The new Alfa Romeo Giulia has been named "Most Beautiful Car" in the "Das Goldene Lenkrad" ("Golden Steering Wheel") competition. The award adds to the remarkable collection of international prizes won by the new Alfa Romeo sports saloon, which is set to arrive in New Zealand in early 2017.

The Giulia was voted for by readers of Germany’s leading motoring magazine, Auto Bild, and the national German newspaper, Bild am Sonntag, with a panel of 29 automotive experts. Panel members included rally world champions Walter Röhrl and Sébastien Ogier, DTM champion Mattias Ekström and designer Andrea Zagato.

Created by the Alfa Romeo Style Centre, the exciting Giulia is a new expression of the best Italian tradition that combines harmonic proportions, linearity of style, high quality materials and sophisticated aluminium, wood and leather accents inside the Giulia. All these are embellished with iconic elements design drawn from the brand's 100 plus year history, the most noteworthy of which is the ‘trefoil’ nose deign, arguably the most famous emblem of Alfa Romeo design, with its Alfa Romeo shield grille and horizontal grilles on either side of the shield.

Awarded since 1976 and this year divided into seven categories, the "Golden Steering Wheel" was won by Alfa Romeo in 2011 for the "I am Giulietta" advertising campaign. Alfa Romeo 147 won in its category in 2000, while in 1995 the "Golden Steering Wheel" award for the "Coupé" category went to Alfa Romeo GTV.