Nissan Picks Up 2011 COTY Trophy for Leaf

Now, before someone adds a comment of the sort "in other related news, Audi unveiled the new A6", let us make it clear that we're not reporting on the actual Car of the Year (COTY) 2011 results, which were announced in late November 2010, but on the special ceremony that took place at the Pavillion Gabriel in Paris earlier this week to hand over the trophy to this year's winner, the new Nissan Leaf.

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Nissan Leaf Wins the 2011 European Car of the Year Award

While our readers favored the Alfa Romeo Giulietta in our poll, the jury of the 2011 European Car of the Year Award (COTY) announced that the Nissan Leaf is the winner, earning a total of 257 points. This is the first time in the 47-year history of the competition that the award goes to an electric vehicle.

“The jury acknowledged today that the Nissan LEAF is a breakthrough for electric cars. Nissan LEAF is the first EV that can match conventional cars in many respects”, said Håkan Matson, President of the Jury, Car of the Year.

The Giulietta came in second with 248 points, while the Opel/Vauxhall Meriva took the bronze, with 244 points.

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2011 Car of the Year: 7 Finalists Announced

There were 41 candidates eligible for the European 2011 Car of the Year (COTY) award, with quite a few big names being mentioned, such as the Audi A7 Sportback and A8, BMW 5-Series and X3, Jaguar XJ and Mercedes Benz CLS. This week, the list was narrowed down to just seven finalists and, as in previous years, some of them weren't really expected to make it this far.

Our summary presents the remaining candidates in alphabetical order, with the winner set to be announced on November 29. We'd really like to know which of the seven cars would get your vote, though, so comment away below.

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New VW Polo is 'Car of the Year 2010'

Volkswagen's "mini-me Golf", the fifth-generation Polo, has won the coveted 'Car of the Year' award for 2010 with 347 points against 337 for the Toyota iQ mini which came in second. The new Opel / Vauxhall Astra, which was considered by many a favorite to snatch the award and continue General Motors' success with the Insignia that won the 2009 title, finished in third place receiving 221 points.

The other finalists for this year's competition, which brings together a total of 59 motoring journalists from 23 European countries, were the Skoda Yeti with 158 points, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class with 155 points, the Peugeot 3008 with 144 points and the Citroen Picasso with 113 points.

Car of the Year 2010

1. Volkswagen Polo - 347 points

2. Toyota iQ - 337 points

3. Vauxhall Astra - 221 points

4. Skoda Yeti - 158 points

5. Mercedes-Benz E-class - 155 points

6. Peugeot 3008 - 144 points

7. Citroen C3 Picasso - 113 points

'Car of the Year 2010' Candidates Announced - Toyota has Five Entries

The list with the initial nominees for the 2009 European Car of the Year has been released. Currently there are thirty candidates but the organizing committee noted that more cars could be added by September. The contenders must be new models available in at least five European countries at the time of voting, with projected sales of at least 5,000 units per year. Toyota has five entries this year including the Avensis, the iQ, the Prius, the Urban Cruiser and the Verso people carrier.

Other notable candidates include the Chevy Cruze, Honda Insight, Porshe Panamera and the new generation Opel - Vauxhall Astra which has yet to go on sale. Check out the complete shortlist below.

• BMW Z4

• Chevrolet Cruze

• Citroen C3 Picasso

• Ford Ka

• Honda Insight

• Hyundai i20

• Hyundai ix55

• Kia Sorento

• Kia Soul

• Land Rover Discovery4

• Lexus RX450h

• Mazda 3

• Mercedes-Benz E-class

• Mitsubishi Colt

• Nissan 370Z

• Nissan Cube

• Opel / Vauxhall Astra

• Peugeot 3008

• Porsche Panamera

• Renault Scenic / Grand Scenic

• Seat Exeo

• Skoda Yeti

• Subaru Legacy

• Suzuki Alto / Nissan Pixo

• Toyota Avenis

• Toyota iQ

• Toyota Prius

• Toyota Urban Cruiser

• Toyota Verso

• Volkswagen Polo