World Car Of The Year Finalists Announced, American Brands Shut Out

The finalists for the 2020 World Car Awards have been announced and only include automakers from Europe, Japan and South Korea.

In the title category of 2020 World Car of the Year, ten vehicles will compete for top honors. They include the Hyundai Sonata, Kia Soul EV, Kia Telluride, Range Rover Evoque, Mazda3, Mazda CX-30, Mercedes CLA, Mercedes GLB, Volkswagen Golf and Volkswagen T-Cross.

The Kia Soul EV and Volkswagen T-Cross are also competing for the title of 2020 World Urban Car. They be fighting the Mini Cooper SE, Peugeot 208 and Renault Clio.

Also Read: Jaguar I-Pace Is The 2019 World Car Of The Year

German brands will duke it out for the honor of being named World Luxury Car. Despite a lack of geographic diversity, the models are pretty different as finalists include the BMW X5, BMW X7, Mercedes EQC, Porsche 911 and Porsche Taycan.

Moving on, the finalists for World Performance Car are the BMW M8, Porsche 718 Spyder/Cayman GT4, Porsche 911, Porsche Taycan and Toyota GR Supra.

All of the models will also be competing for World Car Design of the Year. However, a short-list created by noted designers – such as Ian Callum and Gordon Murray – includes the Alpine 110S, Mazda3, Mazda CX-30, Peugeot 208 and Porsche Taycan.

The finalists were selected by a jury of 86 automotive journalists from around the globe and will be narrowed down even further at the Geneva Motor Show next month. The winners will then be announced at the New York Auto Show in April.

While America automakers didn’t make the cut, several vehicles were initially in the running including the Cadillac CT4, CT5 and XT6 as well as the Ford Escape/Kuga and Explorer.