Eight models have made the final cut for the 2013 European Car of the Year. Eight cars are up for the prize – up from the usual seven due to close competition – for the first time since 2007. The finalists are:

Ford B-Max

Hyundai i30

Mercedes-Benz A-class

Peugeot 208

Renault Clio

Subaru BRZ/Toyota GT86

Volkswagen Golf

Volvo V40

The Chevrolet Volt was awarded the prize last year, despite facing strong competition from the Volkswagen Up! and third-generation Ford Focus. The judges were particularly impressed with the car’s range-extending hybrid technology, the first time such a system had been seen on a production car. The winner of the European Car of the Year 2013 will be announced on March 4, on the occasion of the Geneva Motor Show.

The jury for Car of the Year 2013 comprises of 58 members representing 22 European countries. National representation on the jury is related to the size of the country's car market and its importance in car manufacturing. France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain each have six members; other countries, proportionally fewer.