What a coup for Vauxhall – in one of the toughest trading markets for car makers in living memory, its new Insignia car has been voted the 2009 Car Of The Year.

It was a close-run thing for the Insignia – just one point separated the winner from the runner-up, the Ford Fiesta – but that ultra-narrow victory margin will translate into a widening sales gap between the Vauxhall and its major fleet-car rivals.

“We are delighted to be able to deliver good news at such a tough time,” says Steve Cropley, editor-in-chief of Autocar, Car Of The Year’s British-based sponsoring magazine.

“The market’s the toughest we’ve seen for 20 years, but nothing alters the fact that the Insignia is a great car.

“However, this result is undoubtedly something of an upset. The Ford Fiesta seemed to many a winning contender. But, in the end, the Insignia deserved to triumph – and it did.”

Bill Parfitt, chairman of Vauxhall parent company General Motors UK, says of the win: “This is great news for GM/Vauxhall and its employees, suppliers and retailers.

“Vauxhall has made great strides in recent years, particularly in design and dynamics, and the Insignia illustrates what we’re capable of achieving.

“The Insignia’s triumph marks the third Car Of The Year accolade for Vauxhall. In 1985, the Astra won the title, followed two years later by the Carlton/Omega.

For the 2009 win, the Insignia polled 321 votes to beat the Ford Fiesta, by that solitary point.

Another Ford, the Mondeo, was also beaten in 2001 by a solitary point – when the Alfa Romeo 147 took that year’s Car Of The Year title.

But, for 2009, the accolade belongs to the Vauxhall.

“This is the closest Car Of The Year competition for years,” comments Ray Hutton of the Sunday Times, president of the 59-strong jury of motoring journalists drawn from 23 European countries.

Hutton is one of six UK journalists who make up the jury.