The new seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf was declared the 2013 World Car of the Year at the New York Auto Show, adding this global title to the European Car of the Year which it won earlier this month, writes Padraic Deane.
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 42 new vehicles from all over the world, then a short list of 10, and finally the four finalists: the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, the Porsche Boxster/Cayman, the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ, and the Volkswagen Golf.
Dr Martin Winterkorn, chairman of the board of management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, said: “We at Volkswagen are all delighted 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 per cent electric car.”
The World Car Awards jurors said: “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 every man, the Golf is it.”
Commenting on the award to the Advertiser, Paul Burke, operations director of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, said it was a credit to the work that had gone into the new Mark 7 Golf.
“This new Golf is a really superb car that has received incredible praise from critics and customers alike and this second major award for Golf is more than justified. We have been taken aback with the demand for the car on what is a challenging year for our market but it does show that many loyal customers see buying the Golf as a sound investment.”
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.
Vehicles are selected and voted on by an international jury panel comprising 66 top-level automotive journalists from 23 countries.
Over the coming months, Volkswagen Ireland says further models will be added to the Golf range. The Golf GTI and Golf GTD, two sportier versions, are being launched in the spring. From the middle of April customers will also be able to order the new, dynamic and spacious Golf estate.
Following this in the second half of the year comes the new Golf TDI BlueMotion, which sets new standards in terms of fuel consumption and environmental compatibility: just 3.2 litres per 100km and CO2 emissions of 85g/km are impressive figures in the compact class.
World Performance Car
This is also the second consecutive year Porsche has won the prestigious World Performance Car title and the third overall. The Porsche 911 won last year’s award and the Porsche Cayman won the inaugural World Performance Car award in 2006.
This year the Porsche Boxster/Cayman was chosen from an initial entry list of 20 cars to three finalists: the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, the Porsche Boxster/Cayman and the combined Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ.
The Tesla Model S was chosen from an initial entry list of 21 new vehicles to three finalists: the Tesla Model S, the Renault Zoe and the Volvo V60 plug-in hybrid, to win the World Green Car of the Year.
Finally, the Jaguar F-Type was deservingly declared the 2013 World Car Design of the Year.
