Στο περιθώριο της έκθεσης της Γενεύης ανακοινώθηκε ο νικητής του Ευρωπαϊκού Αυτοκινήτου της Χρονιάς 2013 με το νέο Volkswagen Golf να κατακτά το βραβείο με 414 ψήφους, αφήνοντας πίσω τα Toyota GT86 / Subaru BRZ (202 ψήφοι) και Volvo V40 (189 ψήφοι).
Όσοι δεν γνωρίζουν τα διαδικαστικά του θεσμού, θα σου πω ότι σε αυτόν συμμετέχουν τα αυτοκίνητα που κυκλοφόρησαν τους τελευταίους 12 μήνες, είναι νέα προσθήκη και όχι νέα έκδοση, είναι διαθέσιμα σε τουλάχιστον πέντε ευρωπαϊκές χώρες και έχουν προβλεπόμενη ετήσια παραγωγή άνω των 5.000 μονάδων.
Πέρυσι νικητής είναι ανακηρυχθεί το Opel Ampera/Chevrolet Volt με την Volkswagen να ανακοινώνει ότι ήδη έχει πουλήσει περισσότερα από 150.000 Golf στην Ευρώπη.
[Πηγή: COTY]
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Car of the Year 2013: VW Golf does it again
The Volkswagen Golf has been the clear winner of Car of the Year 2013 award, with 414 points, ahead of Toyota GT-86 (Subaru BRZ), 202 points, and Volvo V40, with 189 points. Golf’s third generation also won CotY trophy in 1992.
The compact Volkswagen is one of the all-time top sellers in the global market, and the only model, together with Renault Clio, to have won twice the CotY award. All seven generations of this model have been in the podium of Car of the Year along almost four decades, since the position as runner-up of the original Golf in 1975.
The new Golf has been recognized by the Jury for its overall balance and the outstanding achievements in safety, fuel efficiency, dynamics and comfort. Almost familiar in looks, Golf VII is entirely new under the skin, with a lightweight structure based in the new MQB flexible platform of VW group for passenger vehicles with transversal powertrains. The nice-looking cabin, with a classic style and analogue instrumentation, is roomy and has materials of excellent feel which contribute to the perceived quality.
In top of an updated ESP, there is an impressive array of active safety items, such as active braking in prevention of an impact and also after an accident, driver fatigue detection, lane-keeping assistance or adaptive cruise control. The road behaviour, pleasant ride and aural comfort are also very reassuring. Launched as a 3/5 door hatchback, the new compact will be, as usual, deployed in every kind of body styles, with or without the Golf name. Engines will also increase in number, with a next power top of 230 hp for the GTI version and 184 for the GTD diesel. Among the launch engines, all of them fitted with stop&start systems, the 1.4 TSI may equip the ACT deactivation of two cylinders at low speeds for a better fuel economy.
TECHNICAL DATA
– Body: 3/5-door hatchback
– Size: 4.26 X 1.80 X 1.45 m. Wheelbase: 2.64 m.
– Transmission: Front/all wheel drive. Manual/automatic gearbox
– Petrol engines: 1.2TSI (85&105 hp), 1.4TSI (122&140 hp)
– Diesel engines: 1.6TDi (105 hp), 2.0TDi (150 hp)
– Maximum speed – 0-100 km/h acceleration:
Petrol engines: 179 to 212 km/h – 11.9 to 8.4 s.
Diesel engines: 192 to 216 km/h – 10.7 to 8.6 s.
Combined fuel consumption – CO2 emissions:
Petrol engines: 4.8 to 5.2 l/100 km – 112 to 116 g/km
Diesel engines: 3.8 to 4.4 l/100 km – 99 to 117 g/km
“Car of the Year 2013”: The new Golf is Europe’s car of the year
Volkswagen wins the most coveted European car award
The Golf VII is number one with European automotive journalists
More than 150,000 Golf vehicles already ordered throughout Europe
Wolfsburg/Geneva, 04 March 2013 – The new Golf is Europe’s “Car of the Year 2013.” The renowned international “Car of the Year” Award is deemed one of the most important barometers in the automotive industry. The winners were announced in the run-up to the Geneva Motor Show in the afternoon.
Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen AG, states: “That’s a superb result, and we are very proud of it. This most significant European award is the perfect final touch to the list of prizes we’ve already won. Over 29 million customers have made the Golf into the icon that it is. The Golf will continue this success story.”
The vote for “Car of the Year” is one of the oldest and most renowned in Europe. The best new cars have been given prizes annually since 1964. The panel of judges, consisting of 58 automotive journalists from 22 countries, had nominated eight candidates beforehand that would enter the final run. They were tested and compared and evaluated during the last few months under a broad range of criteria, such as fuel efficiency, comfort, safety, driving properties, functionality, design and technological progress. In the 50th round of the traditional competition, the new Golf came out on top before its seven competitors, garnering a total score of 414 in the final vote – the one in second place lagged behind with a score of 212 less. Two Volkswagen models have received the coveted prize before: the Golf in 1992 and the Polo in 2010.
The most successful car in Europe has been further perfected in its seventh generation. The new Golf scored high not only with its quality, comfort, low fuel consumption and emission values as well as its excellent drive properties but also in the most vital area of safety. The best example for it is the standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System that slows the vehicle down automatically after a bad accident so as to reduce the remaining kinetic energy, thus avoiding more subsequent collisions. Numerous safety and assist systems have been added, such as the standard electronic XDS differential lock, the preventive passenger protection system and the Lane Assist. Together, they offer a maximum of safety and comfort at an affordable price.
The top result in the “Car of the Year” competition was preceded by numerous awards at home and abroad: “Best cars of 2013,” “Auto Trophy 2012,” “Auto der Vernunft (Car of Reason)” and the British “Top Gear – All the car you’ll ever need” Award.
The Golf’s success story is exemplary. Whether as a classic Golf, Golf Cabriolet, Golf Variant or Golf Plus—it’s available on all five continents and in more than 120 countries. With nearly 30 million vehicles produced, the Golf has set new standards in the compact class in the last few decades. New technologies like ABS, the airbag and the electronic stabilisation programme were integrated and have decisively shaped automotive construction in the class named after it. The exterior and interior of the Golf are also leading the way: Like almost no other product, the Golf distinguishes itself by its unique product and design language, which is seen as timeless and classless to this very day.
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