The Chattanooga-made Volkswagen Passat is a finalist for the 2012 North American Car of the Year.
It will compete against the Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra for the annual award by a group of 50 auto journalists.
The finalists were unveiled Thursday at an Automotive Press Association luncheon in Detroit, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The judges selected the finalists from 17 new cars. The winner will be announced Jan. 9 at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
In November, the Passat was picked as Motor Trend magazine's car of the year.