Caravan Club Towcar of the Year 2012 Winners Announced

<p><location value="LU/gb.eng.london" idsrc="xmltag.org">London, UK</location> (PRWEB) <chron>September 21, 2011</chron></p><p>The Volkswagen Jetta Sport 2.0TDI DSG took the top honour in its price Class and went on to be voted overall winner of the twenty-ninth Caravan Club Towcar of the <org>Year Competition</org>. It was judged the winner by a panel of 11 judges who applauded its suave design, its practicality as a caravanning family car and its great performance when towing in a variety of situations.</p><p>Held, as in previous years, at the <org value="ACORN:3730534688" idsrc="xmltag.org">Millbrook Proving Ground</org> in <location value="LT/gb.eng.bedshr" idsrc="xmltag.org">Bedfordshire</location>, the Competition attracted 30 entrants.</p><p>Class wins in the Competition also went to the Škoda Superb Estate Elegance 2.0 DSG; the Volkswagen Touareg Escape 3.0 V6 TDI and the Volvo V60 D5 AWD Volvo Ocean Race.</p><p>From these Class winners the sleek, stylish and very capable Volkswagen Jetta Sport emerged as the overall victor.</p><p>The results of the Competition were announced at The Caravan Club Towcar of the Year Awards ceremony at the <org value="ACORN:2787506662" idsrc="xmltag.org">Royal Automobile Club</org> in <location value="LU/gb.eng.london" idsrc="xmltag.org">London</location> on 21st September. Special guest, former Formula 1 driver <person>Johnny Herbert</person>, attended the testing regime at Millbrook and then presented the prized Class awards to representatives from the winning manufacturers at the Awards ceremony.</p><p><person>Johnny Herbert</person> says, “It was a real eye-opener being at Millbrook seeing all the cars being put through their paces, they really are put to the towing test.”</p><p><person>Grenville Chamberlain</person>, <org>Caravan Club</org> Chairman, commented, “The Club extends its congratulations to all the winners in this Competition. Special plaudits go to the <br /> terrific Volkswagen Jetta, it really is a great vehicle and it proved itself time and time again with the judges during testing.”</p><p>Notes to Editors <br /> Driving Judges:- <person>Danny Cobbs</person>, motoring journalist; <person>Lesley Harris</person>, Auto Express; John <br /> Sootheran, <org>Caravan Magazine</org>; <person>Mark Sutcliffe</person>, magazine editor and freelance journalist; Bernie <br /> Jones, <org>Caravan Club</org> courses instructor; <person>Clive White</person>, <org>The Caravan Club Magazine</org>; John <br /> Harris, Events sub-Committee member. <br /> Caravanability Judges:-<person>John Bramham</person>, <person>Tom Collin</person>, <person>Mick Farr</person>, <person>Douglas King</person>.</p><p>Thanks:- <org value="ACORN:2938553832" idsrc="xmltag.org">The Caravan Club</org> would like to thank Bailey of <location value="LU/gb.eng.bristl" idsrc="xmltag.org">Bristol</location> for supplying all the <a href="http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/insurance-and-finance/insurance/touring-caravan-insurance/">touring caravans</a> used in the Competition, and for providing staff on site throughout the event. <person>Simon Howard</person> and <person>Mark Elson</person> ensured the caravans were correctly ballasted, noseweights kept in trim and in general good working order. <person>Glenn Jenkinson</person> from Al-Ko ensured brakes were adjusted, wheels kept tight and all undergear properly fettled.