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• What Car? Car of the Year awards 2011

The What Car? Car of the Year Awards 2012, will take place at London's Grosvenor House Hotel tonight, but what car will take the industry's ultimate accolade?

For the first time, What Car? has revealed the cars in contention for its coveted Car of the Year Awards ahead of the ceremony.

What Car? editor-in-chief Chas Hallett said: 'The decision-making process this year has been harder than ever, because the automotive industry keeps building better, more economical and more desirable cars that offer consumers great value for money. The objective of the annual What Car? Awards is to let our readers know the best car in every class.

2012 WHAT CAR? CAR OF THE YEAR
THE LONGLIST

CITY CAR – NEW CATEGORY FOR 2012
SPONSORED BY WARRANTY DIRECT
Fiat 500
Hyundai i10
Kia Picanto
Seat Mii
Skoda Citigo
Volkswagen Up

SUPERMINI
SPONSORED BY METRO
Audi A1 – last year’s winner
Chevrolet Aveo
Ford Fiesta
Hyundai i20
Kia Rio
Renault Clio
Volkswagen Polo

SMALL FAMILY CAR
BMW 1 Series
Chevrolet Volt
Ford Focus
Hyundai i30
Nissan Leaf
Skoda Octavia
Vauxhall Ampera
Vauxhall Astra GTC
Volkswagen Golf – last year’s winner

FAMILY CAR
SPONSORED BY THULE
Ford Mondeo – last year’s winner
Mazda 6
Mercedes-Benz B-Class
Peugeot 508
Skoda Superb
Volkswagen Passat

ESTATE
Audi A6 Avant
BMW 5 Series Touring
Ford Focus Estate
Ford Mondeo Estate – last year’s winner
Hyundai i40 Estate
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate
Skoda Octavia Estate
Volkswagen Passat Estate

MPV
Citroen C3 Picasso
Ford Galaxy
Ford S-Max
Peugeot 5008
Renault Grand Scenic
Seat Alhambra – last year’s winner
Volkswagen Sharan

HOT HATCH
Mini Cooper S
Renault Clio Renaultsport Cup
Renault Megane Renaultsport Cup – last year’s winner
Renault Twingo Renaultsport Cup
Suzuki Swift Sport
Volkswagen Golf GTI

COUPE
Audi A5 Coupe
Audi TT – last year’s winner
BMW 3 Series Coupe
BMW 6 Series
Jaguar XK
Mini Coupe
Volkswagen Scirocco

OPEN TOP
Audi A3 Cabriolet
Audi TT Roadster
Bentley Continental GTC
BMW 6 Series Convertible
BMW Z4 – last year’s winner
Mazda MX-5
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet

PERFORMANCE CAR
SPONSORED BY COBRA
Audi R8 Spyder
BMW M5
Ferrari 458 Italia – last year’s winner
Lamborghini Aventador
Lotus Evora
McLaren MP4-12C
Porsche 911
Porsche Cayman R

SUV – NEW CATEGORY FOR 2012
SPONSORED BY CARBON NEUTRAL INVESTMENTS
Audi Q3
BMW X3
Hyundai Santa Fe
Land Rover Discovery
Nissan Qashqai
Peugeot 3008
Range Rover Evoque

EXECUTIVE CAR
SPONSORED BY MONDIAL ASSISTANCE
Audi A6
Audi A7 Sportback
BMW 3 Series
BMW 5 Series
Citroen DS5
Jaguar XF
Mercedes-Class
Porsche Panamera

LUXURY CAR
SPONSORED BY COBRA
Audi A8
Bentley Mulsanne
Jaguar XJ
Mercedes-Benz S-Class – last year’s winner
Range Rover