2012 World Car of the Year shortlist

These are the World Car of the Year 2012 nominees. WCOTY is the most international of all the annual awards - which means contenders must have maximum appeal right across the globe.

From the long list of over 30 new cars - which ranged from the affordable VW Up! city car to the sublime Lamborghini Aventador - the list has been whittled down to the 10 most significant. The winner will take over from 2011 World Car of the Year, the Nissan LEAF.

MSN's own contributor and WCOTY juror Peter Burgess gives his personal analysis of the final contenders. The winner will be revealed at the New York International Auto Show in early April.