Car of the Year shortlist is an electric lineup

Seven cars are now in the mix for this year's Car of the Year title – but what single criteria will help drive the winner over the finishing line? asks MICHAEL McALEER

THE SHORTLIST FOR the prestigious Car Of The Year in Europe title has been announced with a mix of small cars, new technology and new formats vying for the prize. The seven finalists are (in alphabetical order): Citroën DS5, Fiat Panda, Ford Focus, Opel Ampera, Range Rover Evoque, Toyota Yaris, and Volkswagen Up.

All the shortlisted models put forward their own strong traits, from innovative new powertrains that harness the benefits – and drawbacks – of the current electric and hybrid car debates, to funky designs and straightforward desirability.

The new Citroën DS5 aims to offer an alternative to the crossover SUV variants and people carriers that have set the standard in family motoring for over a decade. At the same time it aims to push the French brand’s new DS models closer to the premium segment. Its styling is smart and its interior quite innovative, but alongside these traits, it’s also offered with the innovative new diesel-hybrid powertrain developed by PSA, offering electric power in town and at low speeds, with the benefits of diesel fuel economy on faster main road and motorway driving.

Fiat continues to build on its reputation for quality small car development, with the new Panda featuring its latest platform that will underpin several new Fiat models in the near future. There’s a particularly strong retro-styling touch to the new car, alongside the firm’s latest two-cylinder TwinAir engine range.

The Ford Focus is an established player in the hatchback market and one of the best handling cars on the market when price is taken into account.

The latest iteration brings forth major safety technology features (although mainly optional in Ireland) such as a new Active City Stop system that uses radar to continuously monitor the road ahead.

When it estimates that a collision is likely and the driver doesn’t react, the brakes are then automatically applied and the throttle is released. Designed for town driving, the system is active at speeds below 30 km/h.

This Focus is also the first time the model has featured electric steering, a brave move for a model long regarded as the best handling in its class.

We’ve been waiting a long time for the Opel Ampera to arrive, given that the car has been on sale in the US as the Chevrolet Volt for some time now. Its innovative powertrain, however, remains unique to the market. Most appropriately tagged as a “range extender”, the Ampera is mainly an electric car powered by a lithium-ion battery and recharged via the mains. It runs for 80km/h on a full charge.

Not that impressive you might think, but when the power from the mains electricity runs out, a little 1.4-litre engine in the back is used as a generator to recharge the battery. The end result is a car that runs on electric power when you’re doing the daily commute, but when exceptions arise you have a range of 500km/h or more available and simply fuel the engine/generator at a filling station. It’s the motor industry’s response to the obvious range anxiety concerns of consumers that is hindering electric car sales.

The Range Rover Evoque is a truly stylish, fun to drive crossover from the company that has built its reputation on luxury off-roaders. Suddenly with this car the luxury has become slightly more affordable – well at least to those who would normally consider a premium German brand and models like the 5-Series or E-Class. While it offers incredible head-turning appeal, it’s no slouch off-road either, in keeping with the brand’s DNA.

The Toyota Yaris is once more expected to be a small car success story for the powerful Japanese brand, but the new model not only plays host to new styling and some improved engines, it also forms the basis of Toyota’s smallest hybrid model, due for launch this summer. Urban motorists have been waiting for the introduction of a smaller hybrid car for some time and the Yaris hybrid will fill an obvious gap in the market.

Last, but far from least, is the Volkswagen Up!. Silly exclamation mark aside, this is a seriously stylish, practical city car that offers similar space to previous generation Polos, and is economical yet also fun to drive.

In selecting the car of the year, the judges base their decisions on the following criteria – design, comfort, safety, economy, handling, performance, functionality, environmental requirements, driver satisfaction and price.

Technical innovation and value for money are particularly important factors.

Design is a personal choice, but criteria like environmental achievements and value are comparable to the current best-in-market rivals to the new car in question. Eligible cars must be essentially new, not simply cosmetic changes or the installation of a new engine or a transmission.

After this shortlist the second stage of voting takes place, with each Jury member having 25 points to apportion to at least five cars, with a maximum of 10 points for any one of them. Each jury member must also produce a statement of justification for his or her vote, which is published at the time of the award presentation. This year’s winner will be announced on March 5th at the Geneva Motor show.