“We are very proud to be a double winner,” said Hans-Joachim Rothenpieler, Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG Technical Development at the award ceremony this Tuesday evening in Berlin. “The ‘Golden Steering Wheel’ is a coveted award in our industry. We are particularly pleased that the fully electric Audi e-¬tron won its class competing against vehicles with conventional drive systems. We see that as confirmation that we are on the right track with our electrification strategy. The award for the A1 also tells us that we brought a new-generation car on the road which is completely convincing” added Rothenpieler.
58 cars launched since the beginning of October 2018 took part in this year’s “Golden Steering Wheel” contest. They were divided into seven vehicle classes. The three models in each class receiving the most reader votes advanced to the finals. The finals with 21 cars were held at the DEKRA Lausitzring racetrack. An international panel of experts tested the cars according to criteria based on a modified version of the points system used for Auto Bild comparison tests. The panel comprised race driver Mattias Ekström, former Formula 1 driver Hans-Joachim Stuck and moderator Sidney Hoffmann in addition to experts from Auto Bild, its sister publications and Bild am Sonntag.
The two winners from Audi are also winners in everyday driving. The A1 Sportback* is an ideal companion both in urban environments and on long-distance trips. With respect to infotainment and driver assistance systems, its equipment list is on par with that of the full-size class. In the “Large SUV” class, the Audi e-¬tron* got the nod over competitors with combustion engines. It combines supreme spaciousness with excellent comfort and a range suitable for everyday driving. The Audi electric SUV is the first production vehicle to feature camera-based exterior mirrors and exemplifies Vorsprung durch Technik with High Power Charging and the latest generation of quattro technology: electric all-wheel drive.
The “Golden Steering Wheel 2019” awards ceremony will be broadcast in a live stream at www.autobild.de/dgl-live beginning at 8 p.m.