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Hyundai becomes first Asian car manufacturer to be awarded top prize
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500 leading industry experts cast their votes for the winner
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Advanced crash-absorbing structure praised for its innovative construction
The Hyundai i40 has won the prestigious Golden Award at this year’s EuroCarBody Conference in Germany, beating nine of Europe’s and Japan’s largest automakers to the prize.
Hyundai collected the top prize – considered one of the highest accolades in the industry – at their first entry in this contest.
Hosted by Automotive Circle International, an organisation of top automotive suppliers and manufacturers, the EuroCarBody awards were judged by over 500 attending delegates, including industry experts from across the world.
The judges praised the comprehensive engineering and effective development of materials, as well as the production efficiency of the i40 that scored 37,98 out of a maximum of 50 points. The closest competitor and second-placed car, the Audi A6, scored 35,86, with the Mercedes B-Class in third place achieving 34,66, giving Hyundai a clear victory.
Hyundai’s use of high-strength steel and improved joints in the structure mean that the i40’s lightweight body has high energy-absorption efficiency that provides increased safety to occupants in the event of an accident – characteristics recognised by the judging panel.
The competitors in the contest came from Audi, BMW, Ford, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Opel, Land Rover and Volkswagen.
“Winning the EuroCarBody Golden Award demonstrates our commitment to providing the highest levels of safety for Hyundai customers,” commented Allan Rushforth, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Hyundai Motor Europe.
“The i40 was recently awarded a maximum five-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash test, and this latest award is further independent evidence that our technology is market-leading. We will continue our efforts for ever-better technology to protect passengers and improve all aspects of vehicle performance,” said Rushforth.
Available in wagon and – from the end of the year – sedan body styles, the all-new i40 was designed and engineered in Europe, specifically for the European and British market, but not destined for South Africa.
Recently the i40 was rated in the lowest insurance grouping for a D-segment car in the United Kingdom, thanks to its innovative body structure.
