The Renault Trezor and Lexus LC have been named winners at the Car Design Awards, presented this week at the 2017 Geneva motor show.
The Renault Trezor won Concept Car Design of the Year 2016, with the Jaguar I-Pace and Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 as runners-up.
The Trezor – its name is French for “treasure” – is a long and low two-door coupé, which made its debut at the Paris Motor Show in October 2016. It was on display again this week in Geneva.
The two-seater, rear-wheel-drive GT has an electric powertrain developed from Renault’s Formula E team. The Trezor is theoretically capable of a sub-four second 0-62mph time and offers three driving modes: normal, sport and fully autonomous. Although being a concept car, none of those claims are able to be validated.
Guy Bird, editor of Car Design Review, revealed that judges were impressed by the Trezor’s “dramatic exterior proportions, its interior flair and magnificent use of materials.”
Bird declared: “The Trezor is a triumph of creative design and a worthy winner.”
Anthony Lo and Stéphane Janin receive the Concept Car Design of the Year 2016 Award for the Renault Trezor.
Meanwhile, the new Lexus LC coupé was named Production Car Design of the Year 2016 with the Volvo V90 and Bugatti Chiron as runners-up.
The Lexus LC luxury coupe is based on the 2012 LF-LC concept car which premiered at the Detroit Motor Show. Designed to rival the BMW 6 series, two versions of the LC are available: the LC500h, a hybrid using both a V6 petrol and electrical powertrain, and the LC500 with a V8 engine.
Commenting on Lexus’ win, Bird said: “It was great to see the fantastic LF-LC concept faithfully translated into the beautiful LC production car with so little compromise.”
The Lexus LC is set to go on sale in the UK in Spring 2017 with pricing and specification yet to be announced.
The Lexus LC luxury coupe is based on the 2012 LF-LC concept car shown in Detroit.
A judging panel of 20 top car designers chose the winners of the Car Design Awards from a shortlist of twelve compiled by Car Design News staff.
Panellists this year included representatives from Hyundai Motor Group, Nissan, Daimler and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
The winner and runners-up for Concept Car Design of the Year: 1. Renault Trezor 2. Jaguar I-Pace 3. Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 4. Opel GT 5. Citroen CXperience 6. Genesis New York 7. MINI Vision Next 100 8. Lexus UX 9. DS E-Tense
10. Volkswagen ID
Jaguar I-Pace
Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6
The winner and runners-up for Production Car Design of the Year: 1. Lexus LC 2. Volvo V90 3. Bugatti Chiron 4. Tesla Model 3 5. Mazda CX-4/CX-5 6. Citroen C3 7. Renault Scenic 8. Land Rover Discovery 9. Suzuki Ignis
10. Peugeot 3008/5008
Volvo V90
Bugatti Chiron
Keyword: Geneva: Renault and Lexus awarded for outstanding car design