Hyundai has received three awards at the second edition of the Automotive Brand Contest, organised by the German Design Council. The New Generation i30 won ‘Best Interior’ and ‘Best Exterior’, while the ‘Best Concept’ title was awarded to the i-oniq show car. Both models were designed in Rüsselsheim, Germany, by the European team based at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre.
The two victories for New Generation i30 demonstrate Hyundai’s commitment to designing products that appeal to European consumers. The car’s exterior styling advances the brand’s fluidic sculpture philosophy, creating a sense of constant motion, even when stationary, and conveying a confident attitude through dynamic proportions. The interior represents a significant step forward from the original i30, closely matching the exterior for visual impact and introducing higher quality materials to the cabin.
The Hyundai i-oniq made its debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, showcasing new technology and design which present an impression of the company’s future thinking. Also known by its codename, HED-8, the i-oniq is characterised by gentle feature lines and muscular surface treatment, conveying premium qualities evident in both the exterior and interior of the car, and a futuristic interior design which combines a driver-orientated cabin layout and high levels of passenger comfort.
Senior Vice President and COO of Hyundai Motor Europe, Allan Rushforth, commented, “Recognition from the German Design Council is further evidence of the transformation in Hyundai design in recent years. Styling influenced by fluidic sculpture has added emotional appeal to our products that still retain the rational characteristics that have long underpinned our brand’s success. New Generation i30 is the best example yet of our focus on conceiving vehicles that match the aspirations of European consumers, as part of our product localisation strategy.”
In the 2011 contest, Hyundai was awarded ‘Best Exterior’ for the i40 wagon – another model designed in Europe and aimed squarely at European buyers. The winners of the Automotive Brand Contest are selected by an independent panel of experts. The jury consists of automotive designers, journalists, academics and CEOs.
