Hyundai Motor Co.'s Solaris sub-compact was named the 2012 Annual National Prize
Car of the Year by Russian consumers, South Korea's largest carmaker said
Friday.
The vehicle, which is the local name for Hyundai's popular
Accent, was picked as both car of the year and best model in the small vehicle
segment by 1.5 million consumers who took part in a nationwide vote.
The award ceremony hosted by the country's automotive media including Automir
was held on Thursday in Moscow.
Hyundai said its Solaris beat out such
competitors as the Ford Focus and Audi A6 to win the car of the year award,
while it sidestepped stiff challenges by Audi A1 and Kia's Pride to grab top
honors in the small vehicle segment. Kia is Hyundai's smaller affiliate and part
of Hyundai Motor Group, the world's fifth largest carmaker.
The
Solaris, meanwhile, is made in the Korean carmaker's Russian plant and has
played an integral part in pushing up Hyundai sales by 66 percent in the first
two months of this year. The carmaker said it sold 16,480 units of the vehicle
in January and February and predicted demand to remain strong in the coming
months.
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