Struggling Fiat Auto has been given a boost with the announcement that its new Panda city car has beaten one of the toughest group of competitors ever seen in the 40 year history of the European Car of the Year to take the 2004 title.
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The new small car was examined by 58 jury members from 22 countries who gave it 281 votes, ahead of the Mazda 3 (241 votes), the new Volkswagen Golf (241), the Toyota Avensis (219), the GM Meriva (213) the new BMW 5 series (144) and the new Nissan Micra (111). As well as gaining the most votes, 55 of the 58 judges included the Panda in their finalists and 16 put it at the top of their list.
The European Car of the Year award is presented to the model that has moved forward car design the most on the basis of design, comfort, safety, fuel economy, driveability, performance, practicality, respect for the environment, price and value for money.
During the 40 years the award has been presented, Fiat has won eight times, more than any other car maker.
