2010
Concept Vehicle of the Year Award Winners Announced
Detroit, MI,
June 21 - The ninth annual North American Concept Vehicle
of the Year Awards were announced this evening during
a ceremony at the Automotive Hall of Fame. The awards
recognize those vehicles most likely to shape the future
of the automobile industry. A jury of more than two dozen
North American automotive journalists selected the winners
from 19 Concept Vehicles and 8 Production Preview Vehicles
that made a North American debut during the 2010 Auto
Show season.
The Production
Preview Vehicle category is for those vehicles based on
a model that has already been announced or planned for
production.
On a fast track
to become the first all-electric vehicle to reach mass-market
status, the Nissan Leaf takes the honor of 2010 Production
Preview Vehicle of the Year. According to juror Chris
Poole, "The Nissan Leaf is a bold and ambitious effort
to bring pure-electric vehicles to the mass-market at
a price real people can afford. As such, it promises to
change the way thousands of people drive over the next
few years, and could well accelerate mass-market acceptance
of EVs."
Because of
the unprecedented challenges faced by the auto industry
in 2010, a reduced number of Concept Vehicles prompted
the consolidation of the Car, Truck, and Specialty Concept
categories into a single "Concept Vehicle" category.
With just the one category for the 2010 Concepts, the
winners in that category earn the distinction of Most
Significant Concept Vehicle of 2010. Also unprecedented
in the competition is this year's tie for that top spot.
Making electrified
technology an across-the-board theme for this year's awardees,
the co-winners of the Most Significant Concept Vehicle
of 2010 honor are the Audi e-tron, and the BMW Vision
Efficient Dynamics.
The Audi e-tron
features two electric drive motors that independently
power each of the rear wheels, representing a leap in
the evolution of drivetrain power distribution. The ability
to independently control not only braking, but also power
application down to the level of milliseconds, enables
precise control of vehicle dynamics, beyond that of current
stability control systems. "This peek into Audi's
not too distant future promises to infuse the EV category
with the style, performance and desirability," said
juror Lyndon Conrad Bell. "Audi has trained us to
expect from its products. A miniature R8 with instant
torque and no emissions? How can you not love that?"
Sporting the
gullwing doors that are among the signature design attributes
of many legendary super-cars, BMW's Vision EfficientDynamics
concept combines a plug-in hybrid drivetrain architecture,
with a cutting-edge 2+2 interior configuration, neatly
wrapped with an angular yet organic body line. "BMW's
Vision EfficientDynamics promises that a future filled
with hybrids and EVs does not have to be drab. Performance
for this plug-in full hybrid is measured not only in MPG,
but also MPH . . . Environmental responsibility, meet
exhilaration," says juror Ryan Gehm.
While the studios
that gave form to this year's winners have all made it
to the finalist level in previous years, 2010 marks the
first podium appearance for all three design studios.
This also marks the first year of competition where one
of the "Detroit 3" manufacturers did not claim
the top honors.
Additional
information and details regarding the nominees, the selection
jury and the award winners can be found by visiting
on the web.