10 cars that are among the world's best

Image: A battery-powered Renault DeZir concept car is displayed during the first media day of the 81st Geneva International Motor Show at the Palexpo on March 1, 2011.
Photographs: Valentin Flauraud/Reuters CarDekho.com

The Geneva International Motor Show started with a bang and lifted the curtain on not just a number of new car models but also the top three finalists for the seventh edition of World Car of the Year, World Performance Car, World Green Car and World Car Design of the Year awards.

The winners for these categories will be announced at the upcoming New York International Auto Show on April 21, 2011.

Here is a little about who made it to the nominations under each category.

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10 cars that are among the world's best

Image: A staff member stands next to a new Audi A8 L W12 Quattro car during its world premiere ceremony at the Beijing Auto Show in Beijing April 23, 2010.
Photographs: Jason Lee/Reuters

World car of the year

The three finalists in this category include Audi A8, BMW 5 Series and Nissan LEAF.

The three models were selected from a total list of 39 contenders out of which 10 finalists were chosen and finally the three were handpicked.

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10 cars that are among the world's best

Image: BMW 5 series.
Photographs: Denis Balibouse/Reuters

A new BMW 5 series limousine is on display during the first media day of the 80th Geneva Car Show at the Palexpo in Geneva March 2, 2010.

10 cars that are among the world's best

Image: Nissan Leaf.
Photographs: Frank Polich/Reuters

A pre-production 2012 Nissan Leaf is displayed during the first media preview day at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show on February 9, 2011.

10 cars that are among the world's best

Image: The Ferrari 458 Italia is displayed during the press days for the North American Auto Show.
Photographs: Mark Blinch/Reuters

World Performance Car of the Year

This is the muscle category and the three most coveted names are among the finalists in this category - Ferrari 458 Italia, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and Porsche 911 Turbo.

To be the chosen one in this category, cars had to be true blue performers and showcase overt sports orientation.

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10 cars that are among the world's best

Image: Mercedes Benz SLS AMG.
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

Journalists gather around a Mercedes Benz SLS AMG on press preview day at the AMI Auto Show in Leipzig on April 9, 2010.

10 cars that are among the world's best

Image: Porsche 911 Turbo.
Photographs: Alex Grimm/Reuters

Tennis star Justine Henin of Belgium poses next to her Porsche 911 Turbo.

10 cars that are among the world's best

Image: German Chancellor Angela Merkel and BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer pass a BMW Efficient Dynamics 320d.
Photographs: Johannes Eisele/Reuters

World Green Car of the year

With green becoming the buzz word and carmakers getting geared up to usher in a green revolution in the auto industry this category becomes a really important one.

The top finalists in this category are: BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition, the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan LEAF.

These cars were chosen after an elaborate voting process including 66 green experts appointed by the World Car Steering Committee.

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10 cars that are among the world's best

Image: Chevrolet Volt.
Photographs: Mark Blinch/Reuters

A Chevrolet Volt is on display during the press days for the North American International Auto show in Detroit, Michigan on January 11, 2011.

10 cars that are among the world's best

Image: A model poses next to an Alfa Romeo Giulietta.
Photographs: Jacky Naegelen/Reuters

World Car Design of the year

Perhaps it is best to just mention the cars nominated in this category to give you an idea of what this category is all about. Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Aston Martin Rapide and Ferrari 458 Italia are the top three in this category and with nothing much left to be said it would be sufficient to mention that a design panel of five world design experts were asked to review each entry in the category and prepare a short-list.

A set of jurors voted on the entries in the short-list and chose the top three.

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10 cars that are among the world's best

Image: Jason Lee/Reuters

A model poses next to the Aston Martin's first production four-door sports car Rapide.

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