The event will see the winners named for the 2014 World Car of the Year, World Luxury Car, World Performance Car, World Green Car and World Car Design of the Year.

Prior to the ceremony in New York, the top three finalists in all award categories will be announced at the Geneva International Motor Show on Tuesday 4th March 2014.

The 2014 World Car of the Year will be selected from the following finalists: Audi A3, BMW 4 Series, 
BMW i3, 
Cadillac CTS, 
Citroen C4 Picasso, 
Ford Fusion / Mondeo, 
Infiniti Q50, 
Jeep Cherokee, 
Lexus IS, 
Mazda3, 
Peugeot 308 and
Skoda Octavia.

Previous World Car of the Year winners were the Volkswagen Golf in 2013, the Volkswagen up! in 2012, the Nissan LEAF in 2011, the Volkswagen Polo in 2010, the Volkswagen Golf in 2009, the Mazda2 / Mazda Demio in 2008, the Lexus LS460 in 2007, the BMW 3-Series in 2006, and the Audi A6 in 2005.

Making its inaugural appearance, the World Luxury Car will be chosen from: Bentley Flying Spur, 
BMW X5, 
Cadillac ELR, 
Cadillac Escalade, 
Maserati Ghibli, 
Maserati Quattroporte, 
Mercedes-Benz S-Class, 
Porsche Macan, 
Range Rover Sport, 
Rolls-Royce Wraith.

The 2014 World Performance Car award comprises the following finalists: Alfa Romeo 4C, 
Audi RS 6 Avant, 
BMW M6 Gran Coupe, 
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, 
Ferrari 458 Speciale, 
Ford Fiesta ST, 
Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster, 
Mercedes-Benz A/CLA45 AMG, 
Porsche 911 GT3, 
Porsche 911 Turbo and the
Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Previous World Performance Car winners were the Porsche Boxster/Cayman in 2013, the Porsche 911 in 2012, the Ferrari 458 Italia in 2011, the Audi R8 V10 in 2010, the Nissan GT-R in 2009, the Audi R8 in 2008, the Audi RS4 in 2007 and the Porsche Cayman S in 2006.

The list of finalists for the 2014 World Green Car category, which uses a different process for selection, comprises: Audi A3 Sportback e-tron (+ Audi e-gas), 
BMW i3, 
Honda Accord Hybrid, 
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and the
Volkswagen XL1.

Lastly, the finalists for the 2014 World Car Design of the Year are: BMW i3, 
Cadillac CTS, 
Citroen C4 Picasso, 
Mazda3, 
Lexus IS, 
Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the
Volkswagen XL1.