10.04.2012



Volkswagen Up! awarded World Car of the Year 2012

At a press conference hosted by Bridgestone Corporation and the New York International AutoShow last Thursday, the Volkswagen Up! was declared the 2012 World Car of the Year.

Volkswagen Head of Design, Oliver Stefani, pictured with World Car Awards jurors and winning Up!

This is the third time that a Volkswagen has been declared the “World Car of the Year”. The Volkswagen Polo won the honour in 2010 and the Golf VI won the title in 2009 making it two consecutive years in a row.

The Volkswagen Up! was chosen from an initial entry list of 34 new vehicles from all over the world, then a short list of ten, then three finalists: the Volkswagen Up!, the BMW 3 Series and the Porsche 911.

“This award shows once again that in the up! our designers and engineers have created a vehicle that has been thought through in minute detail. A vehicle that sets standards in its class for efficient use of space, safety, motoring fun and environmental compatibility,” remarks Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG.

The World Car Awards jurors observed that, “The little Volkswagen up! has altered what we have come to expect from the city car segment. Of note are the responsive steering, sophisticated suspension setup, new efficient engines and the quality of materials and finish. Never before in this economy segment have owners felt so premium. Look for every builder of city cars to up its game just to compete with the new Volkswagen”.

To be eligible for the overall World Car award, the candidates must become available for sale on at least two continents during the period beginning January 1, 2011 and ending May 30, 2012.

2012 World Performance Car

The Porsche 911 was declared the 2012 World Performance Car.

The Porsche 911 was chosen from an initial entry list of nineteen (19) new cars from all over the world, then a short list of ten, then three finalists: the Porsche 911, the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4, and the McLaren MP4-12C.

This is the sixth out of seven times that Porsche has made it to the top three position in the World Performance Car category; this time round makes it Porsche's fourth consecutive time. The Porsche Cayman S had the honour of winning the inaugural award in 2006.

2012 World Car Design of the Year

The Range Rover Evoque was declared the 2012 World Car Design of the Year.

The World Car Design of the Year category, and the corresponding award, is meant to highlight new vehicles with innovation and style that push established boundaries.

Forty-six (46) candidates were eligible for the honour of being the 2012 World Car Design of the Year.

Those candidates may be on the overall World Car of the Year list, or may be included as a stand-alone entry provided the vehicle is introduced and available for sale in at least one major market during the period beginning January 1, 2011 and ending May 30th, 2012

2012 World Green Car

The Mercedes-Benz S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY was declared the 2012 World Green Car.

The Mercedes-Benz S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY was chosen from an initial entry list of twenty-three (23) new vehicles from all over the world, then a short list of ten, then three finalists: the Mercedes-Benz S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, the Ford Focus Electric, and the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid.

This is the second time in World Green Car history that a Mercedes-Benz technology has won this prestigious honour. The Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec technology was the 2007 World Green Car winner.

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