The new Volkswagen Golf has collected two prestigous motoring accolades in the recent past.
Hot on the heels of being voted the 2009 World Car of the Year, more excellent news has followed with the 1.4 litre TSI claiming the 2009 International Engine of the Year award, writes Padraic Deane.
Yes indeed, it's happy days for Volkswagen, which has received these timely global endorsements, marking a tremendous few weeks for the company.
The 1.4-litre TSI engine, in addition to being crowned overall International Engine of the Year, was also voted the Green Engine of the Year.
These awards are judged by 65 motoring journalists from 32 countries across four continents, including Padraic Deane who represents Ireland on both the World Car of the Year and International Engine of the Year juries.
Dean Slavnich, co-chairman of the International Engine of the Year Awards, said: “The international judging panel is hugely impressed by this Volkswagen engine. It’s a masterstroke of downsizing technology and a real engineering showcase. I have no doubt that this engine will become the template for a whole new generation of high efficiency, small capacity engines in the years to come.”
Volkswagen received the accolade for the first time in the company’s history with its diminutive yet powerful 1.4-litre TSI twincharger engine. The unit is offered across much of the Volkswagen model range, including the Golf, Scirocco, and Eos. The turbocharged and supercharged 1.4-litre also won the 1-litre to 1.4-litre category and was voted Green Engine of the Year. In the process, it beat both Toyota’s and Honda’s new electric-hybrid powerplants.
Commenting on the awards, Adam Chamberlain, head of sales and marketing, Volkswagen said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive such prestigious awards. Now, more than ever, we want to remind people of the high level of quality and value received when purchasing a Volkswagen and the range of global accolades for both the Golf and the Volkswagen engine is a huge boost to the brand in Ireland.
“Volkswagen’s TSI technology continues to lead the way with both the environment and the consumer feeling the benefits. The Volkswagen 1.4 TSI engine emits just 149g of CO2 and costs €302 per annum for road tax, making it an extremely competitive petrol engine.”
