A8, BMW 5-Series, Saab 9-5. Affordable price has not helped Renault Latitude. Body modernism also was not appreciated: Audi A7 Sportback and the Mercedes-Benz CLS repeat the fate of Porsche Panamera. In the last year of the seven nominees were two crossover - Skoda Yeti and Peugeot 3008. In this year alone - extra-Renault / Dacia Duster. C skromnyaga mind, and like a spoiled reporters more than the Jeep Grand Cherokee, BMW X3, Porsche Cayenne, Volkswagen Touareg. Crossovers Mitsubishi ASX, Nissan Juke, Mini Countryman in a trendy now smaller format, too, became marginalized. Sports cars now out of favor. In the list there is no roadster Renault Wind, or sexual coupe Peugeot RCZ, nor even sportgibrida Honda CR-Z. But there Gorgeous Alfa Romeo Giulietta. By the way, its predecessor, the 147-I in 2001 took the top prize. Cars of the future is only an electric Nissan Leaf. Not otherwise competitive price and large size, compared to the brainchild of Peugeot, Citroen and Mitsubishi, to tip the scales in favor of Nissan. " Hybrid Lexus CT200 was not appreciated as Toyota Prius a year earlier. But in a segment hatchbacks and monocabs turned hot fight. Glamorous brothers Citroen C3 and DS3 bypassed and Audi A1, created on one platform with last year's winner of the Volkswagen Polo, and the Nissan Micra, and the Suzuki Swift. Kid Chevrolet Spark no sparks from the stone hearts of the jury. Door "swept" compact Monocab Opel Meriva and the ability to stretch the Ford C-Max to the three-row versions were preferred over embossed sidewall Mazda5 and spaciousness VW Sharan. What wins in the end? Beauty, practicality and faith in the green future? Winner, we learn very soon.