We predict this'll be a hard fought one... Despite a lot of doom and despair in the industry there have been some cracking cars unleashed in 2012 and picking just five for a shortlist was a difficult task and one that'll surely spark further debate. But here's our shortlist, as submitted by members of the PH team. Who deserves the overall gong? That's up to you...
Toyota GT86/Subaru
A predictable choice? Of course. Debate will continue to rage about pricing and whether or not it's fast enough. But the Toyobaru marks a hugely important moment in the development of the kind of cars we like. Raised on a diet of ever increasing horsepower and grip someone had to bite the bullet, guide us back to basics and revive something many modern cars have forgotten - fun. And who'd have thought it'd be Toyota, the same Toyota that builds the Prius, leading the charge, with a little help from Subaru. You know the rest. But is it the car of the year? Over to you... (Dan)
Ford Focus ST
Where so many hot hatches these days strive to be leaner, faster, and firmer the ST is different. It doesn't take itself so seriously; it feels as though it wants to have a bit of a laugh, rather than to set the fastest time round the 'ring. And yet, it remains comfortable, well-equipped, usable and practical. A car that your family won't hate to be in on any less than a mirror-finish road surface. In short, it stays true to the characteristics that made the hot hatch so popular in the first place. And at its price, it also happens to be one of the performance bargains of the year. (Alex)
Lotus Exige S
Just how long can Lotus go on building Lotuses? We love 'em of course. But is there still a market for cars like the Exige S? We sincerely hope so because even in the midst of some pretty desperate times the guys at Hethel have scrabbled around in the parts bin, come up with some nifty tech in the shape of the world's most driver-focused stability control system and used it to bind its fastest product (Evora S) and oldest (Elise) into one of the most satisfying performance cars of recent years. As parts bin exercises go it's pretty spectacular and exactly the kind of no-nonsense sports car any red-blooded PHer should aspire to own. (Dan)
Porsche Boxster
That something from Stuttgart would make this list is inevitable. But as the 911 quietly sneaks from vaguely attainable status to six-figure junior supercar (go on, just get on the configurator and see how easy it is...) the mantle of the Porsche we can all dream of looks to have been passed down to the Boxster. So what if R&D chief Wolfgang Hatz reckons it's a bit 'female' compared with the 911. That'll always be the icon but for open air thrills, reassuring quality and the very best of Porsche driving fun the Boxster has evolved and grown up without getting too sensible or polished. Get the base one with a six-speed manual and you're sorted. (Dan)
BMW M135i
The easiest pick in a decade for me: over 300hp, rear-wheel drive and BMW quality for under £30K. People who dribble on about it 'actually being £38K with extras' need to smell the coffee - this is the way forward. I don't know about you but the list of attributes above, albeit perching your backside on cloth seats, all for Golf GTi money makes for a compelling reason to purchase. The RS3 looked silly before the M135i was announced, it looks ridiculous now. (Chris)
PH awards 2012 categories: