A new whirlwind over Europe - the Auto 1 award for the Passat (retrospection)

What Bulgaria wrote 20 years ag piese auto online.

A new whirlwind over Europe - the Auto 1 award for the Passat (retrospection)

The Passat was named Europe's Auto 1. During the ceremony in Geneva, VW blew away the competition.

There are people who simply cannot sit idly by. One of them is VW boss Wolfgang Bernhard. He has no more than 10 cm around him, but even that is enough for him. He slides back and forth on his chair, rubbing his hands and swinging his legs. And he constantly nods his head approvingly when a member of the jury on the screen above mentions something positive about his car. It is incredible how many movements a person can perform in such a small space.

The last title for VW was won 9 years ago

The hall is getting dark. Gentle sighs are heard, a dancer is spinning on a

the stage in a transparent white dress, and a VW Passat slowly appears through the artificial fog. At that moment, it is clear to the 500 guests in the Espace Secheron hall in Geneva: This is the winner, this is the Auto 1 of Europe 2006. For the first time in 9 years, the European magazine award is once again going to Wolfsburg. And the first to applaud is, of course, Dr. Bernhard himself.

What an unusual pairing: Volkswagen CEO Dr. Bernd Pischetsrieder, who sits four seats to the left, looks relaxed. When host Desiree Nosbusch asks him if he was nervous before the winner was announced, he replies: "No, I'm always relaxed," something everyone here in Geneva believes him about, especially when there's speculation about his replacement.

Bernhard is in a completely different situation. He doesn't just settle for a thank-you speech, but uses the stage for a frontal attack: "We can always surprise you, we're coming out with a big product offensive, so don't let us out of your sight." This sounds like a threat, and anyone who knows Bernhard can conclude that his intention was exactly that.

Tonight, however, one thing is clear: a new air current has emerged. On the one hand, within the VW concern itself, which must be stabilized by Pischetsrieder and Bernhard. On the other, over the automotive world in Europe, where, after the gala evening in Geneva, the Passat is now a standard of comparison.

Europe's Auto 1 is the toughest car test

because it is not easy to win the Auto 1 award in Europe. On

against, it can be said that this is the most difficult car test of all. The winner had to convince not only the readers of the European group of, but also the 40-member expert jury of racing drivers, technicians and journalists. They not only compared the finalists, but also the candidates in the respective classes.

"When 35 million readers in Europe and numerous renowned experts are involved in choosing the best car, it is a very special event for the manufacturers – and a very special award for the winner."

Here the presidents of the automobile concerns are particularly nervous.

says Dr. Andreas Wiele, President of Axel Springer Publishing. And Audi Chairman of the Board of Management Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, who won the title last year with the A6, joked: "Tonight the presidents of the car companies are significantly more nervous than during the decision-making of the Supervisory Boards." Of course, as already mentioned, this does not apply to Pischetsrieder.

Maybe this is a signal coming from this 15th edition of the Auto 1 Awards of Europe. But let's summarize: the Passat wins, ahead of the "3rd" of BMW, Audi Q7, Mercedes S-Class and Porsche Cayman. In Bulgaria, the winner was the Alfa Romeo 159.

There was reason to celebrate, and that's exactly what the 500 guests did after the awards ceremony. Rumor has it that the last guests left sometime around 4 a.m. Wolfgang Bernhard was of course long gone - he had disappeared through the back exit like a phantom.

Let's assume he was in a hurry to get home. But more likely he immediately got to work so that VW could finish in first place again next year...

Car parts AutoPower
Car parts AutoPower

The Passat was named Europe's Auto 1

There are people who simply cannot sit idly by