Leaf is Car of the Year

The Nissan Leaf has been declared 2011 European Car of the Year. It’s the first electric car to win the title, but it wasn’t a unanimous decision.

Fifty-seven motoring journalists from across the continent formed a jury to decide the winner, and each was given twenty-five votes to distribute across the seven finalists. The contest rules stipulate that they had to allocate those votes to at least five cars, with no more than ten points allowed for any one model.



Only three jurors gave the Leaf a maximum score, but nine didn’t give it any votes at all.

Such a divergence of opinion reflected that while it’s technically interesting, the Nissan is still unproven in real world conditions. Some of the journalists also recognised that the Leaf is very much a first generation electric car; future models will undoubtedly have better range, shorter recharging times, and cost less.



Consequently, it was a close result, with second and third spots being occupied by the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and Vauxhall / Opel Meriva.

2011 Car of the Year
Position	Model	Votes
1	Nissan Leaf	257
2	Alfa Romeo Giulietta	248
3	Vauxhall / Opel Meriva	244
4	Ford C-Max / Grand C-Max	224
5	Citroën C3 / DS3	175
6	Volvo S60 / V60	145
7	Dacia Duster	132

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2011 CotY nominees

The seven finalists in Europe’s 2011 Car of the Year contest have been announced:

• Alfa Romeo Giulietta


• Citroën C3 / DS3


• Dacia Duster


• Ford C-Max / Grand C-Max


• Nissan Leaf


• Vauxhall / Opel Meriva


• Volvo S60 / V60

Notable is the Leaf, which is the first purely electric car to reach this stage of the competition.



All new models were eligible for the award, provided that they were already on sale (or soon would be) in five or more European markets, and are expected to achieve annual retails of 5,000 or more. This year, there were 41 that met the criteria.



A first stage of voting, which involved motoring journalists from across the continent, whittled those candidates down to the final nominees. The list of cars that failed to make it onto the shortlist makes interesting reading, too, and it includes some surprises:

• Audi A1


• BMW 5 Series


• Honda CR-Z


• Mini Countryman


• Mitsubishi i-MiEV / Citroën C-Zero / Peugeot i-On


• Nissan Juke


• Renault Fluence

The jurors will now have a second vote to determine the 2011 Car of the Year, and the winner will be announced on 29 November 2010.

Dacia SHIFT Concept a New Innovative Concept Car powered by lithium-ion or hydrogen fuel cells.

Dacia SHIFT Concept 2012.

Dacia SHIFT Concept a New Innovative Concept Car powered by lithium-ion or hydrogen fuel cells.Dacia SHIFT Concept is a new innovative concept design that was created independently by a young Romanian designer - Liviu Tudoran. As have been said by the designer that the Dacia SHIFT Concept will be the perfect vehicle for roaming the crowded streets of 2012.

Dacia SHIFT Concept wears the design cues of the Duster concept and it will offering space for two passengers as it is an electric two-seater car. Dacia SHIFT Concept 2012.

Dacia SHIFT Concept is follows the lines of the new identity of the Dacia brand, and it will be powered by lithium-ion batteries. However, it also can accommodate hydrogen fuel cells.

Liviu Tudoran, a young Romanian designer has presented an electric sport model called Dacia Shift which runs using lithium-ion batteries and Tudoran sees the Dacia SHIFT Concept roaming the crowded streets of 2012 and offering space for two passenger. Dacia SHIFT Concept 2012.

The Dacia SHIFT Concept will be powered with the help of lithium-ion batteries and can also accommodate hydrogen fuel cells. Dacia Shift is a concept keeping the needs of the young Bucharest residents in mind, which will not exceed the stage of drawing and sketch, as it being an independent project with no official connection with the Dacia brand.

Dacia SHIFT Concept 2012.

Logan for a camping

At exhibition Caravan Salon 2009 which will take place during the period from August, 29th till September, 6th in Düsseldorf, company Dacia plans to present the new conceptual car which is constructed on the basis of seven-seater universal Logan to Germany and is intended for travel and a camping.

The car will receive name Young Activity Van III and the width — 1,37 metres begins to be equipped with the special rising superstructure which length makes two metres, and. Access on "the second floor" car where two persons or necessary things on travel can go in, is carried out through the closed hatch in a roof. At the combined superstructure the height of conceptual version Dacia Logan does not exceed two metres.

The novelty with the 1,6-litre petrol engine power of 87HP will be equipped. According to edition Autobild, in company Dacia do not exclude possibility of the beginning of serial release of the similar car which, in case of occurrence in the automobile market of Europe, will be on sale for 15,900 euros.