[Confused] How can they already name "Car of the Year 2015"?

[Zarmful]

How come that they are already finding the finalists for the Car of The Year 2015 price?

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/12/16/e...nalists-named/

http://www.caroftheyear.org/candidates/2015_1/coty

My research telles me, that the proces starts back at the 16th Dec 2014 and the winner will be picked a Geneve Motorshow the 2nd March. I do not get how the award can go to a car that has "has the prospect of at least 5,000 foreseeable annual sales" (one of the requirements for nomination) that has to be nominated back in 2014 and will be awarded only 3 months into 2015.

Can someone enlighten me?

[Masark]

Because they go by "model year", which starts in October, rather than calender year. December 16th is 2 and a half months into the model year.