Falcon takes key car award

AAP

(Embargoed: Not for broadcast or publication before 0001 AEDT, Nov 30

By Tim Dornin

ADELAIDE, Nov 30 AAP – A gas-powered car built in Australia has taken one of the top gongs in the Best Cars awards for 2011.

The LPG powered Ford Falcon EcoLPi was named the best large car under $60,000, essentially the best family car in the country.

But German brand Volkswagen has dominated the awards, taking out five categories, from light cars to luxury off roaders.

Australia’s Best Cars are presented by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA, the umbrella organisation for the nation’s motoring clubs including the NRMA, RACV, RACQ and the RAA.

Chief judge Mark Borlace said the LPG Falcon ticked a number of boxes for large car buyers by cutting fuel costs and producing fewer emissions without compromising performance.

«Significantly, it feels exactly like a normal Falcon, if anything it feels slightly better in that it produces more power and more torque earlier in the rev range,» he said.

Among its five awards, Volkswagen took the prize for the best light car over $20,000 with the Polo 66TDI and the best small car under $35,000 with the latest version of the Golf 90TSI.

Its other wins came with the Jetta named the best medium car under $50,000, the Tiguan the best sports utility vehicle (SUV under $40,000 and the Touareg the best luxury SUV over $60,000.

Mr Borlace said Volkswagen impressed with their driveline technology.

«They have done a fantastic job of minimising fuel consumption and emissions output while maintaining impressive levels of power and torque,» he said.

Other winners named on Wednesday included the Hyundai iMAx as the best people mover, the Lexus CT 200 as the best small car over $35,000 the Audi A6 the best large car over $60,000, the Kia Rio Si the best light car under $20,000 and the BMW 135i the best sports car under $80,000.

Mercedes Benz picked up two awards, the C63 AMG named the best sports car over $80,000 and the C250 CDI the best medium car over $50,000, while the Land Rover Discovery 4 was named the best all terrain four-wheel-drive.

AAA executive director Andrew McKellar said this year’s winners set the standard for all vehicles in Australia’s new car market as consumers looked to more fuel efficient models.

«With fuel prices trending upwards and an intensely competitive new car market, the coming years will see manufacturers working hard to deliver new models that push the boundaries of safety, performance and efficiency even further,» he said.

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