Jaguar, Land Rover, Honda win Australian Design Awards

The Awards night was hosted by SBS news anchor Lee Lin Chin, with guest speakers including the NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell and Hollywood director James Cameron.

In the Automotive and Transport category, the powerful 5.0-litre V8 supercharged Jaguar XFR was the first car to be recognised for its design excellence with the judges highlighting its combination of luxury and outright performance.

“Sleek, dynamic and daring, the Jaguar XFR fuses the awe-inspiring power of a sports car with the outstanding comfort of a luxury saloon. For the ultimate in performance, the XFR takes the XF to another dimension. The XFR intensifies the sporting experience without compromising any of the comfort. It delivers the sublime luxury of a saloon with the muscle of a thoroughbred champion,” was the description of the Jaguar XFR presented to the judges.

In summing up the award, the judges described the XFR as, “An elegant, classy and beautifully finished design that makes a statement without being showy”.

Jaguar’s sister company Land Rover also took out a design award in the same category for its stunning Range Rover Evoque.

The Evoque has already notched up a string of awards from around the world with the judges at the Australian International Design Awards recognising the vehicle’s unique design that remains close to the original LRX concept vehicle.

“The all-new Range Rover Evoque. A Range Rover with an altogether different spirit. The most exciting vehicle in a generation. Bold and sophisticated in design with clever technology that’s innovative, relevant and always intuitive to use. Nothing else looks like it, feels like it or drives like it. In fact, the Range Rover Evoque is a quantum leap in the evolution of Range Rover”, was the description of the Evoque handed to the judges.

In awarding the Evoque the judges commented, “Very good value considering exceptional fit, finish and features. A bold form that is turning heads”.

Honda also took home an award in the transport category for its Honda CR-Z, which is the first car in the world to combine a six-speed manual transmission into its hybrid drivetrain.

Launched in Australia in November 2011, the judges made reference to the Honda CR-Z’s modern interior and design flair evoking the iconic style of the 1980s Honda CR-X, commenting, “Interesting steering wheel and dash arrangement, tactile features and nostalgic design flair”.

The overall winner of the Australian Design Awards this year was the Deepsea Challenger.

Designed and manufactured by four Australian companies – Acheron Project, Design + Industry, McConaghy Boats and Finite Elements – in partnership with James Cameron, the vessel is the first of its kind capable of taking a human to the bottom of the ocean, 11km below the ocean surface.