The Nissan Leaf could add the World Car of the Year award to its European Car of the Year gong after it was one of 10 cars announced on the shortlist for the prize.
The Leaf joins Audi’s A1 and A8, BMW’s 5-series and X3, the Jaguar XJ, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Mercedes SLS, Porsche Cayenne and Volvo S60/V60 on the shortlist.
There is no place on the shortlist for any Volkswagen model, the firm having claimed the title in each of the last two years for the Polo in 2010 and Golf in 2009. The Chevrolet Volt, a recent winner of the North American Car of the Year award, is also overlooked.
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Finalists for three other World Car of the Year categories have also been revealed. The 2011 World Performance Car will be chosen from the Aston Martin Rapide, Audi RS5, Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, Ferrari 458 Italia, Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, Mercedes’ S63 AMG/CL63 AMG and SLS AMG, Porsche’s 911 GT2 RS and 911 Turbo and the Renaultsport Megane.
The nominees for 2011 World Car Design of the Year are the Rapide, Audi A7, Citroen DS3, Ferrari 458, Honda CR-Z, Kia Sportage and the Nissan Juke.
Full story: VW Polo is World Car of the Year 2010
The six nominations for the 2011 World Green Car are the BMW 320ed, the Volt, Hyundai Sonata hybrid, Mercedes B-class F-cell, the Leaf and the Smart Fortwo ED.
The three finalists in each category will be announced at next month’s Geneva motor show and the overall winner will be revealed at the New York motor show on 21 April.
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