The Volkswagen Golf 7 has been crowned European Car of the Year at the Geneva Motorshow.The Volkswagen Golf was the clear winner of Car of the Year 2013 award with 414 points, ahead of the Toyota GT-86 (Subaru BRZ), 202 points, and Volvo V40, with 189 points. Golf’s third generation also won the COTY trophy in 1992.
The compact Volkswagen is one of the all-time top sellers in the global market, and one of only two models to have twice won the COTY award. All seven generations of this model have been on the podium of Car of the Year spanning almost four decades, since the original Golf was runner-up in 1975.
The new Golf has been recognised 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 on the new MQB flexible platform of the 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.
On top of an updated ESP, there is an impressive array of active safety items, such as active braking to prevent an impact, 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 a range of body styles. 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.
The new Golf, which is on sale in Ireland priced from €19,995, was voted the top car from a list of eight finalists. The jury consisted of 58 journalists from 22 European countries. Michael McAleer from The Irish Times is the sole Irish juror for Car of the Year. McAleer in his voting notes commented: “From its clean iconic lines to the solid build quality inside and an array of engine options to suit all tastes, the latest Golf delivers a car of the year performance. That was recognised in the voting, with the VW a favourite with the vast majority of the 58 jury members from 22 countries. It was a very comprehensive victory and all the more impressive when you consider the quality of the other finalists this year. ”
Simon Elliott, CEO of Volkswagen Group Ireland commenting on the award said: “We are delighted that the Golf has once again claimed the top prize in motoring. This is as prestigious an award as any car can get and it is a credit to the quality and innovation of the car that it has received such high praise.”
The all-new seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf went on sale in Ireland before Christmas. It is lighter, safer, more advanced, more spacious, more efficient and better equipped than previous generations of Europe’s best-seller, of which over 29 million have been sold.
The new Golf has a staring price of €19,995 for the 3-door 1.2-litre 85bhp Trendline model.
The diesel line up starts at just €22,695 for the 105bhp 1.6-litre TDI model. The 1.6-litre TDI 105bhp engine has CO2 emissions of just 99g/km.
Making its motor show debut in production form alongside the new Volkswagen Golf GTI this week in Geneva is one of the world’s most fuel-efficient family cars: the new Golf BlueMotion. The latest Golf BlueMotion is a genuine five-seater, with all the Golf’s traditional attributes of comfort, safety and practicality, along with combined fuel consumption of 88.3 mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of just 85 g/km.
Some 20 years after the first Golf Estate made its debut, the all-new Golf Estate is making its first public appearance at the Geneva Motor Show.
The new Golf Estate, which like the Golf hatchback is based on the MQB platform, is up to 105 kg lighter than its predecessor, and for the first time will also be available as a full BlueMotion model, with combined fuel consumption of just 85.6 mpg (equivalent to 87 g/km of CO2).
Volkswagen has confirmed that its XL1 Super Efficient Vehicle, the most fuel-efficient production car in the world, with a fuel consumption value of 0.9 l/100 km (approx. 313 mpg) will go into production at the company’s Osnabrueck factory in Germany.
Thanks to its plug-in hybrid system, the two-seater can also cover a distance of up to 50 km in all-electric mode and therefore with zero local emissions.
Finally, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is showing a transporter concept vehicle: the e-Co-Motion.
Despite its large cargo capacity it is compact and manoeuvrable. Eight hundred kilograms of payload, yet zero emissions on the road thanks to an electric drive system.
