Volkswagen Golf wins 2009 Wheels COTY

Wheels magazine announced today that the Volkswagen Golf VI has won their coveted Car of the Year award. Ged Bulmer, Wheels editor said, “The turbocharged, five-door hatch VW Golf range is outstanding. The Golf oozes sophistication, refinement and development—in an energetic package that comes with fundamentally good steering and balance.”

The local award rounds out a solid 2009 at the awards table for Volkswagen with the Golf claiming the World Car of the Year title, among a raft of Australian awards, as well. The new Polo was also awarded the 2010 European Car of the Year title.

The sixth generation model is the first Golf since the original Mk1 model in 1976 to win the Wheels gong. Volkswagen’s Golf edged out the Toyota Prius, Skoda Superb and Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan after judges cut the original 22-car field down to a final four.

UPDATE: Volkswagen’s PR machine is on the case and their press release can be viewed after the jump. Anke Koeckler, Volkswagen Group Australia managing director is naturally keen to promote the Golf as best-in-class, “The Golf’s selection as Wheels Car of the Year is the crowning achievement of an extraordinary year for the new Golf after already being named ‘Best Mid size car over $30,000’ by Australia’s Best Car Award and winning the 2009 Cars Guide Car of the Year and 2009 DRIVE Car of the Year awards.

“Winning the Wheels Car of the Year is proof the new Golf is at the pinnacle of automotive design and engineering yet is still attainable, a winning combination obviously.”

If you have a modicum of common sense you will have missed the live announcement on the abominable A Current Affair last night. The edited clip featuring just the Wheels COTY segment can now be seen at ninemsn video.

[Source: CarPoint]

Volkswagen’s Golf is the 2009 Wheels Car of the Year

Volkswagen’s Golf has been awarded the 2009 Wheels Car of the Year.

The multi-award winning Golf has outclassed a field of 22 cars to collect what is widely considered to be Australia’s most coveted award.

To have been selected for this award, the Golf had to impress eight judges over an extensive week of testing.

Wheels magazine editor, Ged Bulmer, said: “The turbo-charged, five-door hatch Volkswagen range is outstanding.

“The Golf oozes sophistication, refinement and development – in an energetic package that comes with fundamentally good steering and balance,” he said.

Veteran judge and former editor, Peter Robinson said, “The level of overall refinement is worthy of two classes higher … balance and weighting of all controls [are] BMW-like in their consistency and tactility. Ride and handling, best in class.”

Volkswagen last won the Wheels Car of the Year in 1976, also for the Golf. While two years earlier Volkswagen collected the award with the Passat.

Volkswagen Group Australia managing director, Anke Koeckler, said: “I am very pleased to have received such a prestigious award for the Golf.

“The Golf’s selection as Wheels Car of the Year is the crowning achievement of an extraordinary year for the new Golf after already being named ‘Best Mid size car over $30,000’ by Australia’s Best Car Award and winning the 2009 Cars Guide Car of the Year and 2009 DRIVE Car of the Year awards.

“Winning the Wheels Car of the Year is proof the new Golf is at the pinnacle of automotive design and engineering yet is still attainable, a winning combination obviously,” said Ms Koeckler.

Volkswagen launched the Golf in 1974, it was built in Australia until 1977 before being replaced with a fully imported model from Germany.

Now in its sixth generation, the Golf continues to hold universal appeal thanks to its original, unique and timeless design which creates a vehicle that is class-free.

The Golf, a perennial favourite in the Volkswagen line-up, has sold more than 26 million units in 120 countries, making it one of the top selling vehicles of all-time.