THE Volkswagen Polo has been voted 2010 World Car of the Year.
And in a triple scoop for the Volkswagen Audi Group, the BlueMotion product brand took the World Green Car title and the Audi R8 V10 won the Performance Car category.
With 59 of the top automotive journalists worldwide judging, the Polo beat 29 other nominees based on merit, value, safety, environmental impact, significance and emotional appeal.
Volkswagen chairman Prof Martin Winterkorn said: “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 that Volkswagen is on the right track and is offering arguably the best range of products in its history."
The new Volkswagen Polo has quickly become a major success with more than 230,000 customers placing orders for the latest version of the supermini.
In a separate award, VW's low emission BlueMotion brand consisting of the Golf, Passat, and Polo, was declared the 2010 World Green Car of the Year by the World Car of The Year organisation.
The 59 member jury chose BlueMotion over two other finalists - the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius.
According to jurors: “It is not necessary to add an electric motor and a heavy battery pack to achieve class-leading efficiency.
“Based on Volkswagen's common rail diesel engines, the BlueMotion models are among the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the market. In fact, the Passat BlueMotion can travel just about 1,000 miles on one tank of fuel in the European cycle. As far as internal combustion engines go today, these models are the ultimate you can get.”
The Performance Car title went to the V10-powered Audi R8, the second time that the fiery model has landed this award as the V8-powered version was successful in 2008.
Judges observed that: “Audi has at long last satisfied our hunger for a street car that lives up to the excitement of the original Le Mans series-dominating R8 LMP1 race car.”
The Audi R8 V10 is powered by a 5.2 litre direct injection ten-cylinder engine which develops 525PS, enabling it to sprint from zero to 62mph in just 3.9 seconds and then to a top speed of 196mph.
It features technologies like quattro permanent all-wheel drive, a lightweight aluminium body and innovative all-LED lights.
The final category, for World Car Design of the Year, went to the Chevrolet Camaro, the experts saying: “The new Camaro leans on its heritage but does so in an artful, modern fashion.
“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.”