(November 27, 2013) TOKYO — The Volkswagen Golf has been named "Car of the Year 2013/14" in Japan. The award is the first in the 34-year history a foreign car has beaten the local competition. Particularly impressive was the score awarded by the 60-member jury to the latest generation Golf, which has been available in Japan only since June 25.

The Golf won 504 out of a possible 600 points — a record for an imported car and a lead of 131 points over the second-placed vehicle and 337 points over the car in third.

"We are delighted that the Golf is the first imported car to win the main prize in the 34-year history of Car of the Year Japan. This a ward is dedicated to everyone who has supported Volkswagen in Japan over the past 60 years," said Shigeru Shoji, Volkswagen Group president in Japan.



Explaining its decision, the jury highlighted in particular the new Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) as a core strength of the Golf: the MQB formed the basis for precise handling with simultaneously high levels of ride comfort and driving pleasure, the jurors said. Further features to earn praise included the excellent standard of safety, the clear and clean design, the high-quality interior and exterior finish and the highly modern TSI engines.

The new Golf, which will become available in the U.S. early in 2014, is available in Japan in three versions: Trendline, Comfortline and Highline. Customers have the choice of two turbo-charged direct injection petrol engines: the 1.2 TSI and the 1.4 TSI with active cylinder management. In October, Volkswagen also extended the range with the addition of the new Golf GTI, featuring a 2.0 TSI engine that is impressing car buyers in Japan as well.

Since the launch of the new Golf on the Japanese market, over 13,000 vehicles have already been ordered — an indication of the brand's strong growth in general in Japan.

The overall "Car of Year 2103/14" victory of the Golf is the current high point in a long list of prestigious awards. First places in the "Car of the Year 2013" (Europe), the "World Car of the Year 2013" and the "Golden Steering Wheel 2013" stand out by virtue of their international significance and recognize the accomplished overall package offered by the Golf.

The high level of appreciation for the best-seller's sustainability characteristics is reflected in the "ACVmobil Umweltpreis" (ACVmobil Environmental Prize) and the "ADAC Eco Test" award.

The timelessly elegant design, on the other hand, was honored by the jurors of the German Design Council (Deutscher Rat für Formgebung).