And the 2009 World Car of the Year is..

04-11-2009 | AP

The sixth generation Volkswagen Golf VI voted tops by critics from around the world

Panama Star NEW YORK. The 2010 Volkswagen Golf on display at the New York International Auto Show has been named World Car of the Year.

Introduced at last year’s Paris Auto Show and known as the Rabbit in earlier U.S. versions, this sixth-generation sporty hatchback from VW beat out top finalists Ford Fiesta and Toyota iQ for the highly coveted honor.

Now itself in a sixth iteration, the World Car of the Year award is the decision of an independent jury of 59 automotive journalists from 25 countries.

This year’s initial list began with 51 entries from the world’s automakers, whittled down on the basis of merit, value, safety, environment, significance and emotional appeal.

The automotive specialists identified the new Golf’s more aggressive styling as part of its appeal.

Its front end displays sporty mesh ductwork integrated into a new grille design. Trendy headlight clusters are part of its distinct character.

Overall, the Golf VI appears more taut, more sculpted than the car it replaces. The car’s interior is upgraded from that of the previous generation, decidedly more posh, with hardly anything recalling traditional Teutonic asceticism.

A cloaked instrument panel integrates neatly with controls and display screen in its center console. Altogether, the car offers an upscale ambience compared with that of its predecessor.

The Golf has been an extremely successful model for the Wolfsburg, Germany, based automaker. Since 1974 VW has sold more than 26 million Golfs in 120 countries around the world.