Volkswagen up! named World Car of the Year
German car-making giant continues its winning form in the WCOTY awards with its new baby carVolkswagen’s pint-sized up! has bagged the prestigious World Car of the Year gong, extending the German brand’s domination of the award in recent years (the Polo claimed the honours in 2010, while the Golf VI prevailed in 2009).
The up! was one of 34 new vehicles initially nominated for the WCOTY title, and this field was whittled down to 10 cars, and then down to just three (the other two being the new BMW 3 Series and Porsche 911).
In order to qualify for the awards, candidates had to be on sale in at least two continents between January 2011 and May 30, 2012.
The 64-member jury panel comprises motoring journalists from 25 countries around the world, each of whom was appointed on the basis of his or her expertise and credibility within the industry.
The overall consensus from the World Car Awards jurors was as follows: “The little Volkswagen up! has altered what we have come to expect from the citycar 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 citycars to up its game just to compete with the new VW.”
VW boss Dr Martin Winterkorn obviously endorsed these remarks, adding: “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.”
Porsche didn’t come away empty-handed as its new 991 Series 911 was named Performance Car of the Year, while the rakish Range Rover Evoque was voted Car Design of the Year. Meanwhile, the Mercedes-Benz S250 CDI BlueEfficiency picked up the World Green Car award
The VW up! is expected to generate healthy sales in Europe (where the puny-car segment has a strong following), but it remains to be seen how it fares in Australia when it launches here towards the end of the year, with an expected starting price around $15,000.
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