</p><p>The Caravan Club Towcar of the Year 2012 Where, When and How…</p><p>Testing took place in August at the <org value="ACORN:3730534688" idsrc="xmltag.org">Millbrook Proving Ground</org> in <location value="LT/gb.eng.bedshr" idsrc="xmltag.org">Bedfordshire</location>, arguably the best car testing facility in the country. This year 30 cars were divided into three price Classes and two <location>All-Wheel Drive</location> categories (under 1800kg and over 1800kg); on the basis that anyone thinking about buying a new car will first consider their budget.</p><p>Manufacturers were invited to submit for testing any cars that were new launches in the period <chron>1st August 2010</chron> to <chron>30th September 2011</chron>, or existing models that had been substantially modified (eg new engine, different transmission etc). <org value="ACORN:2938553832" idsrc="xmltag.org">The Caravan Club</org> also invites the previous year’s overall winner to submit its car for re-testing – in this instance, the Škoda Superb Estate Elegance.</p><p>The cars entered are carefully scrutineered to make sure they conform to the exact specification declared on the entry documentation. Track tests, using six expert drivers, assess each car’s towing ability as well as acceleration, braking and the ability to cope with demanding hill starts. Another team of four ‘caravanability’ judges makes a careful assessment of each entrant’s usability in terms of everyday caravanning. Will it carry a set of awning poles, for instance, and do you have to get on your hands and knees to connect the caravan electrics?</p><p>All caravans used during testing were supplied by Bailey of <location value="LU/gb.eng.bristl" idsrc="xmltag.org">Bristol</location> and loaded to 85% of the relevant car’s kerbweight. Noseweights are set at the car manufacturer’s recommended limit, 5-7% of the caravan’s running weight or the maximum stipulated weight for the caravan coupling head, whichever is lowest.</p><p>More about the winning vehicles…</p><p>Under £25,000 Class and Overall Winner Caravan Club Towcar of the Year 2012 <br /> Winner: Volkswagen Jetta Sport 2.0TDI DSG <br /> This car is as controlled as it is quick, offering stable towing both at speed and while driving around hills and bends. It steers smartly and accurately with little body roll, yet offers a well-damped ride even with a lively caravan on the back. It zooms up hills, stops on them securely and pulls away cleanly. And when you’re not driving it, it’s great to look at.</p><p>£25,000 to £32,000 Class <br /> Winner: Škoda Superb Estate Elegance 2.0 DSG <br /> The Caravan Club Towcar of the Year history book will record the Superb as legendary. As overall winner last year, it could do little more to prove the point than come back fighting its corner and winning its Class yet again. This vehicle goes, stops, corners and cossets like it’s always done, almost as if there’s no caravan attached.</p><p>Over £32,000 Class & Over 1800kg All-Wheel Drive Category <br /> Winner: Volkswagen Touareg Escape 3.0 V6 TDI <br /> The Touareg flew round the bowl at Millbrook with never a twitch, even on the hill circuit. On-rails cornering was interspersed with an apparently insignificant collection of steep gradients, including hill-stops and starts. A near-ultimate towcar.</p><p>Under 1800kg All-Wheel Drive Category <br /> Winner: Volvo V60 D5 AWD Volvo Ocean Race <br /> You would have to get ultra critical to find fault with this V60. The V60 is endowed with good control, accurate direction changing and great handling. Strong, linear power delivery took the outfit briskly to speed and it remained stoically stable; hill stops and starts were also commended. All this in a beautifully-restrained cabin wrapped in a slinky body.