What do the Porsche 928, Fiat Uno and the new
Vauxhall Insignia have in common? All have been voted the European Car of the Year. General Motors' first ECOTY winner for over twenty years secured the title by a single vote.
The last time the contest was so close was in 2001 when the
Alfa Romeo 147 beat the second generation
Ford Mondeo. This year the 59 jurors allotted 321 points to the Vauxhall, just one more than the second-placed
Ford Fiesta. Third placed with 233 points was the new
Volkswagen Golf. The Insignia was praised for its blend of comfort and safety as well as its engine line-up and options such as traffic sign recognition.
Responding to the news the chairman of General Motors UK said, |"This is great news for GM/Vauxhall and its employees, suppliers and retailers. Vauxhall has made great strides in recent years, particularly in design and dynamics, and the Insignia illustrates what we're capable of achieving."
John Lambert - 18 Nov 2008