By Sherrice Gilsbach of AutoWeekThe Volkswagen Golf was named World Car of the Year at the New York Auto Show on Thursday. The win is the second consecutive award for Volkswagen, which also won in 2012 with the Up!.
"We at Volkswagen are all delighted that the Golf has been named World Car of the Year," VW CEO Martin Winterkorn said. "To win this award again shows that the Golf is and remains in a class of its own all around the world. This car sets new benchmarks again and again, not least in terms of efficiency and environmental credentials."
Winterkorn added that the Golf will also be launched as a plug-in hybrid and as a full electric car in the near future.
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The Golf was one of 42 candidates for the award. The list was narrowed to four by a panel of 66 automotive journalists from around the globe before they cast their final votes.
Others in the top four were the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, the Porsche Boxster/Cayman and the combined entry of the Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86/GT 86.
To be eligible, a car must have been available for sale in at least two countries between Jan. 1, 2012, and May 30, 2013.
This was the ninth year the award was given.
Read: Volkswagen Golf updated for NY
