i10, Octavia competing for the 'World Car of the Year' award

Every year, automotive journalists from all over the globe select the best cars in the world.

The panel gives awards in four categories, which include World Car of the Year, World Performance Car, World Car Design of the Year and World Green Car.

Last year, there were a total 66 jurors from all over the world. And it included four journalists from India - Renuka Kirpalani, Siddharth Vinayak, Patankar, Yogendra Pratrap and Hormazd Sorabjee.

Let’s look at the candidates that are competing for World Car of the Year award 2014.

Hyundai i10

The car was launched to replace Hyundai Atos worldwide and in India it replaced Santro. It has been in production since 2007.

It is one of the few cars that had its world premiere in India and was later launched for the world markets.

In Europe, i10 has four different versions: Classic, Style, Comfort and Eco Blue.

Hyundai is already working on an all-new i10, which will start selling in 2014.

Click NEXT to see other candidates…

BMW 4 Series

The car is 2-door version of BMW’s popular 3 Series. The two are similar if you see under the hood. Reviewers have been raving about this beautiful designed car.

As of now, 4 Series is offered as a coupe. BMW, however, is expected to launch a 4 Series convertible next year.

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BMW i3

Part of BMW’s ‘Project i’, this is a 5-door electric sedan. BMW i3 is the company’s first zero emission mass-produced electric vehicle.

The i3 features four doors and seating for four occupants with dimensions being larger than the BMW 1 Series but smaller than the BMW 3 Series.

To achieve lightweight, most of the car’s internal structure and body is made of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic.

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BMW X5

This luxury SUV made its debut in 1999. BMW brands it as Sports Activity Vehicle. Currently, the SUV is in its second generation and the all-new X5 will start selling in November 2013.

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Citroen C4 Picasso

Citroen C4 Picasso is a compact multi-utility vehicle that can seat five passengers. The manufacturer also sells a seven-seater called as Grand C4 Picasso. The car debuted in 2006.

The second generation C4 Picasso was unveiled in March 2013 at the Geneva Motor Show. Reviewers were impressed with the large five-metre squared space inside the vehicle.

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Ford Kuga

This compact SUV debuted in 2008. It is offered in front-wheel drive as well as four-wheel drive.

Other than European countries, the vehicle is available in Argentina, Japan, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia.

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Infiniti Q50

Infiniti Q50 is a compact executive sedan manufactured by Nissan’s brand Infiniti. The car, which debuted in Detroit Auto Show, replaces Infiniti G.

It comes with world’s first technology that keeps the car in its lane using fleet of cameras. The technology is called as Active Lane Control system.

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Jaguar F-Type

Jaguar F-Type is a two-seat sports car that comes with a convertible roof. It was launched in the Paris Motor Show in 2012.

The manufacturer is expected to launch a coupe version of F-Type in 2014.

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Kia Carens

The car is a compact multi-purpose vehicle sold by the Korean manufacturer since 1999. Carens is now in its fourth generation.

In North America and Australia, the car is called the Rondo and Rondo7 respectively.

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Lexus IS

This entry-level luxury car has been in the market since 1998. The IS was introduced as an entry-level sport model. It was originally sold as Toyota Altezza in Japan.

The all-new IS was introduced in January 2013 in Detroit Auto Show and it hit the road in June. Lexus also had a hybrid variant of the car, called IS 300h, and sport variant called IS F Sports.

The name IS stands for Intelligent Sport.

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Maserati Ghibli

The production of old Ghibli (called as Ghibli II) was stopped in 1997. Fiat decided to revive the brand.

The car is slotted below the Maserati Quattroporte and sold as a a premium luxury E-segment sedan that competes against high-end versions of the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard on all engines.

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Mazda3

The compact car debuted in 2004 is now in its third generation. The car was revealed in Australia in June 2013.

Mazda offers the car in two engine option combined with a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. The manufacturer also plans to offer a sedan variant of the car.

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Mercedes-Benz CLA

The compact luxury sedan made its debut in the Detroit Auto Show in January 2013. Mercedes will sell many variants of this car including CLA 180, CLA 180 BlueEFFICIENCY Edition, CLA 200, CLA 250, and CLA 220 CDI.

CLA is the most aerodynamic production vehicle on sale, the title held by Tesla Model S.

The CLA-Class is the most affordable Mercedes-Benz vehicle offered for sale in the United States.

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Mercedes-Benz S-Class

First introduced in 1972, S-Class has served as the flagship model of Mercedes-Benz for over 50 years in its various incarnations. S-Class is world’s best selling luxury sedan.

Officially unveiled in May 2013, the newest S-Class has more of a streamlined look to it than the outgoing model.

