Contenders for the country’s annual motoring title are starring on television tonight

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THE PRELUDE to the announcement of the New Zealand Car of the Year features on a high-rating television show tonight.

The 10 contenders for the 33rd winner of the national title, meted annually by the New Zealand Motoring Writers’ Guild, will be assessed tonight by hosts of Television One’s ‘Seven Sharp’ programme.

The programme continues its COTY coverage tomorrow night, announcing the winner live at the culmination of the half hour current affairs programme, which screens from 7pm.

The Guild membership comprises automotive journalists from around the country. The NZCOTY has established as the country’s most coveted motoring award and it has an unequalled history among various motoring prizes, with announcement annually since 1988.

Guild president Richard Edwards suggests the award’s mana comes down to it and the provider organisation having a good reputation.

The selection of finalists is a robust and comprehensive process, which culminates in a vote involving more than 20 journalists and the Guild is fiercely independent “which not only adds to its credibility but also the high regard in which the award is held by the entire industry.” The input from Seven Sharp hosts Hilary Barry and Jeremy Wells is extramural to the voting process, but has added an extra flavour in the three years of the programme’s involvement.

The 2020 finalists were announced in November. Eight of the 10 finalists are from the SUV sector, which now commands huge interest from consumers, and two are from the small car segment. One is a full electric vehicle.

The award involves the local distributor of the winning vehicle receiving the Peter Greenslade Trophy, named after a founding Guild member. The present holder is Jaguar New Zealand, whose i-Pace electric SUV won in 2019.

Contenders, in alphabetical order, are Audi Q3, Ford Fiesta, Kia Seltos, Land Rover Defender, Mazda CX-30, Mercedes EQC, Mercedes GLB, Peugeot 2008, Skoda Kamiq and Toyota Yaris.