The Irish Motoring Writers Association (IMWA) has revealed the list of cars eligible for consideration for the 2013 Continental Irish Car of the Year awards. In total, 35 cars made the cut, which the 28 members of the organisation must now vote on.
Following the first round of voting, the list will be whittled down to finalists from each of the categories. Members of the IMWA will then have one final chance to drive all shortlisted cars before selecting the category winners, plus the overall Irish Car of the Year. Full results will be revealed at the annual gala event, held this year at the Convention Centre in Dublin on November 22.
Last year the overall winner was the Kia Rio, while the Irish Van of the Year was the Volkswagen Crafter.
"As with each year, the IMWA car jury provide a great service for Irish motorists in helping them to make sense of the bewildering array of new cars that has been launched in Ireland this year", commented Paddy Murphy of Continental Tyres Ireland, Irish Car of the Year sponsor. "The list of candidates for this year's award is an eclectic one with a lot of quality in it - it won't be an easy choice for the jurors."
Gerry Murphy, Chairman of the IMWA, commented: "In spite of the general economic slowdown, we are still seeing the arrival in Ireland of a lot of innovative new car models brim full of new automotive technologies, and the field of runners for the 2013 title certainly doesn't disappoint."
The full list of cars being considered for the 2013 title is as follows - in alphabetical order:
Audi A3 (read our first Irish drive of the Audi A3 here)
Audi Q3 (read our first drive of the Audi Q3 here)
BMW 3 Series (read our first Irish drive of the BMW 3 Series here)
BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé (read our test drive of the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé here)
BMW M5 (read our test drive of the BMW M5 here)
Chevrolet Cruze
Chevrolet Orlando
Chevrolet Spark
Chrysler 300C (read our first drive of the Chrysler 300C here)
Citroen DS5 (read our test drive of the Citroen DS5 here)
Fiat Panda (read our test drive of the Fiat Panda here)
Ford B-Max (read our first drive of the Ford B-Max here)
Honda Civic (read our first Irish drive of the Honda Civic here)
Honda CR-V
Hyundai i30 (read our test drive of the Hyundai i30 here)
Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai Veloster (read our first Irish drive of the Hyundai Veloster here)
Kia cee'd (read our first drive of the Kia cee'd here)
Kia Optima (read our test drive of the Kia Optima here)
Lexus GS (read our test drive of the Lexus GS 450h here)
Mazda CX-5 (read our test drive of the Mazda CX-5 here)
Mercedes-Benz B-Class (read our first Irish drive of the Mercedes-Benz B-Class here)
Mercedes-Benz M-Class (read our first drive of the Mercedes-Benz M-Class here)
Mercedes-Benz SL (read our first drive of the Mercedes-Benz SL here)
Opel Zafira Tourer (read our first drive of the Opel Zafira Tourer here)
Peugeot 208 (read our first drive of the Peugeot 208 here)
Porsche 911 (read our first drive of the Porsche 911 here)
Porsche Boxster (read our first drive of the Porsche Boxster here)
SEAT Mii (read our first drive of the SEAT Mii here)
Skoda Citigo (read our first drive of the Skoda Citigo here)
Subaru XV
Toyota GT86 (read our test drive of the Toyota GT86 here)
Volkswagen Beetle (read our first drive of the Volkswagen Beetle here)
Volkswagen up! (read our first drive of the Volkswagen up! here)
Volvo V40 (read our first drive of the Volvo V40 here)