Dubai: Volkswagen's Golf GTi has been named Car of the Year by Wheels magazine, a sister publication of Gulf News and free to Gulf News subscribers.
Writers on Wheels also named the vehicle the Best Hot Hatch of 2009 after spending the last 12 months test driving some of the hottest and fastest cars on the planet.
The Golf GTi, which goes from zero to 100km/h in less than seven seconds, clinched the coveted title because "it is the attainable motoring nirvana". The wheels reporting team fell in love with the car and agreed it was the most affordable at Dh116,000.
It was a good year all round for Volkswagen as the manufacturer's Passat CC also emerged victorious in the Best Saloon category. The coupe was selected because it "proved a practical family saloon need not necessarily be drab".
Stefan Mecha, Managing Director of Volkswagen Middle East, said: "We are delighted that two Volkswagen models have been awarded with a total of three awards from such a respected magazine as wheels. The Passat CC is a true recognition of style combined with dynamism and performance. The interior of the Passat CC offers all the comfort and space needed, while at the same time its sporty and dynamic performance will amaze you.
"Our other winner is the mind-blowing Golf GTi. Since the launch of the first GTi in 1976, this car has managed to sweep the board and win award after award. The GTi also has a great following in the Middle East region where it has attracted many car enthusiasts who are looking for the ultimate hot hatch. It has simple yet great design, powerful performance, excellent road handling, exceptional comfort and a top-quality interior; all obviously combined with innovative technologies and safety systems."
The other big winner this year was BMW with the 750Li, the Z4 and the X5 M named the Best Executive Saloon, the Best Roadster and the Best Premium SUV respectively.
Phil Horton, Managing Director of BMW Group Middle East, said: "Receiving three awards from a respected automotive publication such as wheels is testament to BMW's excellence in design, innovation and performance. All three winning models — the BMW 7 Series, Z4 and X5 M — are dynamic cars in their respective categories so it is great to see them receive this recognition, particularly for our flagship 7 Series model which was not only our best-selling car in 2009 but the best selling premium car in the entire Middle East."
The criteria for entry into this year's competition was two-fold — each car had to be launched and put on sale to the general public in 2009 and they all had to have been test driven by a wheels reporter over the course of the year.
Certain categories were also separated into different price brackets. For example, there are four separate categories for saloons based on varying levels of affordability.
One of the winning saloons was Audi's RS6, which enjoyed success in the Best Sports Saloon category after beating off stiff competition from the Jaguar XFR and the Cadillac CTS-V following test drives on the UAE's Jebel Hafeet mountain in Al Ain.
Jeff Mannering, Managing Director of Audi Middle East, said: "We work hard to create great cars, but it is the consumers and the media that make them winners. We are therefore very proud of wheels awarding the title of Best Sports Saloon 2009 to our RS6. It demonstrates how a great car can unify many desires; in this case extreme sportiness with every day usability and spaciousness."
The muscle car also made a sensational comeback in 2009 with the long-awaited arrival of the Chevrolet Camaro SS. A thoroughly modern take on the classic original, the Camaro SS boasts a Corvette-derived engine with 426bhp and retro gauge design.
Fadi Ghosn, Chief Marketing Officer of General Motors Middle East, said: "When it comes to returning legends in the automotive world, the Chevrolet Camaro SS stands up as one of the greatest.
"With a design almost mirroring the original concept and paying homage to the first generation model, the 2010 Camaro SS acknowledges its heritage with impressive power under the gas pedal from its 6.2-litre V8 engine and nimble and responsive handling to its state of the art four-wheel independent suspension system."
Aston Martin's V12 Vantage comfortably won the Best Supercar award with reporters scrambling over themselves to grab the crystal key that ignites the vehicle's "wonderful six litre engine".
Marek Reichman, Director of Design at Aston Martin, said: "The V12 Vantage is Aston Martin's most exhilarating sports car and has been designed with pure driving enjoyment in mind. We are honoured to receive this award from such a well-respected and established publication, which is a tribute to this car's ability."
Among the other winners was the Ford Fiesta, which was named the Best Supermini of 2009. Reporters described it as "small in size but big on features and fun".
Theo Benson, Marketing and Product Manager of Ford Middle East said: "We are thrilled about the Fiesta winning the Best Supermini title. The fact is the Fiesta is simply an awesome car. It has hit the right mark with customers around the world from Europe to North America and the Middle East; selling a record 500,000 units in its first year of production."
Amit Benjamin, Editor of wheels, said: "We are absolutely thrilled with the response the inaugural wheels awards have received from various manufacturers."
Winners list
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