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<\/p>\nAn original field of 51 candidates for the Continental Irish Car of the Year 2014 awards has been reduced to 16, the Irish Motoring Writers Association (IMWA) has announced.<\/p>\n
After the votes from the first ballot paper were counted, the following cars have made the shortlist for this year (in alphabetical order by marque). Please note that this list is longer than most previous years because of the unprecedented number of eligible cars in the competition.<\/p>\n
BMW 4 Series (Ex.\/Lux.) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Citroen C4 Picasso\u00a0(Com. Fam.)
\nDacia Sandero (Small) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Ford Fiesta ST (Perform.)
\nKia Carens\u00a0(Family) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Mazda6\u00a0(Family)
\nNissan Juke Nismo\u00a0(Perform.) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Peugeot 2008\u00a0(Small)
\nPeugeot 208 GTi\u00a0(Perform.) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Range Rover\u00a0(Ex.\/Lux.)
\nRenault Clio\u00a0(Small) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Skoda Octavia\u00a0(Family)
\nToyota Auris\u00a0(Com. Fam.) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Toyota Corolla\u00a0(Com. Fam.)
\nVolkswagen Golf\u00a0(Com. Fam.) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Volkswagen Golf GTI\u00a0(Perform.)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
All 28 jurors including myself chose from 9 Small Cars\u00a0(Small); 15\u00a0Compact Family Cars (Com. Fam.); 9 Family Cars\u00a0(Family); 4 Executive\/Luxury Car\u00a0(Ex.\/Lux.); and 14 Performance Car\u00a0(Perform.). The more cars in the original category, the larger number (pro-rata) that qualify from that category for the shortlist published above in alphabetical order\u00a0(by marque).<\/p>\n
I am personally disappointed that the new Nissan Note, Mercedes-Benz CLA and Range Rover Sport didn’t emerge from their categories and make it to the final shortlist.<\/p>\n
Jurors will again have a Refresher Day in the next week with the opportunity to test drive each shortlisted car again. They will then vote again on those shortlisted candidates.\u00a0And the award ceremony and announcement of the Continental Irish Car of the Year 2014 will take place at a gala lunch event in Dublin on November 21.<\/p>\n
The 28 voting members of the Irish Motoring Writers\u2019 Association assess each vehicle,\u00a0attributing points on the basis of criteria ranging from innovation and safety, to space, comfort,\u00a0build quality, driving quality and value for money.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor anyone in the lucky position of looking to renew their car with a 141 reg in January, the\u00a0IMWA car jury provides a great service for Irish motorists in helping them to make sense of\u00a0the array of new cars that has been launched in Ireland this year\u201d, commented Tom Dennigan\u00a0of Continental Tyres Ireland, Irish Car of the Year sponsor.<\/p>\n
Last year the Continental Irish Car of the Year title went to the BMW 3 Series while the van\u00a0accolade was won by the Ford Transit Custom.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
An original field of 51 candidates for the Continental Irish Car of the Year 2014 awards has been reduced to 16, the Irish Motoring Writers Association (IMWA) has announced. After the votes from the first ballot paper were counted, the following cars have made the shortlist for this year (in alphabetical order by marque). Please […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6260","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-continental"],"yoast_head":"\n