Elsewhere in the world...

Who has won, or is tipped to win, in Europe, Japan and North America?

EUROPEAN CAR OF THE YEAR 2009
OPEL/VAUXHALL INSIGNIA

It has been a very close fight between the runner-up and the winner of this year’s ECOTY award. And after 22 years, this is the first Opel to win. Yes, the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia has been declared as the European Car Of The Year 2009. And it won by the skin of its teeth, just one point over the new Ford Fiesta, which stands at a very, very close second.

The jury members were swayed by the styling and appearance of the car, among other things. Increased occupant-safety and comfort coupled with environment-friendly engines were other important deciding factors that got the Insignia a winning total of 321 points.

JAPANESE CAR OF THE YEAR 2009
TOYOTA IQ

The jury, consisting mainly of Japanese automobile journalists, have declared Japan’s winner for 2009. It is the Toyota iQ, a tiny commuter car first unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto show back in 2007 as a concept. A four-seater car, the tiny iQ features a lot of miniaturised technology to help prevent wastage of space.

The diminutive Toyota is a marvel of engineering as it offers everything you’d expect from a supermini, and then some more. It is a classic example of how innovative technology and packaging can help make a car for the 21st century metropolis. The winner of last year’s JCOTY award also happened to be a compact, the Honda Fit.

NORTH AMERICAN CAR OF THE YEAR 2009
TO BE ANNOUNCED

With bated breath, we await the North American Car Of The Year 2009 to be announced on January 11, 2009 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The 50 jury members have shortlisted three cars and from among these cars, the winner shall be declared. The three vehicles include one American car, a Korean entrant that we have driven and featured and a German car that was also a contender for our own awards!

The American candidate is the Ford Flex, a brand new crossover that boasts immense flexibility. The Korean car is the lushly appointed Genesis, which happens to be Hyundai’s first rear wheel driven car. And the last contender is the Volkswagen Jetta TDI, which is spearheading the cause of diesels there. Which of these will win? Our bets are on the Volkswagen...