Car of the Year 2013 shortlist announced It's an almost all-hatchback shortlist for the 2013 European Car of the Year award, with the 58 judges (including yours truly) rejecting models with advanced aluminium construction and hybrid drivelines. Instead, the eight-strong shortlist contains mostly conventional B- and C-segment hatchbacks, together with a sporting coupé and compact MPV with sliding doors. The list comprises Ford's B-Max, Hyundai's i30, Mercedes-Benz's A-Class, Peugeot's 208, Renault's Clio, the Subaru BRZ/Toyota GT86, Volkswagen's Golf and Volvo's V40. The total list of candidates contained 32 new cars, which will be on sale in Europe in 2013. After two years of alternative propulsion winners (Nissan's Leaf and Vauxhall's Ampera), the judges rejected the two plug-in hybrids (Volvo V60 and Toyota Prius plug-in) for the final selection. They also spurned new all-aluminium-alloy monocoque cars such as the Mercedes-Benz SL and Range Rover, as well as eschewing SUVs such as the Peugeot 4008, Citroën C4 Aircross, Honda CR-V, Subaru XV and Mitsubishi Outlander. Instead it's going to be a straight fight for honours between conventional technology in the style of car body most favoured by Europe, with safety, driver appeal, value for money and for the British judges, ride and handling, to the fore. The winner will be announced on the eve of the Geneva Motor Show on March 4 and we'll be giving our verdict from our traditional shortlist driving day early next year.