Volkswagen Philippines bagged eight plaques from the 2016-2017 Auto Focus People’s Choice and Media’s Choice Awards held last October 13 at the Valle Verde Country Club Ballroom in Pasig City.
All of Volkswagen Philippines’ eight victories were in the Media’s Choice component, spread over three categories, namely: Best Engine Performance for the Golf GTI, Touran and Passat; Best Value for Money for the Golf GTI, Touran, Passat, and Touareg, and; Best Design for the Golf GTI.
The 2016-2017 Auto Focus Media’s Choice Awards (AFMCA) is a significant part of Sunshine Television Venture’s (STV’s) automobile industry merit program, which aims to further recognize the industry’s continuing efforts to provide car owners and motorists with the best on-board features, styling, performance and over-all value.
To earn a Media’s Choice award, the winning model must receive at least 51% or more of the total votes cast by active members of the Philippine motoring media in that model’s specific performance category. This year, only 49 of the 88 award categories had a winner.
Golf GTI gets 3 awards
The 7th generation luxury subcompact Golf GTI received the majority of media votes for engine performance with its 2.0-liter turbocharged stratified injection (TSI) engine with maximum output and torque of 220 Ps and 350 Nm, respectively, managed by a 6-speed direct shift gear (DSG) transmission.
It also earned the media nod for best design in its category for living up to its long-running identity as the “ultimate sportsman” in the Volkswagen sports car family, possessing exterior and interior touches such as the GTI package of 18-inch Austin alloy wheels, bumpers, grille, tail lamps, spoiler, and, dual tailpipes; Bi-Xenon headlamps with daytime running lights (DRL), dynamic headlight range adjustment, and GTI-designed premium sport seats, steering wheel, shift knob, stainless steel pedals, and sports suspension.
Ultimately, this unique combination of style and performance, packaged at a competitive price point, earned for Golf GTI the plum Best Value for Money recognition.
Multiple awards for Touran, Passat
Likewise earning Best Value for Money awards were the Touran and Passat, for being able to combine engineering, design, safety and technological standards with powerful yet fuel-efficient powerplants well above the expectations for its standard retail prices.
The multi-purpose vehicle Touran also won best engine performance in its category for its 2.0-liter TDI (turbo direct injection) diesel engine with a 6-speed DSG (direct shift gearbox) that is able to generate 110 ps of power and 280 Nm of torque from as low as 1,750 RPM.
The 220 Ps of power and 350 Nm of torque generated by the 4-cylinder, in-line Turbo Fuel-injected 2.0 TSI DSG gasoline engine of the luxury mid-size sedan Passat, the 2015 European Car of the Year, also earned the best engine performance.
Touareg best value in its class
The luxury large SUV Touareg bagged the Best Value for Money trophy for bringing into its class a solid reputation of possessing serious off-road capabilities yet endowed with everyday practicality. This unique quality has been helped greatly by the 3.0-liter V6 Common Rail Turbo Direct Injection (TDI) diesel engine that delivers maximum output of 245 Ps and maximum torque of 550 Nm, while the 4MOTION Permanent All Wheel Drive and the Adaptive Chassis Control (DCC) enhances further the ride-and-drive experience.
The Awards Night was attended by members of the auto industry’s two lead organizations, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc (CAMPI) and the Association of Vehicle Importers & Distributors (AVID).