Reuters / November 14, 2005

PARIS -- The new version of the Renault Clio has won the European Car of the Year Award for 2006, in a neck-and-neck race with the Volkswagen Passat, the Car of the Year organization said on Monday.

The compact model was selected out of a second round of seven cars by a jury of 58 international automotive journalists, and garnered 256 votes against 251 for the Passat.

"Jury members have praised the new Clio especially for its quality, safety, comfort and space," the organization said, adding that the Clio was the first car to win the prize twice.

The Clio III was launched late 2005, while the first Clio won the award in 1991. Renault has already won five times in the prize's 43-year history, the last was the Megane, three years ago, which went on to become Europe's best selling car.

The Clio won over the Alfa Romeo 159, BMW 3 series, the joint-platform model Citroen C1/Peugeot 107/Toyota Aygo, the Mazda 5, Toyota Yaris and the Volkswagen Passat.

Last year's winner was the Toyota Prius hybrid car.

The European car market is very sluggish, with French October car sales down 5.8 percent in the biggest decline for six years. Renault hopes the Clio will boost fourth quarter sales after a disappointing third quarter.

The Clio III is made in France while the Clio II, renamed Campus, will continue to be produced in Slovenia.