Volkswagen GTI, Automobile Magazine's Car Of The Year

Automobile Magazine named Volkswagen GTI as its 2007 car of the year. Said title is part of a series of year-end industry awards that automakers use to support their marketing efforts. The car emerged as the cream of the crop vehicle for the magazine. Said choice is anchored on the combination of affordability and performance of the car.

Gavin Conway, editor-in-chief of Automobile Magazine, said the sporty version of the VW Golf, which is now in its fifth generation, was the unanimous pick of the magazine's senior editors because of the way it combined performance and affordability. "It's a great car to drive as well as being an easy car to live with," Conway said.

Conway expected that the selection would generate some controversy among the readership of the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based magazine, with some readers questioning the choice of the magazine. But, he said, the magazine had wanted to highlight "a more responsible approach to performance driving," considering factors such as fuel economy.

Volkswagen GTI is a compact car that belongs to the best-selling models of the automaker and third best-selling model worldwide. It boasts cutting-edge its 2002 Volkswagen GTI parts accessories that offers efficiency, power and elegance. It is also given a four-cylinder engine that takes the 2-door version to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds. The car has a reported fuel economy of 30 miles to the gallon.

Last year, Automobile Magazine named Ford's Aston Martin V8 Vantage as its design of the year. Conway said Aston Martin, deserved credit for building its $110,000 two-seater sports car in a way that harkened back to classic designs while incorporating more stringent safety regulations. "Without question, the V8 Vantage is the best Aston Martin ever produced," Conway said. He added that the car is "arguably the best-looking design car in the last couple of decades."

Automobile Magazine is one of several industry publications that give various car and truck of the year awards. It has a circulation of 550,000 and has established a reputable name in the motoring press industry. The honors given by the magazine is highly appreciated by the automakers.