30 COTYs on show, Prius wins '09
Japan celebrates three decades of COTY; Toyota wins with PriusThis year's Tokyo motor show featured Japan's Car of the Year winners, including the very first car to take the prize for 1980-81, the Mazda Familia. The Familia was first produced in 1964 and was sold in Australia from the late '70s as the 323 model.
The little red hatch was joined by Mazda's other winners: the Atezza, or Mazda3 as we know it, the Capella (Mazda6) which was also sold as a Ford Telstar, and the MX-5 Roadster which received an award for being 'Most Fun'.
Toyota's Prius won this year's award; the second time the hybrid has taken top marks. The first generation Prius won the year it was released, in 1997.
The 30th COTY was announced live at the Tokyo motor show during the media day.
The Prius held out other eco-oriented cars such as Lexus' HS250h and Honda's Insight and Mitsubishi's iMiEV.
Also in contention for the 2009 award were the likes of VW Golf 6, Nissan with its Cube and new Zed car, new Honda Accord -- a previous winner -- and Mazda3.
According to the Japan Automobile Dealers Association, the Prius was Japan's best-selling car for the past five months, with record sales in September of 31,758 or over 10 per cent of all auto sales in Japan.
Toyota added a mid-size hybrid petrol-electric car, called Sai, to its lineup this week. The Sai will only be sold in Japan.
Japan Car of the Year winners
Year 1 Mazda Familia three-door hatchback
Year 2 Toyota Soarer
Year 3 Mazda Capella / Ford Telstar
Year 4 Honda Civic
Year 5 Toyota MR2
Year 6 Honda Accord
Year 7 Nissan Pulsar EXA
Year 8 Mitsubishi Galant
Year 9 Nissan Silvia
Year 10 Toyota Celsior
Year 11 Mitsubishi Diamante
Year 12 Toyota Pajero Special award
Year 13 Nissan March (Micra)
Year 14 Toyota Supra Special award
Year 15 Honda Odyssey Special award
Year 16 Honda Civic / Civic Ferio
Year 17 Mitsubishi Galant / Legnum
Year 18 Toyota Prius
Year 19 Mazda Altezza
Year 20 Honda S2000 Special award
Year 21 Subaru Impreza Special award
Year 22 Honda Fit (Jazz)
Year 23 Nissan Fairlady Z Most Fun award
Year 24 Subaru Legacy
Year 25 Honda Legend
Year 26 Mazda Roadster / Swift Most Fun award
Year 27 Lexus LS460
Year 28 Daihatsu Mira Best Value award
Year 29 Toyota iQ
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