A shortlist of ten models for the Continental Irish Car of the Year 2010 has been announced by the Irish Motoring Writers Association. The overall winner of the 2010 Continental Irish Car of the Year title will be announced at an awards ceremony in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry, on Thursday November 26, 2009.
The shortlisted models in the five categories are as follows (in alphabetical order):
Continental Irish Small Car of the Year Continental Irish SUV / Crossover of the Year
Honda Jazz Kia Soul
Volkswagen Polo Peugeot 3008
Continental Irish Family Car of the Year Continental Irish Luxury / Sport Car of the Year
Opel Insignia Honda Accord
Volkswagen Golf Mercedes Benz E-Class
Continental Irish MPV of the Year
Renault Kangoo Kar
Renault Scenic
From 31 eligible cars, spread across the five categories, selection of the shortlisted vehicles is based on votes enumerating such factors as value for money, style, engineering and performance. Members of the Irish Motoring Writers Association cast their votes based on comprehensive testing of all vehicles.
For the 2010 event, there has been a change in the Irish Car of the Year sponsorship. Semperit Tyres, who sponsored the awards for the last 20-years, has passed the title to Continental Tyres.
“The shortlisted cars include some great models with a mix of exciting new versions of old nameplates and some imaginative new concepts,” said Paddy Murphy of Continental Tyres Ireland. “The inaugural competition for the Continental Irish Car of the Year is shaping up to be a really exciting one”.
Last year’s Semperit Irish Car of the Year was the Citroen C5.