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“What Car? Awards 2012”: Eight 1st places for the Volkswagen Group

Volkswagen was awarded one of the most significant accolades in the automotive world for its new up!. In the "What Car? Car of the Year Awards 2012" competition, the up! city specialist was named "Car of the Year", meaning Volkswagen won the main overall awards category. The competition is held annually and is judged by the editorial team of the British automotive magazine "What Car?". This year, the jury of experts evaluated a total of 92 vehicles in 13 categories. For the Volkswagen Group, this evaluation led to a magnificent success, because together the Group brands Audi, SEAT and Volkswagen won seven out of 13 categories. Finally, the overall victor was chosen from winners of the individual categories - and, as noted, this year the up! from Volkswagen won. In 2011, the Audi A1 was crowned the "winner among winners"

In 2012, Audi took top competition honours in three categories: for the sixth time in a row, the Audi TT launched into 1st place in the "Coupé" category. Its convertible counterpart, the Audi TT Roadster, took first place in the "Open Top" category. Just like last year, the Audi A1 was named the top car in the "Supermini" category. The SEAT Alhambra appeared again in the "MPV" category; the Spanish people-carrier with its practical sliding doors also won this category in 2011. Volkswagen took first place in four categories. The overall winner, the up!, was also considered the best "City Car" in the estimation of the jury. Thanks to its five stars in EuroNCAP crash testing and optional City Emergency Braking function, the up! also won the "Safety Award". As in 2011 - and for the sixth time - the Golf won again in the class of "Small Family Cars".

Volkswagen was the most successful car brand at the "What Car? Awards" in 2012 and is now the most successful manufacturer ever in the 35 years of the awards: before the up!, four generations of the Golf (I, II, III and V) and the third generation Polo were overall winners. For British car drivers, the "What Car? Awards" rankings are traditionally an important decision-making criteria when buying a new car.