Volkswagen Up! Awarded 2012 World Car Of The Year
Volkswagen’s baby Up! city car has beaten some exotic favourites to be named the 2012 World Car of the Year.
Chosen by a panel of 66 journalists representing 25 countries, the Up! garnered a majority vote against the two other finalists; the
Volkswagen’s baby Up! city car has beaten some exotic favourites to be named the 2012 World Car of the Year.
Chosen by a panel of 66 journalists representing 25 countries, the Up! garnered a majority vote against the two other finalists; the new BMW 3 Series and Porsche's new 911.
The Up! scooped the win with the WCOTY award judges noting its responsive steering, sophisticated suspension, efficient engines and overall quality and finish.
Despite an overall length of just 3.54m, the panel judged the Up!'s cabin comfortable for four adults. Euro NCAP has also awarded the Up! an ‘Advanced Award’ for its city emergency braking system.
The WCOTY trophy is not the first award for the Up!, which has already collected the ‘iF design award in Gold’, ‘2011 Goldene Lenkrad’ (Golden Steering Wheel) in Germany.
Volkswagen last won the WCOTY gong with the Golf VI in 2009, and the Polo V in 2010. Halting VW's run at the dream trifecta in 2011 however was Nissan's electric Leaf hatch.
Australia
The Up! is expected to grace Australian showrooms by the end of the year.
With an expected entry price around $15,000, the Up! will take on the likes of the Suzuki Alto, Holden Barina Spark, and Nissan Micra.