MILAN (ITALPRESS) – Seven finalist cars. Each brings its own design, history and technology. but only one was able to boast the Auto Europa 2025 award today in Milan in the auditorium of Bosch headquarters by UIGA (Unione Italiana Giornalisti Automotive). After the success in 2024 of Jeep Avenger this year the award was won by Dacia Duster, an economical crossover with Mild Hybrid, Full Hybrid and LPG engines. The reason why Dacia Duster was chosen by automotive journalists is because the brand has made significant improvements in style, quality and range completeness, yet without sacrificing its traditional features, such as economy and practicality, thus without distorting the brand’s identity. What was also new this year, however, were the “opinion leader” and “popular jury” awards, given to BMW X2 and Alfa Romeo Junior, respectively.But beyond the individual awards, the real star was the technological innovation that united all the vehicles, with a notable contribution from Bosch. “We think we also won today because our technology is present in all the finalist cars in Auto Europa 2025. We are happy that in the end it is innovation that is rewarded and it was well represented by these finalist cars and the winners. So great satisfaction for us as well,” commented Maurizia Bagnato, Sales and Innovation Director Bosch Mobility.However, each finalist car invited with its story to reflect on the innovation challenges facing the automotive world. “There are different solutions: safety, assisted driving features, autonomous driving and different solutions in the powertrain area,” Bagnato explained.For example, in addition to electrification, we are also focusing a lot on hydrogen. We are investing a lot and we count that in any case hydrogen solutions, whether we are talking about fuel cells or hydrogen engines, will be an interesting solution for some applications in the future. “Of course, global tensions and especially the challenge of the ecological transition put a lot of pressure on the automotive sector. According to Bagnato, the transition must be “as sustainable as possible, also from an economic point of view. That’s why it’s also important to have a clear strategy at the community and legislative level that manages to somehow safeguard what is the value of innovation and skills that are in Italy and Europe.” “We need to achieve the required goals, but without defining what technology should drive this change. We argue that this should be a choice of the manufacturers and producers. So not only electric, but also other solutions. Bosch is one of the most important players in the mobility sector, but we will not be the only ones,” concluded Bagnato.Giulio Marc D’Alberton, Dacia & Mobilize Communication Manager, described winning the Auto Europa 2025 award as “a well-deserved first because it gives credit to a work that starts from afar and has led Dacia to move from the concept of low cost to value for money.” “Duster in its third generation, available today in dealerships, represents a strong evolution of the most iconic product of the Dacia brand: a true icon in the market, very recognizable and that today presents itself totally renewed,” he added, “It is a product faithful to the concepts of essentiality and concreteness, brand values that represent almost a unicum in the market and that aims to offer products with a high countervalue in terms of technology, equipment and comfort, but without exaggerating with what is the list price. Commenting on the reasons for the win, D’Alberton said that “Dacia has many arrows in its bow. In addition to a very clean design and very free from superstructures, technology is present in the new Duster in a way that is adequate to what are the current mobility needs, offering a package also of ADAS that is adequate to what the customer is asking today to ensure a high level of safety while driving. “Technologies that then also explore the world of motorizations: alongside the consolidated and highly appreciated Turbo LPG purchased by many customers also in Italy, the new hybrid motorizations, 48V hybrid but full hybrid, have arrived. This is thanks to Dacia’s ability to draw heavily from the Grupp Renault organ bank to which it belongs to offer the customer different routes allowing each person to choose the best solution for their mobility,” he concluded.
photo: xh7/Italpress
(ITALPRESS)
