KEY POINTS:
The jury for the European Car of the Year (COTY) 2008 has awarded the top prize to the new Fiat 500.
The jury, which comprises 58 specialist journalists from 22 European countries, gave the little Fiat 385 votes - putting it ahead of the Mazda2 (325) and the Ford Mondeo (202).
Of the panel, 57 out of 58 included the Fiat 500 in their shortlists and 33 made it top in their personal rankings.
This is the second time in recent years that a Fiat city car has been named European COTY - the Panda supermini won in 2004.
The 500 win also marks the 12th time the Italian maker has taken the top Euro COTY prize, although not all past winners will be fondly remembered now.
They were the Fiat 124 (1967), Fiat 128 (1970), Fiat 127 (1972), Lancia Delta (1980), Fiat Uno (1984), Fiat Tipo (1989), Fiat Punto (1995), Fiat Bravo/Brava (1996), Alfa 156 (1998), Alfa 147 (2001), Fiat Panda (2004) and the Fiat 500 (2008).
The Fiat 500 will be launched in New Zealand in March next year, at prices ranging from the mid-$20k bracket to the low-$30k mark.
Meanwhile, the judges for the 2008 Japanese Car of the Year - the Automotive Researchers and Journalists Conference (RJC) - were also thinking small when it came to their winner.
They have named the Mazda2, which is called the Demio in Japan, as the best new model of the year.
They praised the car's lighter weight (some models tip the scales 100kg less than the previous version), fuel efficiency and driveability.
Some of the car's success was attributed to a Japanese market-only version with a high-tech super-thrifty Miller Cycle 1.3-litre engine and continuously variable transmission.
The RJC is a non-profit organisation comprising researchers and motoring writers.
Models eligible for the 2008 RJC Car of the Year came from a field of 22 vehicles launched for sale in Japan between November 1, last year, and October 31, with an annual production volume exceeding 5000 units. Mazda last won with the RX-8 in 2003.
New Zealand's only independent Car of the Year award, the New Zealand Car of the Year, is being considered by the Motoring Writers Guild. The winner will be announced in the early part of next year.
- Detours, HoS
