The Lithuanian Journalists’ Autoklubas (LŽA), which organizes the competition 28 times, calculates that since 1998, 794 different models have participated in the “Car of the Year” elections. The most applicants were in 2016 – 38.
“Compared to last year’s elections, we have two more candidates. It would seem like a small difference, but more is more and this dynamic very well illustrates the situation in the entire automotive industry – two steps forward, one step back. The big brands are floundering and looking around, while new, ambitious developers and Chinese manufacturers who have made huge strides take advantage of the situation.
The list of applicants quite accurately reflects the pause in the growth of the market share of electric cars – dealerships submitted 11 models of electric cars to the competition. A year ago, I would have predicted that electric cars would make up at least half of the candidate list this year. Be that as it may, the competition committee is looking forward to testing all the applicants and choosing the best of this year,” said LŽA president Valdas Valiukevičius.
The competition will officially start on October 29 at VILNIUS TECH University, where the “Plug-In” conference will be held.
After reviewing the macroeconomic situation and the perspectives of the electric car market together with authoritative experts, the candidate tests will begin in real conditions. All contestants will receive Continental winter tires to ensure the testing conditions are exactly the same.
Commission members and experts in individual fields will separately test electric cars, intensive driving tests will take place at the autodrome of Vilnius Automechanics and Business School, and candidates for special nominations will be examined at the Lithuanian Sports Center complex “Druskininkai”. On November 29, the winners will be announced at VILNIUS TECH.
The car of the year will be three contenders competing in classes up to 40,000, 60,000 euros and more than 60,000 euros. euros. Electric car of the Year, Autoplius Innovation of the Year, Bitės Internet Car of the Year, Transeksta Safest Car of the Year, Balcia 4×4, Sportiest of the Year, Steering Wheel of the Year and People’s Car of the Year will also be selected, which will be chosen by readers of the tv3.lt portal.
All “Car of the Year 2025” candidates (in alphabetical order, electric cars are marked with letters EV):
- Alfa Romeo Junior
- Audi Q6 e-tron (EV)
- Audi Q7
- Cupra Formentor
- Cupra Tavascan (EV)
- Cupra Terramar
- Dacia Duster
- Ford Explorer (EV)
- Ford Plague
- GWM WEY 05
- Hyundai Santa Fe
- Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Land Cruiser
- Lexus LBX
- Lexus RZ 450e (EV)
- Mazda CX-80
- Mercedes-Benz EQB (EV)
- Mercedes-Benz EQA (EV)
- Nissan Qashqai
- Peugeot E-308 (EV)
- Peugeot 5008
- Porsche Macan Turbo EV (EV)
- Renault Scenic E-Tech Electric (EV)
- Škoda Kodiak
- Škoda Superb
- Toyota Camry
- Toyota C-HR
- Toyota GR Yaris
- Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer (EV)
- Volkswagen Passat
- Volkswagen Tiguan eHybrid
- Volvo EX30 (EV)
30 applicants competed in last year’s competition. Winner in the class up to 40 thousand. “Nissan X-Trail” became the euro, in the class up to 60 thousand. EUR – Toyota Prius, and in the class over 60 thousand. Mercedes-Benz E class triumphed.
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