Fiat has two finalists – Grande Punto and Sedici –  in the 2007 World Car of the Year (WCOTY) awards. From an initial entry list of 28 new vehicles from all over the world, a short list of ten finalists for the third annual WCOTY awards were announced by the international accounting firm, KPMG, at the end of January. The winners of the 2007 WCOTY will be unveiled during the press preview at the upcoming New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) on Thursday, April 5, 2007.

Vehicles are selected and voted on by an international jury panel comprised of 45 top-level motoring journalists from around the world. To be eligible, the car must be in production, and sold in at least five countries on two continents. The other finalists are: Audi Q7; Audi TT; Citroen C4 Picasso; Citroen C6; Jaguar XK; Lexus LS 460; Mercedes CL; and MINI.

The jurors’ next step is to re-evaluate the “Top Ten” cars in preparation for a final round of voting on March 1st. 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 by no later than Thursday, March 8th, 2007. The 2007 World Car of the Year, as well as the winners of the World Performance Car, World Green Car and World Car Design of the Year titles will all be declared on Thursday, April 5, 2007 during a press conference to be held at the New York International Auto Show.
 

“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, World Car of the Year Awards. “Next, it’s on to Tokyo in alternating years. The Detroit show takes centre stage in January while Geneva claims the spotlight in March. Finally, in April, the season reaches its exciting climax at the New York International Auto Show.”

The World Car of the Year programme is initiated by, organised by, and conducted by, specialist automotive journalists from around the globe. A non-profit making association, guided by a steering committee comprising of journalists from Asia, Europe, and North America, administers the awards program. World Car of the Year is intended to complement, not compete with, existing Car of the Year awards by raising consumer awareness of regional Car of the Year award programmes as well as the World Car of the Year.