The finalists were announced at the Johannesburg International Motor Show at a function hosted by WesBank, the competition's headline sponsor, and the SA Guild of Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ).
The finalists were selected from 40 semi-finalists by a 30-member jury of motoring journalists elected by their peers. The nine finalists are:
• 2013 Audi A3 Sportback 1.4T FSI Manual
• 2013 Jaguar F-TYPE 3.0 V6 S
• 2013 Lexus IS 350 F-Sport
• 2013 Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG
• 2013 Peugeot 208 GTI
• 2013 Porsche Cayman S
• 2013 Renault Clio4 66kW Turbo Dynamique
• 2013 Volkswagen Golf 7 1.4 TSI 90kW Comfortline DSG
• 2013 Volvo V40 D3 Geartronic Excel
The next step in the process is a stringent two-day evaluation session to be held in Gauteng in January 2014 and includes testing procedures at the world-renowned Gerotek test facility near Pretoria where the Jury members will assess the cars independently under the conditions individual vehicles would be expected to perform under, with routes and modules designed to test the vehicles in a similar way the average consumer would use them.
The evaluation days offer the Jury the opportunity to reacquaint themselves with specific aspects such as aesthetics, build quality, ergonomics, fuel consumption, environmental friendliness, safety features and value for money, to name but a few. The Jury will also have access to independent performance test data, comparative pricing, and specification data from RGT Smart as well as comparative parts pricing data, compiled by Malcolm Kinsey.
While all of the models are deemed to represent examples of outstanding automotive engineering, there can be only one winner and, in the eyes of the COTY Jury, that model will epitomise all-round automotive excellence - the sole criterion for Car of the Year. The winner of the 2014 WesBank / SAGMJ Car the Year will be revealed at a gala banquet in February 2013.
