AUTOMOBILE Magazine Names Volkswagen GTI Automobile of the Year

AUTOMOBILE Magazine Names Volkswagen GTI Automobile of the Year; Ford’s Alan Mulally is Man of the Year; Lithium-Ion Battery is Technology of the Year; Nissan Cube is Design of the Year.

New York, NY (PRWEB) November 24, 2009

AUTOMOBILE Magazine announced today that the Volkswagen GTI is the 2010 Automobile of the Year. America's leading automotive lifestyle publication and part of Source Interlink Media, the magazine also named Ford Motor Company CEO Alan Mulally its Man of the Year, the 2010 Nissan Cube its Design of the Year, and the Lithium-Ion battery its Technology of the Year.

The winners will be featured in the pages of the January 2010 issue of AUTOMOBILE Magazine, available on newsstands beginning December 1, 2009.

2010 Automobile of the Year: Volkswagen GTI
The 2010 Automobile of the Year award marks the first time in the history of AUTOMOBILE Magazine that a single make and model has won the honor twice.

While many cars have attempted to crack the code of the Volkswagen GTI, editors said that none have succeeded. The key to that code is the car’s blend of athleticism, practicality, and performance that was the basis of the original GTI and which was resurrected in the Mark 5 edition, the current GTI’s predecessor and the winner of the 2008 Automobile of the Year. Editors noted that, when pitted against a rich selection of the best 2010 model year cars, such as the Porsche Panamera S, the Jaguar XFR, and the BMW Z4, the GTI was not the least bit out of its league, thanks to the car’s crisp steering, super communicative chassis, and a firm but well-damped ride. On the track, editors called the Volkswagen GTI “the best slicer and dicer on the market today” and “a superb little rocket.”

“The Volkswagen GTI continues to fan the affordable-enthusiast-car flame like no other vehicle in the world,” said Jean Jennings, president and editor-in-chief of AUTOMOBILE Magazine. “In this day and age, we are looking for cars that are not just fast, but also practical and fuel-efficient. The GTI is all of that, plus it’s fun and doesn’t cost a ton.”

Man of the Year: Alan Mulally, CEO, Ford Motor Company
That Ford stands alone as the one remaining independent among Big Three automakers is largely due to one man. For this achievement, and for steering Ford onto a clearly defined road toward success, Alan Mulally is Automobile Magazine's 2010 Man of the Year.

Mulally has made a series of bold moves since joining Ford in 2006. He foresaw a difficult road in the auto market and prepared the company financially by mortgaging Ford’s assets, and he also united an insular, divisive culture—no small feat. In addition, Mulally has brought a “laser focus” to the company's core operations, selling off most of Ford’s glamorous nameplates and making the Ford brand king in Dearborn, with the long neglected Lincoln the crown prince.

“Ford Motor Company is in a position to succeed and to capitalize on the public goodwill it generated when it said ‘no, thanks’ to the Feds,” said Joe DeMatio, executive editor for AUTOMOBILE Magazine. “The company is just beginning to find its way, but with Alan Mulally at the wheel, we're confident it will not simply survive, but prosper.”

Design of the Year: 2010 Nissan Cube
Calling it “fun, funky and futuristic,” AUTOMOBILE editors named the idiosyncratic Nissan Cube Design of the Year. Noting that the Cube does not meet the traditional standards of automotive beauty or elegance, editors said the Cube has plenty of charm to go around.

“The Cube is funny looking, but in an agreeable sort of way,” said Robert Cumberford, design editor of AUTOMOBILE Magazine. “One can wonder whether Nissan consulted an expert in the art of Feng Shui when it created the interior of the Cube. It offers a sense of unlimited space. The amount of headroom, elbow room, and legroom makes the Cube feel more like a limo than the upmarket economy car it actually is.”

Technology of the Year: Lithium-Ion Batteries
After decades of research and a lengthy apprenticeship energizing cell phones, laptops, and power tools, lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries have begun closing the gap between today's petroleum-fueled transportation and the electric cars of the future. 2010 will stand as an important milestone as the technology takes a wider stage with some much-anticipated electric cars hitting the road. For that, the Li-ion battery is AUTOMOBILE Magazine's 2010 Technology of the Year.

“The most efficient way to boost mileage while reducing emissions is to phase in more electric-drive systems, and the lithium-ion battery is the great enabler for advanced hybrids and pioneering electrics,” said Don Sherman, technical editor of AUTOMOBILE Magazine. “The Tesla Roadster and the Mini E have taught us not to discount pure electrics, and the Chevrolet Volt, the Fisker Karma, and the Nissan Leaf will arrive later this year to further the electric-propulsion cause. Along with the Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid, these cars bear watching, because they're the first vehicles equipped with Li-ion batteries.”

About AUTOMOBILE Magazine
AUTOMOBILE Magazine, part of Source Interlink Media LLC, has a circulation of 550,000 and a total readership of 4.3 million. Recipient of more editorial awards than any other major automotive publication, AUTOMOBILE Magazine is designed to appeal to the interests of passionate automotive enthusiasts. Its diverse editorial mix includes behind-the-wheel experiences in the world’s most fascinating cars, as well as personalities, travel destinations, automotive art, vintage cars and industry trends. Source Interlink Media LLC is a subsidiary of Source Interlink Companies, Inc., a recognized provider of targeted media and marketing services, a leading U.S. distributor of home entertainment products and services and one of the largest publishers of magazines and online content for enthusiast audiences.

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