Seat has won the ''Golden Steering Wheel' for the new Ibiza in the small car category of one of Germany's most prestigious awards. The Ibiza was judged overall winner in the category by a panel made up of technicians and drivers, as well as staff members and the readership of the "Bild am Sonntag" magazine.
During the award ceremony, Seat Vice president for Research and Development Frank Bekemeier said 'The 'Golden Steering Wheel' awarded to the Ibiza is a great honour for the whole team that developed this car, and I would like to express our thanks to the jury and the thousands of "Bild am Sonntag" readers who took part in the voting. The new Ibiza, a sporty vehicle with outstanding quality, sets new standards for the Seat brand."
This is the second time that Seat has received this significant distinction after the Arosa was awarded the 'Golden Steering Wheel' in 1997.
A total of nine vehicles were chosen within the small car category, of which five made it to the grand final thanks to the votes received from the "Bild am Sonntag" readers. During the test-driving, the drivers checked engine performance and roadholding, while celebrity drivers evaluated the cars' design, comfort and handling. Finally, the panel's technical staff was in charge of evaluating the cars' safety aspects, reduced emissions levels and cost-effectiveness. The intense testing took place on the Balocco (Italy ) test track last October.
