HUH !!!

[Mr. I - Man]

Originally Posted by RubHer Yellow Ducky

Rejected: Holden & Hummer Miss Out On 2007 'Wheels Car Of The Year' Nomination
2007 Wheels COTY - Nominations & Rejects

John Carey
14 December 2007
www.wheelsmag.com.au

Pre-selection shake-out determines final COTY nominees.

Through 2007 there was no let up in the tempo of new car launches. As in the previous year, more than 40 genuinely new cars rolled into Australian showrooms. The pace of change is so rapid that it?s tough just keeping up.

Since 2003, Wheels? senior staff and contributors have met near the end of each year to examine the list of eligible models and then nominate the best of them to go forward into the tough, week-long COTY test program. There are always cars that everyone raises a hand for, and others that no-one is prepared to support. The in-between cars are a problem, often because little is known about them other than the contents of the press kit and the opinion of one of our overseas correspondents.

Last year, for the first time, we decided to take a closer look at those cars on the cusp of COTY nomination. This year we?ve done it again, only better.

Four eligible models were selected for testing late in the year; the Hyundai i30, Mini Cooper, Skoda Roomster and Volvo C30. There were eight individual cars (each model was represented by a pair of variants) for the two available COTY judges to assess.

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Nominated

Audi A5/S5
BMW M3
BMW X5
Ford Mondeo
Honda Civic Type R
Honda CR-V
Hyundai i30
Land Rover Freelander 2
Lexus LS
Mazda 2
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Mitsubishi Lancer
Nissan X-Trail
Skoda Roomster
Subaru Impreza
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Kluger
Volkswagen Eos
Nissan Dualis
Toyota Landcruiser 200 Series


Rejected

BMW 3 Series CC
Chrysler Sebring
Citro?n C4 Picasso
Dodge Avenger
Dodge Nitro
Ford Focus CC

Holden Epica
Nice price and better than expected refinement, but this Korean-made middleweight is utterly outclassed by medium-category A-graders.

Hummer H3
Technically outdated (it?s basically a Rodeo ute underneath), poorly packaged, high-priced and a dud on-road drive. Also offensively marketed, though this didn?t bear on the decision not to nominate.

Jeep Compass
Jeep Patriot
Mini Cooper
Peugeot 207
Peugeot 207 CC
Proton Satria
Skoda Octavia
Ssangyong Actyon
Suzuki SX4
Volvo C30

I agree rear leaf-springs are so 1980's, hell even JEEP went to a coil suspension.

I really hate to dog on the H3 but the leaf springs got to go.