2007 World Car of the Year Awards – New York Auto Show: “Choosing the World Car of the Year is no frivolous exercise. It is a serious responsibility, and it is treated as such.” Thus begins the explanation detailing how 44 real automotive journalists from around the globe select the winners in four World Car of the Year categories, inferring that every other award doled out in the eight months prior to April are determined by a bunch of goof-offs without proper credentials.

Really, these guys oughta lighten up. The World Car of the Year awards program, now in its third year, is a great idea, and while its timing places it near last on the list of the major awards to be announced, how the heck can you beat that title? Universe Car of the Year? For 2007, here are the finalists in each of the four categories:

2007 World Green Car of the Year: