2015 WesBank / SAGMJ Car of the Year Semi-finalists announced

I just received this info via the SA Guild of Motoring Journalists. As you can see, it's a pretty long list and it features some brilliant cars. Notice that this time Porsche is represented by a Macan S Diesel, it'll be interesting to see how it fares seeing as Porsche has taken the title for two years running now. On the subject of expensive cars, there's the Jaguar F-Type S, the Range Rover Sport and the BMW M3.  Not many can afford this kind of car, so if they place, controversy may again arise, even though it's stressed that cost sin't a factor in the COTY competition. I think that the hottest car entered, hands down, is the Alfa Romeo 4C. That is pure art in motion, but this competition isn't run on looks alone, rather a stringent set of tests.  I also like the Renault Clio RS 200 EDC Cup a hell of a lot. It's an awesome little car with great performance. Another practical car is the Renault Duster 1.5dCi Dynamique 4WD. I like these cars more than I should. They're pretty capable and they're very affordable considering what they offer.  Also good to see Subaru's WRX in the mix. My lotto win car from the list - the Range Rover. 

If I had to nominate a winner, according to what I know about the cars on this list, I couldn't do it. I can't wait to see how the cars score after they've all been through the judge's hands, it's going to be very interesting.  The COTY Jury will cast their vote on these semi-finalist models and derivatives which will result in a second list of 20 semi-finalists that will be announced on Monday 6 October 2014. The finalists for the 2015 WesBank / SAGMJ Car of the Year competition will derive from this second list and will be announced on Thursday, 23 October 2014, at the Inanda Polo Club, Johannesburg. The 2015 WesBank / SAGMJ Car of the Year will be announced at a black tie event on 18 March 2015.

The List

• Alfa Romeo 4C Coupe
• Audi A3 S3 Quattro S Tronic
• Audi A3 Sedan 1.4T SE S Tronic 
• Audi A3 Sportback S3 Quattro S Tronic*
• Audi Q3 RSQ3*
• BMW 2 Series M235i Coupe*
• BMW 3 Series M3*
• BMW 4 Series 435i Coupe*
• BMW X5 xDrive30d
• Chevrolet Sonic RS 1.4 T*
• Citroën C4 Picasso e-HDi 115 Intensive
• Honda Accord 3.5 V6 Exclusive
• Honda Brio Sedan 1.2 Trend
• Hyundai Grand i10 1.25 Fluid
• Infiniti Q50 2.2d Premium
• Jaguar F-Type S Coupe
• Kia Cerato Koup 1.6T-GDI
• Land Rover Range Rover Sport Supercharged HSE Dynamic
• Lexus ES 300h EX
• Mercedes-Benz C-Class C220 BlueTEC Auto
• Mercedes-Benz CLA CLA220 CDI Auto
• Mercedes-Benz GLA GLA220CDI 4Matic Auto
• Mercedes-Benz S-Class S400 Hybrid
• MINI Cooper
• Nissan Leaf
• Nissan Qashqai 1.6dCi AWD Acenta 
• Peugeot 2008 1.6 Allure
• Porsche Macan S Diesel
• Renault New Clio RS 200 EDC Cup 5dr* 
• Renault Duster 1.5dCi Dynamique 4WD
• Renault New Sandero 66kW Turbo Dynamique 5-dr*
• Renault New Sandero Stepway 66kW Turbo 5-dr*
• Subaru WRX Premium
• Suzuki Ertiga 1.4 GLX
• Suzuki Swift Dzire 1.2 GL
• Toyota Corolla 1.4D-4D Prestige
• Volkswagen Golf R 2.0 TSI DSG*
• Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSI 81kw Highline DSG*
• Volvo S60 D4 Excel auto
• Volvo V60 D4

* These vehicles were considered sufficiently different from existing derivatives to be included in the voting.