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- Winning smile: Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann with the “2015 Golden Steering Wheel” for the new Astra.
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- 2015: The new Opel is synonymous for lightweight, highly efficient engines, a better packaging, features from the luxury class, trendsetting connectivity and exemplary quality.
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- 2012: The Zafira gets a premium partner in the Zafira Tourer and immediately wins another “Golden Steering Wheel”.
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- 2010: The Meriva underlines Opel’s van expertise and wins gold.
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- 2009: The Opel Astra delights the jury with its dynamic design and modern assistance systems.
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- 2005: The second generation of the Opel Zafira wins another “Golden Steering Wheel” and completes the dozen for Opel.
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- 2002: The Opel Vectra impresses the jury with modern electronics and frugal engines.
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- 1999: The Opel Zafira A sets news standard with its variable Flex7 seating concept.
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- 1995: The Opel Vectra adds zest to the middle class and secures first place.
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- 1994: The second generation of the big Opel Omega wins the “Golden Steering Wheel”.
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- 1990: The Opel Calibra, the sports star from Rüsselsheim, took first place.
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- 1987: The Opel Senator flagship cruises to a convincing win.
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- 1984: The aerodynamics champion is called Opel Kadett E and wins the “Golden Steering Wheel”.
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- 1982: The smallest Opel at the time, the Corsa, makes a big splash at the “Golden Steering Wheel”.
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- 1981: The front-wheel drive Ascona delivers Opel’s third “Golden Steering Wheels”.
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- 1979: The Kadett D is the first Opel with front-wheel drive and wins the “Golden Steering Wheel”.
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- 1978: The Opel Senator, a luxury class limousine, secures Opel’s first title.
Every vehicle has a steering wheel, but very few have a golden one. The new Astra is among the select few that do. When the Oscar of car awards was presented on 10 November, the ceremonial announcement was: “And the winner is: Opel Astra.” The coveted Golden Steering Wheel award in the compact class comes just one month after it began finding its way onto dealer lots in October. GM Executive Vice President & President Europe Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann and Vice President & CMO Opel Group Tina Müller accepted the award on behalf of Opel from Chief Editor Marion Horn (Bild am Sonntag) and Chief Editor Bernd Wieland (Auto Bild) during the gala at Axel-Springer-Haus.
The two newspapers jointly award, this year in seven categories. A jury of readers, experts, and high-profile personalities such as racing legend Walter Röhrl presented the award for the year’s best new vehicles after thorough testing.
Karl-Thomas Neumann was excited about winning this “major award for the best Opel we have ever built. This is the most important vehicle in our model lineup. We can be very proud of having been awarded this Golden Steering Wheel at Opel.” Tina Müller adds: “Our new Astra truly excels in every way, as we all saw in the quantum leap video. We’ve already received over 40,000 orders for the model.” According to Müller, this fact and the recent award all go to show that “Opel is a major player again – with the Astra as its leading star!”
16 OPEL WINNERS SINCE 1976
The new Astra carries on a successful tradition by winning the 2015 Golden Steering Wheel. The brand with the lightning bolt has won the award, presented since 1976 by Bild am Sonntag published by Axel-Springer-Verlag and since 2009 in cooperation with Auto Bild – a total of 16 times. An overview of the winners is presented in the photo gallery above.
And the winner is: The new Opel Astra has been awarded the 2015 Golden Steering Wheel. GM Executive Vice President & President Europe Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann accepts the award from host Barbara Schöneberger (left).
Winner of the evening: GM Executive Vice President & President Europe Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann (center) next to Friede Springer holding the Golden Steering Wheel presented for the new Opel Astra.
A flurry of camera flashes: Vice President & CMO Opel Group Tina Müller on the red carpet.
Stand November 2015