Diesel-centric publication The Diesel Driver opens up their annual voting process for the 2014 Diesel Car of the Year and the 2014 Diesel Car Manufacturer of the Year.  Seven automakers, Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volkswagen, currently offer diesel passenger cars and SUVs in the U.S.  Since 2013, the number of contenders has increased from 12 to 23 models.

This year’s stellar field of nominees includes 13 newcomers to the market, including four from Audi, the A6 TDI, the A7 TDI, the A8 L TDI and the Q5 TDI; three from BMW, the 328d Sedan, the 328d Sports Wagon, and the 535d; one each from Chevrolet and Jeep, the Cruze Diesel and the Grand Cherokee ECODiesel; and two from Mercedes-Benz, the E250 BlueTec and GLK250 BlueTec.

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The other 10 contenders are the Audi Q7 TDI, BMW X5 xDrive35d, Mercedes-Benz ML350 BlueTec and GL350 BlueTec, Porsche Cayenne Diesel; and six from Volkswagen, the Beetle TDI and the Beetle Convertible TDI. the Golf TDI, the Jetta Sedan TDI, the Jetta Sportwagen TDI, the Passat TDI, and the Touareg TDI.

The winner of the 2013 Diesel Car of the Year was the Volkswagen Passat TDI, the BMW X5 xDrive35d won in 2012, and the BMW 335d was the 2011 winner.

Voting starts at noon on January 12 and ends at midnight on March 15, 2013. Head over to The Diesel Driver to cast your vote.