AUTO EXPRESS AWARDS - Honda takes the Design award for the tenth generation Civic.

The 10^th generation Civic, due in showrooms from spring 2017, has won its first UK gong at the 2016 Auto Express Awards last night.

Picking up the coveted Design Award, which was voted for by readers of autoexpress.co.uk, the Civic fended off 14 competitors to the top spot.

The car is proving to be a much anticipated arrival on to UK forecourts next year with the new Civic claiming almost a fifth of the entire vote.

With the production version set for global unveil at the Paris Motor Show at the end of September; the concept was unveiled at March’s Geneva Motor Show to critical acclaim.

Produced at Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) in Swindon, the car will be exported to global markets, including the US.  The design of the prototype heralds a significant step-change from previous versions of Honda’s core European model, focusing on provocative design and rewarding driving dynamics.

The all-new Civic hatchback will be 30 mm wider, 20 mm lower and 130 mm longer than the current generation. New larger and wider wheels and tyres give a feeling of an assured stance, while the long wheelbase, short overhangs and sleek cabin area further add to the dynamic feel of the exterior.  The all-new Civic Hatchback will feature a range of three powertrain options: 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre VTEC TURBO petrol engines, and a revised 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel unit. Civic will be the first European model to feature the two all-new petrol engines.

Phil Webb, Head of Cars at Honda UK, commented: “This time last year we were starting to refresh the range.  Since then, we have significantly increased our market share, expanded our offering and started to win awards again.  

“This Design Award for the next generation Civic is all the more significant because it is voted for by readers.  It’s a sign of things to come and we expect big things for this car.”

Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6 receives Design Award for Concept Cars & Prototypes.

• EXP 10 Speed 6 receives Design Award for Concept Cars & Prototypes
• Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa D’Este is world’s foremost classic and vintage show
• Prestigious award presented to Bentley’s Design Director, Luc Donkerwolke

A panel of expert judges at the world-renowned Concorso d’Eleganza Villa D’Este have presented Bentley’s EXP 10 Speed 6 with the ‘Design Award for Concept Cars & Prototypes’, following its appearance at the Italian classic and vintage car show this weekend.

The Design Award for Concept Cars & Prototypes celebrates the exciting future of the automobile industry and was presented to Bentley’s Design Director, Luc Donkerwolke, on Saturday. The judges that decided the EXP 10 Speed 6 was the finest model on show, with its timeless, iconic Bentley design fused with progressive modern craftsmanship.

Bentley’s EXP 10 Speed 6 concept shows the future direction of luxury and performance using the finest materials and advanced hybrid technology – a powerful, exquisite and individual concept.

Design Director, Luc Donkerwolke said: “EXP 10 Speed 6 is the most talked-about concept car of recent times and was the star of the show in Geneva earlier this year. Since then it has visited New York and Shanghai gauging reaction from dealers, customers and the media. This highly coveted award is further proof of the success of our quintessentially British design.”

Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este has taken place every year since 1929. It is located on the shores of Lake Como and brings together owners and aficionados of historic vehicles from right around the world.

Aston Martin takes radical DBX Concept to Villa D'Este.

• Entered in renowned Design Award for Concept Car and Prototypes
• DBX Concept signals bold new thinking and exciting design direction
• Brand’s previous winners at Villa d’Este include One-77 and V12 Zagato      

Aston Martin is once again returning to the shores of Lake Como in Italy this weekend as it showcases the stunning new DBX Concept in the esteemed 2015 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.

Entered in the event’s prestigious Concept Cars and Prototypes class, the DBX Concept defies conventional thinking about the high luxury segment and points to a bold new future for GT travel in the 21^st Century.

Unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show, the DBX Concept widens the appeal of the iconic British luxury brand and reaches out to a more diverse global audience than ever before.

Ahead of its appearance this weekend, Aston Martin Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman said: “As we explained when we debuted the car, the DBX Concept is designed to challenge the existing status quo in the high luxury GT segment. 

It promises to make luxury GT travel stylish and more comfortable than ever before, but also more practical, more family-friendly and more environmentally responsible.”

Marek and his team at the brand’s global headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, created the DBX Concept to showcase cutting edge engineering as well as a major evolution of Aston Martin’s highly-regarded design language.

Capable of accommodating four adults in comfort, the concept also carefully considers day-to-day practicality. It boasts generous luggage capacity, while the exterior metal work emphasises the brand’s approach of using authentic materials and is made of machined billet aluminium with visible milling lines in a piece of exquisite craftsmanship intended to be seen as the car’s jewellery.

The unique paint finish – Black Pearl Chromium – has been specially created to mimic the look of a genuine black pearl, and comprises a micro-fine layer of chrome to deliver a level of reflectivity that cannot be obtained through normal paint finishes.

Inside, the deliberate use of non-automotive standard materials generates a uniquely soft, cocooning ambience.

Marek Reichman explained: “The exceptional craftsmanship displayed on this car – with detailing more typically seen on luxury consumer goods or fine jewellery – really showcases the best of what Aston Martin can be.”

He added: ‘I know the enthusiastic and knowledgeable visitors to this world-renowned Concorso d’Eleganza will appreciate seeing such a radical concept that undoubtedly signals a bright future for Aston Martin.”

