| Automobile Magazine named Volkswagen GTI as | | | | approach to performance driving," considering |
| its 2007 car of the year. Said title is part of a | | | | factors such as fuel economy. |
| series of year-end industry awards that | | | | Volkswagen GTI is a compact car that belongs to |
| automakers use to support their marketing | | | | the best-selling models of the automaker and third |
| efforts. The car emerged as the cream of the | | | | best-selling model worldwide. It boasts |
| crop vehicle for the magazine. Said choice is | | | | cutting-edge its 2002 Volkswagen GTI parts |
| anchored on the combination of affordability and | | | | accessories that offers efficiency, power and |
| performance of the car. | | | | elegance. It is also given a four-cylinder engine |
| Gavin Conway, editor-in-chief of Automobile | | | | that takes the 2-door version to 60 mph in 6.6 |
| Magazine, said the sporty version of the VW Golf, | | | | seconds. The car has a reported fuel economy of |
| which is now in its fifth generation, was the | | | | 30 miles to the gallon. |
| unanimous pick of the magazine's senior editors | | | | Last year, Automobile Magazine named Ford's |
| because of the way it combined performance and | | | | Aston Martin V8 Vantage as its design of the |
| affordability. "It's a great car to drive as well as | | | | year. Conway said Aston Martin, deserved credit |
| being an easy car to live with," Conway said. | | | | for building its $110,000 two-seater sports car in a |
| Conway expected that the selection would | | | | way that harkened back to classic designs while |
| generate some controversy among the | | | | incorporating more stringent safety regulations. |
| readership of the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based | | | | "Without question, the V8 Vantage is the best |
| magazine, with some readers questioning the | | | | Aston Martin ever produced," Conway said. He |
| choice of the magazine. But, he said, the magazine | | | | added that the car is "arguably the best-looking |
| had wanted to highlight "a more responsible | | | | design car in the last couple of decades. |