Duarte Monteiro
Veterano
Encontrei este texto na net e de repente apercebi-me como alguns dos carros "velhos" que ainda andam por aí já foram considerados Carro do Ano. Propositadamente, não inclui os anos de 1990 em diante.
- Car of the Year since 1964
The annual Car of the Year competition marked its 50th anniversary at the Barcelona motor show with an exhibition of every winner
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The annual Car of the Year contest set out to find the best new car launched in Europe over the preceding twelve months.
It has expanded since its 1964 inception to include more journalists and magazine titles, so that this year's jury was comprised of 58 members from 22 countries, including Autocar's own Steve Cropley.
The COTY judging process begins in the last quarter of the year before the award, when a committee chooses a selection of suitable models; the list for 2013 was drawn up at the end of 2012 as a result.
Any car is eligible, but it must be a new model rather than just a facelift, be available in at least five European countries at the time of voting and have an expected sales volume of at least 5000 annually.
Each Jury member votes on seven cars, and is given 25 points to cover at least five vehicles, with a maximum score of ten per car. A statement of justification is also required to successfully vote for a car.
Here's the rundown of every winner of the prestigious award since 1964:
1964 - Rover 2000
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The 2000 was the inaugural COTY victor and the last pre-Leyland Rover. The 2000's win owed much to its fantastic ride and handling combined with good value. Though undermined by its weak engines, the 2000 was a competitive mid-size saloon.
1965 - Austin 1800
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The Austin 1800 upsized the Mini recipe of a transverse engine and front wheel-drive with success. It offered excellent levels of space and a large boot. The original Ford Mustang was also included in the 1965 competition, and scored 18 points.
1966 - Renault 16
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The front wheel-drive 16 was distinctively styled and featured independent suspension all-round. Its COTY win was notable in 1966 for taking victory ahead of the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and Oldsmobile Tornado.
1967 Fiat 124
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Practical, affordable and spacious, the 124 offered the traditional Fiat virtues. Utilitarian in style and technology, the 124 was offered with many engines and bodystyles. The 1967 competition was notable for the inclusion of the Jensen FF, which finished third.
1968 - NSU Ro 80
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The Wankel-powered luxury saloon was admired for its sleek appearance and compact, innovative engine. The Ro 80 also featured a semi-automatic transmission. The second and third places on the 1968 COTY podium were taken by the Fiat 125 and Simca 1100 respectively.
1969 - Peugeot 504
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Pininfarina style and admirable refinement was a winning combination for the Peugeot 504 in 1969. Four disc brakes and a wide range of bodystyles also enamoured the 504 to the judges. Though its engines were fairly old-tech, this didn't impact on its overall appeal.
1970 - Fiat 128
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Fiat's first truly modern car in many years, the 128 was intelligently packaged and allowed plenty of room in a small footprint. It also introduced overhead camshaft engines to the family car segment.
1971 - Citroën GS
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The Citroën GS featured an array of advanced features such as all-round disc brakes, hydropneumatic independent suspension and a flat-four air-cooled engine. Its limited performance was insufficient to deny the GS first place in 1971.
1972 - Fiat 127
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The 127 represented a downsizing of Fiat's technical modernity as first shown in the 128. Despite its compact dimensions, the Fiat 127 offered good levels of space and mature road manners. The Fiat's success was by a great margin, scoring 239 points where the second-place Renault 15/19 only achieved 107.
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1973 - Audi 80
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Forty years ago, Audi was very much a junior subsidiary in the Volkswagen empire. Therefore, allowing the 80 to arrive a year before its VW sister model (the Passat) was significant. It outscored the Renault 5 thanks to its cohesive styling and lightweight construction.
1974 - Mercedes-Benz 450 S
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The 1974 COTY accolade went to Stuttgart for the flagship Mercedes S-class variant. Its 220bhp, fuel-injected V8 offered towering performance, even when allied to a three-speed automatic. The established S-class attributes of modern styling and fabulous luxury ensured victory.
