Finalists for 2011 World Car of the Year announced

It’s that time of the year again, when the ultimate cars from the ones launched in the recent past are chosen for worldwide glory, and are announced the outright best vehicles that humanity could come up with in the past year. The World Car of the Year awards, now in their seventh year, are about to be announced and three cars have made it to the list of finalists from the thirty-nine all-new vehicles that were launched by manufacturers from all around the world. After the first two rounds of voting where the top ten and now the top three have been chosen, there is a defined battle between German luxury and Japanese prudence at the table once again.

The three cars that have made it through to the final round are the third-generation Audi A8, the sixth generation BMW 5 Series launched this year (also adjudged the 2010 ZigWheels Luxury Prestige Sedan of the Year), and the Nissan Leaf electric car. This is the first time an alternate-fuelled vehicle has made it to the top three, and the Leaf already comes with the accolade of being the European Car of the Year this time around. The Germans need not fret though, since the new A8 has received all-round appreciation for its technology and smartness, while the new 5 Series has been lauded for its fantastic balance between being a comfortable luxury car, and a manic driver’s machine.

In the other hotly contested award, the Ferrari 458 Italia will go up against the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and the Porsche 911 Turbo as the three slug it out sideways for the World Performance Car title. While the prancing horse has already been awarded multiple times for its unadulterated fun factor, the SLS AMG comes with fantastic poise and grace. Rounding up the trio is the new Porsche 911 Turbo, known for its tactile handling and complete driver involvement, which has made the 911 into one of the world’s most loved performance car brands.

The World Car of the Year award is a pretty unique accolade, since it is not affiliated with any magazine, publication, media house or auto-maker. The awards are decided by a jury panel of experienced and respected automotive journalists from around the world, ensuring a complete lack of bias and one of the fairest judging processes. Hang tight while the jury decides which one of the three finalists walk away with the prestigious honour, and read the results right here on ZigWheels.com as soon as they are announced!