Aussie Cars Miss Top Honours
Illawarra Mercury
Wednesday November 15, 2000
An imported car will win the Wheels magazine Car of the Year award this year after the release of four finalists yesterday.
The magazine does not normally release a shortlist of finalists from its full field of candidates but changed its format this year ahead of the big announcement next Tuesday.
Wheels said the four cars still in the running were the Subaru Impreza, the Toyota RAV4, the Chrysler PT Cruiser and the Volvo V70.
New locally built models including the VX Commodore from Holden, Toyota's Avalon and the upgraded Mitsubishi Magna failed to make the final cut.
Interestingly, none of the four cars in the Wheels shortlist figured among the winners in the motoring awards announced last week by Australia's combined motoring clubs.
In fact only the Subaru Impreza and the Volvo V70 made the final three in their respective categories, the Impreza beaten for the title of best small car by the Hyundai Accent and the Volvo beaten by the Subaru Forester as the best recreational vehicle.
The Wheels Car of the Year will be announced in Melbourne.
© 2000 Illawarra Mercury