The field is being whittled down for the 2014 World Car of the Year award, which will be presented at the New York International Auto Show on April 17, 2014.
Winners of the 2014 World Luxury Car, World Performance Car, World Green Car and World Car Design of the Year will also be revealed at that time.
The World Car Awards (WCA) organization has released a short-list of the 12 cars from which the overall winner will be chosen in a final round of voting that begins today. It includes six Europeans, three Americans, three Japanese, no Koreans on short list
They are:
Audi A3
BMW 4 Series
BMW i3
Cadillac CTS
Citroen C4 Picasso
Ford Fusion / Mondeo
Infiniti Q50
Jeep Cherokee
Lexus IS
Mazda3
Peugeot 308
Skoda Octavia
Before the winner is announced in New York, the top three finalists in all award categories will be announced at the Geneva International Motor Show on March 4, 2014.
A jury of 69 international automotive journalists selected the finalists by secret ballot, based on their individual experience with each candidate vehicle.
The will now determine the winner via a detailed secret ballot process that addresses such parameters as, occupant environment, performance, price/value, safety, environmental responsibility, market significance and emotional appeal.
All ballots are tabulated and the results kept confidential until they are announced by the international accounting firm KPMG.