</p><p>THE CARAVAN CLUB TOWCAR OF THE YEAR 2012 <br /> LIST OF ENTRANTS</p><p>Under £25,000 <br /> Citroën DS4 DStyle 2.0HDi <br /> Ford Focus Titanium <br /> Ford Focus Titanium 1.6 Ecoboost <br /><org value="Korea:A126560" idsrc="xmltag.org">Hyundai</org> i40 Tourer 1.<location>7 CRDi Style Blue Drive</location><br /> Kia Sportage 1.7 CRDi 1 2WD <br /><org value="EuronextParis:UG" idsrc="xmltag.org">Peugeot</org> 508 Allure HDi <br /> Renault Scenic Dynamique TomTom dCi Stop&Start <br /> Škoda Superb Estate SE Plus 1.6 TDI CR <br /> Suzuki Grand Vitara SZ5 <br /> Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer 1.7 CDTi SE ecoFLEX <br /> Volkswagen Jetta Sport 2.0TDI DSG <br /> Volkswagen Passat SE BlueMotion Technology 2.0TDI <br /> Volkswagen Touran SE 2.0TDI</p><p>£25,000 to £32,000 <br /> Mazda CX-7 2.2D Sport Tech Model <br /> Nissan X-Trail 2.0 dCi Tekna <br /><org value="EuronextParis:UG" idsrc="xmltag.org">Peugeot</org> 508 SW Allure HDi <br /> Škoda Superb Estate Elegance 2.0 DSG <br /> Vauxhall Antara SE 2.2 CDTi <br /> Volkswagen Amarok Highline 2.0BiTDI 4MOTION <br /> Volkswagen Passat Estate Sport BlueMotion Technology 2.0TDI <br /> Volkswagen Sharan SE 2.0TDI</p><p>Over £32,000 <br /> Infiniti FX30d S Premium <br /> Mercedes-Benz C250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY ESTATE SPORT <br /> Mercedes-Benz E350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY AVANTGARDE ESTATE <br /> Mercedes-Benz G350 BlueTEC LWB <br /><person>Nissan Navara</person> 3.0 dCi V6 Outlaw Dcab <br /> Seat Alhambra SE Lux 2.0TDI DSG <br /> Volkswagen Touareg Escape 3.0 V6 TDI <br /> Volvo V60 D5 AWD Volvo Ocean Race <br /> Volvo XC70 D3 AWD Volvo Ocean Race</p><p>All-Wheel Drive Vehicles Under 1800kg <br /> Mazda CX-7 2.2D Sport Tech Model <br /> Nissan X-Trail 2.0 dCi Tekna <br /> Suzuki Grand Vitara SZ5 <br /> Volvo V60 D5 AWD Volvo Ocean Race</p><p>All-Wheel Drive Vehicles Over 1800kg <br /> Infiniti FX30d S Premium <br /> Mercedes-Benz G350 BlueTEC LWB <br /><person>Nissan Navara</person> 3.0 dCi V6 Outlaw Dcab <br /> Vauxhall Antara SE 2.2 CDTi <br /> Volkswagen Amarok Highline 2.0BiTDI 4MOTION <br /> Volkswagen Touareg Escape 3.0 V6 TDI <br /> Volvo XC70 D3 AWD Volvo Ocean Race</p><p>THE CARAVAN CLUB TOWCAR OF THE YEAR 2012 <br /> LIST OF WINNERS</p><p>Under £25,000 <br /> Volkswagen Jetta Sport 2.0TDI DSG</p><p>£25,000 to £32,000 <br /> Škoda Superb Estate Elegance 2.0 DSG</p><p>Over £32,000 <br /> Volkswagen Touareg Escape 3.0 V6 TDI</p><p>All-Wheel Drive Vehicles Under 1800kg <br /> Volvo V60 D5 AWD Volvo Ocean Race</p><p>All-Wheel Drive Vehicles Over 1800kg <br /> Volkswagen Touareg Escape 3.0 V6 TDI</p><p>Overall Winner <br /> Volkswagen Jetta Sport 2.0TDI DSG</p><p>To view this photo online, please visit the following link: <a href="http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/CaravanClub.jpg">http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/CaravanClub.jpg</a></p><p><org value="ACORN:2938553832" idsrc="xmltag.org">The Caravan Club</org> founded in 1907 and prides itself on being run by its members for its members. The Club provides practical, unbiased advice and services for its members including technical information, a legal helpline, free classified advertising service and a range of insurance products and financial services through its <a href="http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/insurance-and-finance/insurance/motorhome-insurance/motorhome-insurance-tips/">motorhome insurance comparison site</a>.</p><p>###</p><p>Read the full story at <a href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/9/prweb8816836.htm">http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/9/prweb8816836.htm</a></p>