BMW 3 on European Car of the Year shortlist

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DAS

Car of year shortlist chosen

The shortlist for European Car of the Year has been chosen and all are strong contenders to win the title next month. They include three upmarket medium-sized saloons (Alfa Romeo 159, BMW 3-series and Volkswagen Passat), the replacements for two popular superminis (Renault Clio, Toyota Yaris), one compact MPV (Mazda5), and a trio of £7,000 economy cars made by the Toyota-Peugeot-Citroën joint venture in Slovakia - the Citroën C1/Peugeot 107/Toyota Aygo. The coveted award, which is as lucrative for the winning car manufacturer as the Man Booker prize is for the chosen author, is decided by a panel of 58 motoring writers from 22 countries.

Each finalist has its devotees. Previous generations of the Clio and Yaris were voted Car of the Year, but in the 42 years of the contest there has never been a repeat win.

If the C1, 107 and Aygo were to come out on top it would mean three car companies could claim the title. The jury decided the cars must be judged as one entry since they are mechanically identical, have the same driving characteristics and sell at more or less the same price.

Toyota and Peugeot-Citroën do not seek to disguise the connection: the cars were first presented at a joint event in March.

The Sunday Times money is on the BMW 3-series although we didn't hear it from the president of the jury, Ray Hutton, who writes for us.

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