Mercedes’ innovations are first seen on S-Class and then used in other models.

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Mitsubishi Space Star

Space Star was a multi-purpose vehicle that was sold from 1998 to 2005. In 2013, Mitsubishi started selling its Mirage model under the Space Star brand in Europe.

In its new avatar it is a supermini car, in five-door hatchback body style, powered by a three-cylinder petrol engine.

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Nissan Note

The Japanese manufacturer has been selling Note since 2004. The second generation Nissan Note hatch started selling in Europe in summer 2013 and has three engine options.

It is also sold as Nissan Versa Note in the US, as a replacement of the outgoing Nissan Versa hatchback.

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Opel/Vauxhall Cascada

This is a soft-top convertible from Opel, which is also sold as Vauxhall Cascada in the United Kingdom, and as Opel Cabrio in Spain.

It comes with a new turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder Medium Gasoline Engine, which reduces fuel consumption and gives better power output.

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Peugeot's 2008

This mini crossover vehicle came as a replacement for Peugeot 207 SW. It is available with a five-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed manual.

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Peugeot 308

This small family car is in its second generation. It was launched in 2007 as a replacement to Peugeot 307. One of its earlier variants 308 HDi holds the Guinness world record of the most fuel-efficient mainstream car having averaged 3.13 litres per 100 kilometres.

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Porsche Cayman

The Porsche Cayman is a rear mid-engined, rear wheel drive 2-seat sports car. It was first launched in the year 2006 and was based on Boxster roadster.

The second generation Cayman is available in both standard Cayman form with a 2.7L engine, and also in Cayman S form with a 325hp 3.4L engine.

The new model features significant upgrade including an entirely new body, a longer wheelbase, and a wider front track.

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Range Rover Sport

The first generation of this luxury SUV was produced in 2005. The new Range Rover Sports borrows styling from Evoque. It comes with 3.0L V6 and 5.0L V8 engines in petrol and has also has a 3.0L V6 diesel engine option.

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Renault Captur

This mini crossover is based on Renault’s successful car Clio. The 5-door SUV comes with two petrol engines and one diesel engine options.

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Renault ZOE

Renault Zoe is a five-door supermini electric car that delivers a range of 210 km under the NEDC cycle.

The Zoe has been the top selling all-electric car in France during the first five months of 2013.

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SEAT Leon

This small family sports hatchback has been in production since 1998. The third generation of the Leon is based on the Volkswagen Group's latest MQB platform.

Compared to the previous generations, the new Leon is in roomier, with good amount of shoulder room and leg space.

It features new list of equipments such as airbag for the knees, multi-collision braking system, and lane keeping assistant.

Since its launch in 1999, more than 1 million SEAT León cars have been produced and sold in its three generations.

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SKODA Octavia

The Skoda Octavia started selling as a small family in 1996. The third generation Octavia was revealed in December 2012.

The new model is 4-inch longer and 2-inch wider than the second-generation one. The interior has an 8-inch touch-screen display and an electric panoramic roof.

The boot is class leading with 590 litres, which is larger than Volkswagen Passat.

The recently launched Octavia in India has seven variants with three engine options.

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Subaru Forester

Subaru started selling the mini SUV in 1997 in Japan and it has grown in size since then. The car is in its fourth generation now. The changes in the fourth generation car include revised sport-oriented suspension, increased fuel economy, increased interior volume, marginally bigger size and increase in the rear cargo volume.

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Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S is a full-sized electric four-door hatchback. It has the greatest range among all electric cars available in the market right now.

The car has already won many awards since its launch. These include 2013 World Green Car of the Year, 2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year, Automobile Magazine's 2013 Car of the Year, Time Magazine Best 25 Inventions of the Year 2012.

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Toyota Auris

The hatchback, which shares its platform with Corolla, made its debut in 2006. The Auris is also called the Toyota Blade in Japan. In Europe, the car replaced Corolla hatchback. In some markets, Australia for example, it is still sold as Toyota hatch.

The car is in its second generation and features a wider and lower stance with more luxurious interiors.

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Toyota Corolla

Introduced in 1966, Corolla is the best selling car in the world year after year. In 1997, the Corolla became the best selling nameplate in the world, surpassing the Volkswagen Beetle. Toyota has sold over 40 million Corollas over eleven generations.

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Toyota RAV4

Toyota started selling this SUV since 1994 in Japan and from 1996 in North America. It was the first crossover designed for customers who wanted more interior space and higher visibility of SUV and fuel economy of a compact car.

The car is now in its fourth generation.

The latest RAV4 is offered in four engines choices - 2.0L and 2.5L four-cylinder petrol, and 2.0L and 2.2L litre turbodiesels in the US.