COTY 2020 announces itself as a heated battle for German giant Mercedes-Benz, who has no less than four eligible models in the run for next year European Car of the Year competition.
According to the preliminary list of contenders, 35 cars are eligible to be nominated for the final. These cars have to be on sale now or before the end of the year in at least five European countries.
The next step will be the nomination of seven finalist models at the end of November, on the 25th to be more precise, followed by the announcement of the big COTY 2020 winner on the 2nd of March 2020, at the Geneva Motor Show.
All the 35 cars are models already in production by the beginning of 2020, and there are is some real, potential excitement in store for Mercedes-Benz and its four initial nominees, the all-new CLA four-door compact coupe, the all-electric EQC SUV, the full-size GLS SUV and the new baby compact SUV with seven seats, the GLB.
This is the full list of the 35 potential nominees, arranged in alphabetical order:
Audi E-Tron
BMW 1-Series
BMW Z4
BMW X6
BMW X7
DS3 Crossback
Ferrari F8 Tributo
Ford Puma
Kia e-Soul
Mazda3
Mazda CX-30
Mercedes-Benz CLA
Mercedes-Benz EQC
Mercedes-Benz GLB
Mercedes-Benz GLS
Nissan Juke
Opel/Vauxhall Corsa
Peugeot 208
Porsche 911
Porsche Taycan
Range Rover Evoque
Renault Captur
Renault Clio
Renault Zoe
Skoda Kamiq
Skoda Scala
SsangYong Korando
Subaru Forester
Tesla Model 3
Toyota Camry
Toyota Corolla
Toyota RAV4
Toyota GR Supra
Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen T-Cross
The European Car of the Year is, since 1964, the only automotive, specific type award, which is not won by the manufacturers who pay for such a distinction or for publicity, but is decided by an independent jury, regardless of whether the manufacturer wants to receive recognition, or miss out on the race. It is also the only such European car prize that has no cash flow involved in the process of getting it.
