Lexus unveiled the now award-winning LF-LC concept at the Detroit Auto Show Monday.
The new Ford Fusion and the Lexus LF-LC took honors as the best production and best concept cars in the annual Eyes on Design Awards at the 2012 North American International Auto Show.
It wasn’t an easy trophy to take home, more than 50 concept and production vehicles debuting during the show’s two days of media previews.
Good design has long been a competitive advantage in the auto industry. But it is becoming increasingly important in today’s automotive market, said Freeman Thomas, an advanced designer with Ford Motor Co. It is being credited with helping makers as diverse as Ford, Audi and Hyundai gain ground in an industry just recovering from one of its worst recessions in decades.
“It’s the difference between a short-order cook and a great chef,” said Thomas.
The new Lincoln MKZ Concept.
The judges for the Eyes on Design Awards include some of the industry’s most notable penman, from retired Ford Design Director Jack Telnack to Hyundai’s new design chief Chris Chapman. And to give the judging some outside flavor, the jurors also included Willie G. Davidson, of Harley Davidson and Pat Schiavone, of Whirlpool.
Finalists for Production Car included:
- Ford Fusion, the new sedan going up against such midsize mainstays as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord;
- Cadillac ATS, the maker’s new compact model, itself facing a tough battle against
- BMW’s all-new 3-Series, also debuting at this year’s Detroit Auto Show.
On the Concept side:
- The Chevrolet Tru 140S, one of a pair of Chevy show cars designed to test opportunities with young Millennial buyers;
- Lincoln MKZ, a midsize sedan aiming to rebuild perceptions of the once-powerful luxury brand;
- The Lexus LF-LC, which the Toyota luxury brand sees as a way to show it is trying to pump more passion into the brand.
Several judges privately told TheDetroitBureau.com that the balloting wasn’t easy, a news conference to announce the results delayed by nearly an hour.
In the end, the Lexus LF-LC was cited for its “great surface development.”
Kevin Hunter, president of Toyota’s advanced CALTY Design studio, near Los Angeles, which handled the project, called the LF-LC “a designer’s dream.”
For his part, Ford designer Moray Callum laughed when he was told the Fusion was described as “effortless design.” Not necessarily, said Callum. “It was a bit more effort than that.”