The Automotive Brand Contest – a prestigious international design competition – saw the German Design Council acknowledge projects by the BMW Group with a total of 48 awards.
BMW Group Design was named a winner 11 times. In the Exterior category this included the BMW i8 Concept Spyder, BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe, MINI Roadster and the motorcycle models BMW S 1000 RR and Husqvarna Nuda 900 R.
Among the winners in the Interior category were the BMW i8 Concept Spyder, BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe, MINI Roadster and BMW 3 Series Sedan. In the Events category, the BMW Design Studio Live won over the panel of experts, while the design installation COLOUR ONE for MINI by Scholten & Baijings earned the special accolade “Best of Best”. In addition, the BMW Group Design Team received an award in the special Team of the Year category and in the Image Film category for its film on the BMW Zagato Coupe.
The BMW i8 Concept took a prize in the Innovation of the Year category, while several BMW brand campaigns were also honored.
With such a rich haul of awards, the German Design Council corroborates the exceptional standard of the BMW Group. The formal award ceremony will take place at the Automotive Designers’ Night on 27 September during the 2012 “Mondial de l’Automobile” motor show in Paris.
The Automotive Brand Contest is the only neutral, international design competition for car marques and, since its inception in 2011, has evolved into an important event for the sector. This year, for the second time, the German Design Council recognises outstanding product and communication design and turns its attention to the essential significance of a brand and its design within the motoring industry. Here, the focus is on the consistent, all-round “stage management” of a brand across all media and products.
An independent panel of experts including representatives from the media, design and brand communication, as well as from higher education establishments, judged the submitted works in a total of 12 competitive categories, ranging from Exterior and Interior to Brand Design and Advertising Campaigns. Prizes were also awarded in four special categories. Prize-winners are automatically nominated for the Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany, also presented by the Design Council.
The design of the BMW i8 Concept lends shape to the flawless interplay of technology and aesthetics. Its formal language and low-slung silhouette exude a sense of dynamic prowess, while the large windows and exposed aerodynamic features offer an unobstructed view of the concept car’s innovative lightweight design, underlining its commitment to maximising efficiency. The vehicle’s athletic character is also reflected in the state-of-the-art design of the interior, distinguished by its uncompromising focus on the driver and its use of renewable resources.
The sporty, emotion-led design of the BMW i8 Concept Spyder showcases the attributes of an open two-seater, coupling lightness, dynamics and efficiency with unusual aesthetics. The combination of intelligent lightweight design and cutting-edge hybrid technology helps the BMW i9 Concept Spyder on its way to genuine sports car performance, while its fuel efficiency figures are on a par with those of a small car. The sporty, dynamic impression is underscored by large body panels, a hunkered-down stance and numerous aerodynamic elements such as contact surfaces, spoiler lips, AirCurtains and aeroflaps.
