Continental Irish Car of the Year 2013 shortlist announced

A field of 35 candidates went to post for the Continental Irish Car of the Year 2013 awards. After round one voting, the Irish Motoring Writers Association (IMWA) has just announced the shortlist in alphabetical order:

BMW 3 Series
BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé
BMW M5
Ford B-Max
Kia cee’d
Kia Optima
Mazda CX-5
Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Peugeot 208
Toyota GT86
Volvo V40

The shortlist of 11 cars compete in five categories and for the overall crown of Continental Irish Car of the Year 2013. The categories and contenders are as follows:

Continental Irish Small Car of the Year:
Ford B-Max, Peugeot 208.

Continental Irish Compact Family Car of the Year:
Kia cee’d, Mazda CX-5, Volvo V40 (three contenders because of larger level of entries)

Continental Irish Family Car of the Year:
BMW 3-Series, Kia Optima.

Continental Irish Executive / Luxury Car of the Year:
BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé, Mercedes-Benz M-Class.

Continental Irish Performance Car of the Year:
BMW M5, Toyota GT86

The 28 voting members of the Irish Motoring Writers’ Association assess each vehicle, attributing points on the basis of criteria ranging from innovation and safety, to space, comfort, build quality, driving quality and value for money.

The Continental Irish Car of the Year and Continental Irish Van of the Year will be revealed at a major event in the Convention Centre, Dublin, on Thursday 22nd November.

Last year the Continental Irish Car of the Year title went to the Kia Rio while the van accolade was won by the Volkswagen Crafter.