The radical Dacia Manifesto and the sumptuous Polestar 4 have been handed the top gongs at 2023’s Car Designs of the Year awards.
The silverware is handed-out each year by leading industry magazine and website Car Design News.
The ‘Production Car Design of the Year’ trophy was won by the fully-electric Polestar 4, which was applauded for ‘its innovative thinking and beautiful execution’.
The stylish Polestar 4 SUV-coupe crossover has a range of up to 350 miles between charges, and can be leased with Select Car Leasing from £854 per month*.
Meanwhile the electric Dacia Manifesto - a prototype we wrote about with glee last year - was named ‘Concept Car Design of the Year’.
It’s an eye-catching win for Dacia - and one that’s thoroughly deserved for the head-turning Manifesto.
The no-nonsense, all-wheel drive, battery-powered Manifesto is built for extreme adventures in the great outdoors. There’s no windscreen, no doors, and no windows - and ‘no barriers between the passengers and the environment’, says Dacia.
There are puncture-proof, airless tyres which have been created to last the entire lifetime of the vehicle.
And just about everything on the Manifesto has a dual purpose. The single headlight can be removed and used as a high-power torch, the seat covers double-up as sleeping bags, and the boot can be used as a work surface.
Dacia’s design director David Durand (above) said: “I am very honoured by the number of people who have appreciated the freshness of this small object, which expresses the values of our brand and shows that Dacia design is evolving. I don’t think anyone expected this from Dacia. This recognition from design professionals tells me that we’re on the right track.”
As James McLachlan, editor of Car Design News, points out: “In the ten years of these awards, Dacia has never previously been a contender for any car category, so to win this year’s Concept Car Design of the Year award is an incredible achievement and shows just how far its design department has come.”
Will the Dacia Manifesto ever see the light of day in a production sense? Kind of.
Lionel Jaillet, Dacia Product Performance Director, says the Manifesto will now be something of a rolling ‘lab’, as the manufacturer continues to test out new ideas.
He adds: “The version you can see today will keep on evolving as we keep on exploring! So don’t miss the next models: they will be ever smarter, ever more tailored to outdoor activities and ever more Dacia!”
Here’s the rest of this year’s Car Designs of the Year awards winners:
Top Ten Production Car Designs of the Year:
- Polestar 4
- Kia EV9
- Volvo EX30
- Jeep Avenger
- HiPhi Y
- Lamborghini Revuelto
- Ford Explorer
- Zeekr 009
- Aion Hyper SSR
- MG Cyberster
Top Ten Concept Car Designs of the Year:
- Dacia Manifesto
- Citroen Oli
- Mercedes Vision One-Eleven
- Audi Activesphere
- Lancia Pu+Ra HPE
- Porsche Mission X
- Peugeot Inception
- Dodge Charger Daytona SRT
- BMW i Vision Dee
- Lincoln Model L100
Production Car Designs of the Decade (joint winners)
- 2013 BMW i3
- 2021 Range Rover Mk5
*Prices include VAT. Credit is Subject to Status, Ts and Cs and Arrangement Fees apply. Excess mileage may apply. Stock levels and prices correct as of 08/12/23.
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