About this time each year I start a thread previewing Australia's main Car of the Year Award which is announced by Wheels Magazine in their February issue each year.

I bought the January issue today, and it has a full list of the cars that have been nominated for the award.

The list is as follows.
Nominated:
Audi A4
BMW 1 Series Coupe
BMW 1 Series Convertible
Ford Falcon FG
Honda Accord
Honda Accord Euro
Honda Jazz
Jaguar XF
Mazda6
Mazda CX-9
Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart Sportback
Peugeot 308 hatch
Peugeot 308 Touring
Smart ForTwo
Subaru Forester
Volkswagen Tiguan

Nominated but no cars for testing (hence can't win)
Fiat 500

Eligible But Not Nominated for final testing
Audi A3 Cabriolet
BMW X6
Chrysler Grand Voyager
Chrysler Sebring cabrio
Citroen C5
Dodge Journey
Fiat Ritmo
Hyundai iMax
Jeep Cherokee
Kia Rondo
Lexus LX570
Mini Clubman
Proton Persona
Renault Koleos
Renault Laguna
Volvo XC70

Ineligible
Holden Commodore VE Sportwagen (not new enough)
HSV W427 (not new enough, insufficient sales)
Maserati GranTurismo (sales)
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Wagon (newness)
Mercedes-Benz CLC (newness)
Renaultsport Clio (sales)
Porsche 997 911 (newness)
Skoda Octavia Scout (newness)
Subaru Impreza sedan (newness)
Subaru Impreza WRX STi (newness)
TRD Aurion (newness)
Volvo V70 (newness).

The full list of criteria by which the award is judged is listed here: Wheels - The COTY Criteria

Note: the Nissan GT-R is NOT on the list this year because it is not officially on sale in Australia yet. However, providing Nissan can prove it plans to sell more than 250 cars a year, it should be eligible next year.

Also, please note the the outright best overall car or best drivers car may not be the car that will win the award. The winner will be the car that best matches the criteria. So those who assume that the Mercedes-Benz C63 or Lancer Evo X are certain to win, may wish to look at the full criteria by which the award is judged first.


So, from the above list what will or should win?
Or more correctly, can the Ford Falcon FG be beaten? The Falcon would have to be a very short-priced favourite to win the award this year.