Geneva Motor Show - Europe's Car of the Year for 2015 is the new Volkswagen Passat.
This prestigious award is one of the oldest and best-known, honouring the best new releases in the car industry since 1964. It's decided by a jury of 58 European motoring journalists from 22 countries, and announced on the eve of the annual Geneva motor show.
Accepting the award, Volkswagen board of management member for developenent Heinz-Jakob Neusser said: “This accolade has a special significance for us because it is awarded by independent international trade journalists - and we know it has a high standing among our customers.”
DETAILED TESTING
The jury had nominated seven candidates ahead of the final, which went through detailed testing, comparisons and evaluations based on criteria such as economy, comfort, safety, driving characteristics, functionality, design and technical progress, in the months before the show.
The eighth-generation Passat is available in Europe in a choice of 10 direct-injection turbocharged petrol and diesel engines ranging from 88kW to 206kW; a plug-in hybrid model is due in showrooms in the third quarter of 2015.