The DBX Concept will make its debut at the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza on Saturday 23 May.

Range Rover duo win at Auto Express annual awards

• All-new Range Rover voted Best Luxury Car
• Range Rover wins Design Award
• Range Rover Evoque scoops Best Compact SUV

 Land Rover vehicles have again proved they can do battle with the best, scooping three top prizes at the annual Auto Express Awards. The all-new Range Rover was voted ‘Best Luxury Car’ by the judging panel, which consists of the magazine’s road testers and other senior staff members.

Steve Fowler, Auto Express Editor-in-Chief commented: “The new Range Rover is an awesome achievement, combining the highest standards of luxury with a hitherto impossible blend of on-road comfort and off-road ability. To do all that with such style and efficiency makes it a worthy winner.”

The Range Rover also won ‘Auto Express Design Award’, voted for by magazine readers and website visitors. More than 80 production cars and concept vehicles were eligible, yet the Range Rover came out on top.

Steve Fowler added: “It’s testimony to the work Land Rover Design Director Gerry McGovern and his team have done in reinventing this motoring icon, especially when you see the long list of beautiful cars the Range Rover beat.”

Land Rover Design Director and Chief Creative Officer, Gerry McGovern said: "Designing the All-New Range Rover for a new era was always going to be a significant challenge; particularly finding the right balance between maintaining its iconic form while giving it greater relevance and modernity.  It also had to sit comfortably as the flagship of a whole new generation of Range Rovers.  This award is particularly significant to us at Land Rover as it is voted for by the Auto Express readers themselves and reflects the efforts of everyone in the Land Rover Design Team."

The all-new Range Rover is the most capable and most luxurious Land Rover yet. Up to 420 kilogrammes lighter with new levels of refinement, the Range Rover reinforces its position as the world's finest luxury SUV.

Not to be left out was the Range Rover Evoque, which was awarded the honour of ‘Best Compact SUV’. It’s the magazine’s former Car of the Year and is receiving an Auto Express trophy for the third year in a row.

Steve Fowler commented:  “Its star is showing no sign of dimming. We love its style, quality and ability on and off-road. It remains one of the most desirable cars on sale in the UK today.”

With more than 130 global awards under its belt, the Evoque has gained critical acclaim from customers and media alike. The Evoque continues to receive plaudits for its concept car looks, dynamic driving performance, class leading off-road skills and excellent cost of ownership. Most recently, a Special Edition Evoque was launched in the UK which is available in coupé and 5-door, customers can choose from two exterior colour schemes, each one unique to the Special Edition model and based on a new Black Design Pack. Choices include a Sicilian Yellow exterior body finish with a Santorini Black contrast roof, or a Santorini Black exterior body finish with a Sicilian Yellow contrast roof and door mirrors. Unique interior finishes include yellow contrast stitching on seats, central storage area, door trims and fascia mid-section, plus an anodised yellow horizontal finisher.

The awards were announced at a gala event at the Grand Connaught Rooms, in London’s Covent Garden.

Jeremy Hicks, Managing Director for Jaguar Land Rover UK commented: “Three trophies in one night is a fantastic achievement, but what’s especially pleasing is they each recognise distinct aspects of our business. The Range Rover has set new standards in luxury, the Evoque continues to be the benchmark car for compact SUVs, and industry leading design will always be at the heart of everything we do.”

New brand Qoros wins award.

 New international car brand, Qoros, once again attracted attention at the 15th Shanghai International Auto Show by collecting its first design award.  In addition to catching the eye of hundreds of thousands of show visitors with its elegant styling and spacious interior, the Qoros 3 Sedan received the Award for the Most Eagerly Anticipated Domestic Car of 2013 at the Most Beautiful Automobile China Awards ceremony.

The Qoros 3 Sedan was styled by the brand’s Executive Director of Design, Gert Hildebrand, who leads the Qoros design teams in Munich and Shanghai.  The car exemplifies two core design concepts advocated by Hildebrand: perfect proportion and ‘less is more’.  The Qoros 3 Sedan is dynamic yet elegant, generously proportioned, and has a spacious interior and a larger footprint than other compact (C-segment) cars.  It introduces several Qoros signature design themes that will feature on future models.

 “It is a great pleasure for Qoros to be honoured with such a prestigious award for our first car,” said Hildebrand.  “The Qoros 3 Sedan defines the unique characteristics of future Qoros models through its elegant, modern and dynamic design features.”

The Qoros 3 Sedan was designed specifically for young, aspirational metropolitan motorists.  In addition to its elegant looks, it will feature European engineering, quality and safety standards and a generous level of equipment as standard, including an industry-leading eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

The Most Beautiful Automobile China Awards programme, one of the most prominent in the global auto design industry, honours the most beautiful cars on display at the Shanghai and Beijing Auto Shows.  The prestigious awards were introduced in 2007 by Car & Driver China magazine.

“That the Qoros 3 Sedan should receive the trophy for the Most Eagerly Anticipated Domestic Car of 2013 in these highly respected awards demonstrates the impact that the judges believe this forthcoming model will have in the coming years, not only within the Chinese auto industry, but on a global scale,” concludes Hildebrand.