At a press conference hosted by the New York International Auto Show, Bridgestone Corporation, and BASF SE at the Jacob Javits Centre in Manhattan, New York, the Volkswagen Polo was declared the 2010 World Car of the Year.
The Polo gained the final nod having competed with 30 entries put forward by a 59-juror panel from across the globe, including CAR magazine Deputy Editor Hannes Oosthuizen. The panel voted in a top ten shortlist in January of this year, with a further assessment of such criteria as merit, value, safety, environment, significance and emotional appeal the following month. The eventual winner was then chosen from results tabulated by international accounting firm KPMG. In winning the 2010 World Car of the Year title, the Polo overcame tough competition in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the Toyota Prius.
The World Car Awards jurors observed that, “Holding its own in the most competitive market segment, the all-new Polo MkV is one of VW’s star performers. Boasting best-in-segment packaging and handling, this supermini’s blend of classy looks, reliability and quality has meant it’s consistently been one the market’s best-sellers. Draped in head-turning stylish curves, the Polo is certainly one of the classiest small VWs ever built. It’s also safe; generating a maximum five-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating. Behind the wheel, the Polo demonstrates mature manners and boasts a superb driving position that’s adjustable and, in common with the latest Golf, all the controls are well weighted and precise. The Polo is just one brilliant supermini.”
“We’re honored that the Volkswagen Polo was chosen by this distinguished group of jurors as the 2010 World Car of The Year,” said Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG. “After the great triumph of the Golf last year, we are delighted to repeat this success with the new Polo. These automobiles have reaped numerous awards, winning well-nigh every prize the automotive industry has to award. This shows Volkswagen is on the right track and is offering arguably the best range of products in its history.”
The stylish muscle car packaging of the Chevrolet Camaro saw it take the honours for the 2010 World Car Design of the Year category. A panel of internationally-renowned automotive design experts augmented the 59-juror panel’s voting and observed that “The new Camaro leans on its heritage but does so in an artful, modern fashion, argue our design experts. “Although it borrows some of its styling cues from the first generation Camaro, they all contribute to a simple, pure and modern appearance. It is the most dynamic Camaro ever,” said Masatugu Arimoto, chairman of the Japan Auto Colour Award program. Sam Livingstone, an Associate Editor of Car Design News and Senior Tutor in Vehicle Design at the Royal College of Art appreciated the “innately seductive exterior and interior. It’s well resolved and I’d argue evidence that General Motors strikes a better balance than Ford and Chrysler do in their pony cars.”
The World Green Car of the Year award went to Volkswagen’s BlueMotion range of vehicles, which encompasses the BlueMotion variants of its Polo, Golf and Passat models. The expert panel appreciated the numerous fuel saving and pollution-reducing technologies, such as clean diesel powerplants and enhanced aerodynamics, that go to show that battery packs and electric motors are not the only manner in which green cars are successfully executed.