VOLKSWAGEN AT THE LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW

Published by Gerald Ferreira Date: November 17, 2011
Categories: Volkswagen, Volkswagen Awards, Volkswagen Car Shows

• US PASSAT NAMED MOTOR TREND 2012 CAR OF THE YEAR

Herndon, VA / Los Angeles, CA: Motor Trend, one of the world’s premier automotive authorities, today named the Volkswagen Passat the 2012 Motor Trend Car of the Year.

‘Chassis, steering, ride, and handling all are tastiest within this segment,’ said Motor Trend editor-in-chief, Angus MacKenzie. ‘It’s in this category the bigger Passat really demonstrates its engineering excellence.’

Along with German-engineered DNA, the Passat offers class-leading rear-seat legroom and standard Bluetooth® and automatic dual-zone climate control. The Passat is available with three powertrains and is the only midsize sedan with a clean diesel option in the line-up. When equipped with a manual transmission the TDI® Clean Diesel model is good for an EPA estimated 43 mpg on the highway and a range of 795 miles (US figures).

The 2012 Motor Trend Car of the Year award was presented to Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen of America, during a press conference at the 2011 LA Auto Show.

‘Volkswagen is extremely proud to receive this honour,’ said Browning. ‘This recognition from Motor Trend is a testament to the engineering integrity of the Passat and validates our strategy of providing a US-built, German engineered mid-size sedan at a price in the heart of the mid-size segment.’ To see Jonathan Browning’s full show speech.

On sale since September 2011, the Passat is built at Volkswagen’s state-of-the art factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee. (It is not on sale in Europe.)

• WORLD DEBUT OF NEW VOLKSWAGEN CC

This year’s Los Angeles Motor Show also saw the debut of the new CC which goes on sale in the UK in March 2012.

• US DEBUT OF BEETLE R CONCEPT

Also on show and causing a stir was the Beetle R Concept