If you voted for this car, you're wrong

IT’S like seeing Jedward winning The X Factor.

That’s how I felt this morning when I found out that Volkswagen’s Polo, the imaginatively named replacement for the Polo, had won the coveted title of European Car of the Year 2010.

Naturally – and in keeping with the contest’s fine tradition – the wrong car won.

European Car of the Year is a stupid idea because what works in Germany or Norway doesn’t necessarily work on our roads, and because all too often the winner is granted to something which is boring and unworthy and usually French.

For every Ford Focus or Alfa Romeo 156 there’s a Talbot Horizon or Peugeot 307 that’s somehow wafted its way into the top spot, and the last time its 59-strong panel of judges let themselves go and voted for something soul-stirring was in 1977 (Porsche 928, in case you’re wondering).

Usually I don’t care but this year, the car that should have won lost by just a few points.

Autocar’s Steve Cropley, who led the UK’s judges this year, said:

“The Polo is a very complete, very refined car which delivers all the consistent qualities VW has become so well known for. However, given its unusual layout, controversial looks and premium price, the iQ did amazingly well.”

The IQ didn’t just do amazingly well, it should have won full stop, and taken its place alongside the Rover P6, NSU Ro80 and, er, Fiat Punto as an innovative piece of engineering that genuinely moves motoring forward.

Given that I’m right and 59 of Europe’s top motoring writers are wrong, I’ll be featuring my own Car of the Year award on this very site later this month.

And I promise John and Edward won’t win it.