Commonwealth VW Celebrates the 2012 VW Passat Motor Trend Car of the Year Award

Online, December 16, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The 2012 VW Passat was announced as the Motor Trend Car of the Year at the annual Los Angeles International Auto Show held in Orange County, California last month. The award is given by a team of experts from one of the leading publications in the automobile industry and is a highly notable honor for any car or manufacturer to receive.

Each year, hundreds of cars compete for the prestigious award presented by Motor Trend. This year's finalists competed in six distinct categories including Advancement in Design, Engineering Excellence, Efficiency, Safety, Value, and Performance & Intended Function. The VW Passat outshone the rest and was noted as delivering well-tuned performance as well as providing roomy, functional space.

"We are thrilled to hear the news, although we are not surprised," says Commonwealth Audi General Manager Mike Westbrook. "Volkswagen is dedicated to providing exceptional engineering and has made many improvements in the 2012 Passat."

Some of the vehicle highlights noted by the Motor Trend judges include the VW Passat's focus on safety and economy. The 2012 VW Passat achieves an average of 26mpg on the gas-powered models and over 34mpg from the TDI diesel. The 2012 VW Passat is also equipped with state of the art safety features to protect passengers in the event of a crash, but more importantly it focuses on preventing such an occurrence by offering improved control and handling when tested in a variety of road types and conditions.

The judges also hailed the newly redesigned appearance of the VW Passat. Many were impressed by the clean simple lines that give the car a timeless, classic look. The 2012 VW Passat exhibits no flashy pretense or overly stylized lines but offers a deeper level of design through subtle details that become apparent upon closer inspection. Open, honest, and capable of backing up the hype, the 2012 VW Passat offers drivers true German engineering built in the good old USA.

"It is great to have the announcement made so close to home here at the LA International Auto Show," says Westbrook. "We invite folks to stop by our Santa Ana showroom after the show this weekend to learn more about this great model and test one out for themselves."

About Commonwealth Volkswagen
Commonwealth Volkswagen is located in Santa Ana, California. It offers a large inventory of popular Volkswagen models including the VW Passat, VW Jetta, and VW Touareg. Dedicated to providing the best service and buying experience in Orange County, California, Commonwealth Volkswagen is also a proud member of the Penske Automotive family. Serving Santa Ana and the surrounding Orange County area, Commonwealth VW invites drivers to stop by anytime to learn more about their favorite VW models.

Commonwealth Volkswagen
1450 Auto Mall Drive
Santa Ana, CA 92705
888-645-8562
http://www.commonwealthvw.com