1975 - Citroën CX
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Technologically advanced, futuristically styled and hydropneumatically suspended, the CX could be nothing but a Citroën. Though less radical than its DS forerunner, the CX was still ahead of its time and secured the 1975 award by a comfortable 55-point margin from the VW Golf Mk1.
1976 - Simca 1307 and 1308
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The 1307 and 1308 were competitive models despite the lack of investment from Simca's owners Chrysler. Though hamstrung by outdated pushrod engines, the hatchbacks were practical and spacious, with good handling. The Simca was voted ahead of the BMW 316 and 320 models.
1977 Rover SD1
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The SD1 captured the hearts and minds of the buying public and COTY judges in 1977 with its distinctive good looks, low prices and powerful V8 engine. The SD1 took the 1977 title ahead of the Audi 100 and Ford Fiesta.
1978 - Porsche 928
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The Porsche 928 is the only sports car to have won the COTY title, its victory now 35 years ago. A decidedly more modern design than the 911, its advanced V8 engine and stunning refinement won the 928 many plaudits. The BMW 7-series and Ford Granada took second and third places respectively.
1979 - Chrysler/Talbot Horizon
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The Horizon replaced the Simca 1100 and was marketed as a global car. It won in 1979 with a total score of 251 points, 11 ahead of the Fiat Ritmo. Though the COTY judges were complimentary about the Horizon's sturdiness and ride comfort, they had concerns surrounding its slow steering and underpowered engines.
1980 - Lancia Delta
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Even in its original, non-turbocharged form, the Delta shone as a family hatchback with attractive styling and accomplished handling. Though the Delta concept's novel sliding rear bench didn't make production, the judges still found it deserving of the title ahead of the Vauxhall Astra and Peugeot 505.
1981 - Ford Escort Mk3
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This Ford Escort marked a radical departure from the previous two versions as it switched to front wheel-drive. Its range of low-maintenance CVH engines gave the Escort good credentials as an everyday car, and it triumphed ahead of the Fiat Panda.
1982 - Renault 9
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The 9 was certainly not without faults, including a rather lacklustre range of engines. However, its high grip and comfort levels, combined with the desirable fitment of a five-speed gearbox, was enough for the 9 to earn victory.
1983 - Audi 100
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The 100 was hugely significant in showing that a luxury car package could work with a front wheel-drive platform. The refinement offered by its superb aerodynamics was another fine aspect, and the 100 was powered by a range of good five-cylinder engines. This included the first five-cylinder diesel engine offered in a production model.
1984 - Fiat Uno
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The 1984 contest was between the Fiat Uno and Peugeot 205, with eventual victory going to the Italian. Despite the 205's virtues, the Uno took the title thanks to its excellent space and great value. Third place in 1984 was the Volkswagen Golf Mk2.
1985 - Vauxhall Astra Mk2/Opel Kadett
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Much improved over the original Astra, the second-generation model was commended for its efficient yet powerful overhead camshaft engines, aerodynamic styling and wide range of bodystyles. In 1985 it took victory ahead of the Renault 25 and Lancia Thema.
1986 - Ford Scorpio
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Ford's Granada replacement won the 1986 COTY accolade thanks to its original design and boost improved build quality over previous big Fords. However, it was the standard fitment of ABS, a significant safety step, to every Ford Scorpio that impressed the judges in 1986.
1987 - Vauxhall Carlton/Opel Omega
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The Carlton displayed that a talented luxury saloon didn't have to originate from the German prestige manufacturers; it actually beat the Audi 80 and BMW 7-series to the 1987 title. The Carlton's excellent levels of refinement and passenger space impressed the judges.
1988 - Peugeot 405
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Peugeot's seminal family saloon eclipsed the 1988 opposition. Of the 57 COTY judges, 54 awarded it top marks, giving it a 212-point margin of victory over the Citroen AX (464 v 252 points). Its stylish appearance, outstanding handling and advanced diesel engine secured the 405's win.
1989 - Fiat Tipo
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The Tipo was notable for eschewing the traditional torsion beam rear suspension layout of its contemporaries in favour of a Macpherson strut setup all-round. Moreover, the Tipo's strengths such as value for money and style outweighed some rather less impressive aspects such as its poor petrol engines and lack of space.
