The Passat and Jetta GLI scoop up more awards from the media
CHICAGO – Volkswagen unveiled the TDI® Clean Diesel version of the Beetle coupe at the Chicago Auto Show and also received more prestigious awards to add to the burgeoning crop on display at VW’s Herndon, Virginia, headquarters.
At the breakfast to kickoff the nation’s largest and longest-running auto show, the Midwest Automotive Media Association bestowed its second annual Family Vehicle of the Year Award on the 2012 Volkswagen Passat.
The Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA), a nonprofit group of automotive journalists and public relations professionals, developed the award to help consumers who are in the market for a family vehicle to make a wise buy. “Choosing a vehicle for your family is an important decision. It should be reliable, efficient, versatile, and reasonably priced. The MAMA membership pooled its collective knowledge and experience to pick the best family vehicle from a strong group of recent releases, and the Volkwagen Passat came out on top,” said award coordinator Kirk Bell.
At a ceremony later that day on the VW stand, John H. Davis—host, executive producer, and creator of MotorWeek, television’s original automotive magazine—gave the 2012 MotorWeek Drivers’ Choice Award for Best Sport Sedan to the Volkswagen Jetta GLI. MotorWeek says: “The Volkswagen Jetta won our Best Small Car award last year, and this year the Jetta returns, but with a new award, Best Sport Sedan. As much as we liked the Jetta last year, we love this new GLI even more.
Finally, VroomGirls.com, the first comprehensive automotive website created by and for women, gave two of its 2011 Vroomie Awards to Volkswagen—the only automaker to receive multiple accolades. The Passat was Family Sedan of the Year and the Eos was Convertible of the Year. VroomGirls.com said about the Passat: “Why does the family car have to be insipid and ordinary? VW says no thanks to that. We agree. Volkswagen puts contemporary, sophisticated city style in this very roomy and reasonably priced new Passat.”
