New look Motor Show Awards

03 Oct 2000

The newly named Corus IVehE Motor Show Awards will uniquely celebrate and reward the very best in automotive design engineering at a prestigious awards ceremony and gala dinner. The Awards look under the skin of what is on show and highlights significant breakthroughs on issues such as environmental impact and for the first time safety.

"The issue of safety will be the driving force behind car design this century", comments David Burnicle, Vice President, Institute of Vehicle Engineers. "Manufacturers today are working hard to design cars that will help save the lives of both motorists and pedestrians. It is important to recognise any engineering and design innovation that improves both active and passive safety and we are delighted to introduce this new category".

Continuing support from Corus, the new multi-metals company formed by the merger of British Steel and Koninklijke Hoogovens, the Motor Show Awards will use the 1998 banner of ‘Rewarding Engineering Excellence’ to generate even greater support from exhibiting manufacturers.

The new, modern, forward-looking Institute of Vehicle Engineers has also introduced automatic entry for any vehicle exhibited at the show. A distinguished panel of automotive specialists will judge the 23 categories throughout press day. In addition to the new Safety Award, manufacturers will be vying for the coveted Car of the Show Award, won in 1998 by Jaguar’s S-type and the Environmental Award won by the Toyota Prius.

Made up of a number of industry experts in their field, the judging panel will work as teams to select models on the basis of their interior and exterior design as well as quality of build and finish.

As in previous years all classes of vehicle from the smallest city cars to the largest executive saloons and ranging from sports utilities to light commercial vehicles will be represented. However, for the first time a new category – Specialist Low Volume Manufacturer – has been introduced allowing judges to avoid assessing manufacturers who produce low volume, niche products against the highly tooled, high volume products of the major vehicle manufacturers.

Christopher Macgowan, chief executive of the SMMT, said: "The Corus IVehE Motor Show Awards are the industry’s opportunity to reward the best in automotive design engineering. As an organisation, we want to highlight the technological breakthroughs achieved by the automotive design industry – technical features that are now becoming the key differentiator in a highly competitive global market – and so are delighted to support an Award that looks under the skin of the cars on show."

Helen Williams of Corus comments: "Corus is committed to supporting design engineering excellence. We are aware that the smallest component can have a fundamental impact on the performance of a vehicle. We believe the role and work of the design engineer in the UK and other global automotive centres of excellence should be elevated amongst future car buyers."

For more information, please contact:

Biss Lancaster

01582 763 259