Italian cars tickle women's fancy

All finalists are reviewed in the latest issue of WOW (Women on Wheels), which is bagged with the July issues of Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, House and Leisure and O - The Oprah Magazine.

Oscar Rivoli, managing director of Fiat Group Automobiles highlights the importance of these nominations: "Style, safety, practicality, affordability and environmental-awareness are the cornerstones of our brands - they're also attributes that especially appeal to the fairer sex, so the fact that we have made it to the finals in so many categories is very gratifying indeed."

Up for the award

The Fiat Panda features in the best hatchback category, the Alfa Romeo MiTo is nominated in the sports car section and the Fiat 500 Cabriolet heads up the finalists in the convertible category.

The Fiat Panda, which was nominated for the Best Hatchback category was the European Car of the Year and is Europe's best-selling A-segment hatch.

The Alfa MiTo, nominated for the Best Sports Car category has a turbocharged, ultra-green MultiAir engine capable of catapulting it from 0 to 100km/h in under 8 seconds and onto a top speed of 219km/h for the Quadrofoglio Verde version.

It is equipped with a number of passive and active safety features such as seven airbags, stability control, a limited slip differential and brags with a 5-Star EuroNCAP rating

Its unique DNA system offers the choice of drive-style from moderately sporty to sporty and super-sporty

The Fiat 500 Cabriolet, nominated for the Best Convertible category, was another European Car of the Year. It also has outstanding safety features (seven airbags and stability control as standard) and offers al fresco driving for under R200 000.

By women, for women

This is the fourth instalment of the Women's Car of the Year Awards and "every year it gets bigger and better," says Charleen Clarke, consulting editor for WOW and convener of the WOW Women's Car of the Year judging panel.

The WOW Women's Car of the Year Awards is the only car awards in South Africa designed and run by women, for women.

The judging panel for this year's awards is again headed by the president of the SA Guild of Motoring Journalists, Charleen Clarke. She is joined by SA Car of the Year jury member Heléne Griffiths, award-winning motoring journalist Peta Lee, Mabuyane Kekana from the Sowetan, Lindsay Vine from DStv'sIgnition and Janine-Lee Gordon from City Press.

This year there are seven categories, each with its own finalists chosen according to their ability to fit the lifestyle of women. There are 10 finalists in all categories, apart from the SUVs & MPVs category, in which there are 21 finalists. The judges will also present a special award for the Best Value for Money Car of the Year.

Readers can vote for their favourite cars in seven categories via the WOW website (www.womenonwheels.co.za) or by sending an SMS. The winning cars in each of the categories will be decided by the panel of judges and the combined reader vote. The readers' vote closes on 31 July 2010, and one lucky voter stands the chance to win a Vespa S scooter and accessories valued at R70 000.