VOLKSWAGEN GOLF DECLARED 2013 WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR

At a press conference hosted by the New York International Auto Show and Bridgestone Corporation, the Volkswagen Golf was declared the 2013 World Car of the Year.

Vehicles are selected and voted on by an international jury panel comprised of sixty-six (66) top-level automotive journalists from twenty-three (23) countries around the world, including Auto Arabia chief-editor Mohamed Sheta, who is representing Egypt, the UAE and the Middle East in this renowned award.

Each juror was appointed by the World Car Steering Committee on the basis of his or her expertise, experience, credibility, and influence. Each juror typically drives and evaluates new vehicles on a regular basis as part of their professional work. Through their respective outlets they collectively reach an audience of many millions world-wide.

This is the second consecutive year that Volkswagen has won the prestigious World Car of the Year title and the fourth time since 2009. The Volkswagen Up! won in 2012, the Volkswagen Polo in 2010, and the Volkswagen Golf VI in 2009.

The Volkswagen Golf was chosen from an initial entry list of forty-two new vehicles from all over the world, then a short list of ten, then four finalists: the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, the Porsche Boxster / Cayman, the combined entry Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ / Toyota 86 / GT 86, and the Volkswagen Golf.

Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, said: “We at Volkswagen are all delighted that the Golf has been named ‘World Car of the Year’. To win this award again shows that the Golf is and remains in a class of its own all around the world. This car sets new benchmarks again and again, not least in terms of efficiency and environmental credentials. Soon, for instance, the Golf will also be launched as a plug-in hybrid and as a 100% electric car.”

The World Car Awards jurors observed that, “Honed over seven generations since its original launch in 1974, the Volkswagen Golf is as close to the perfect hatchback design as any car company has come yet. Right sized, but spacious, practical and comfortable inside, the latest Golf has been brought up to date with a fresh if evolutionary design, a range of new engines, plus an impressive list of equipment and safety features. What’s more, it’s fun to drive. If ever there was a car for everyman, the Golf is it.”

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, 2012 and ending May 30, 2013.

Previous World Car of the Year winners were the Volkswagen Up! in 2012, the Nissan Leaf in 2011, the Volkswagen Polo in 2010, 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.

Now in their ninth year, the annual World Car awards have become one of the world’s most prestigious, credible and significant programs of its kind.

The awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as well as to recognize and reward automotive excellence on an international scale. The awards are intended to complement, not compete, with existing national and regional Car of the Year programs.

TS
New York - Cairo - Dubai
28.03.2013