Mazda MX-5, Mazda CX-3 and Mazda2 distinguished this year by design centre
Mazda will take away accolades for the all-new Mazda MX-5, Mazda CX-3 and Mazda2 from the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2015 ceremony in June. Initiated in 1955 by the Essen, Germany-based Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen, Red Dot is the world’s largest and most prestigious product competition.
The soon to be launched in South Africa fourth-generation of the iconic roadster Mazda MX-5, has won the “Red Dot: Best of the Best” prize, the contest’s highest distinction, bestowed on only 1.6% of the submissions this year for exceptionally ground-breaking designs. Expected launch in South Africa in the fourth quarter of 2015, the Mazda CX-3, Mazda’s First-Ever small SUV was chosen for a “Red Dot” award for outstanding design quality. The recently launched All-New Mazda2 receives an “Honourable Mention”.
Mazda’s three newest models thus follow in the path of preceding new-generation Mazdas. All have now won prizes in recognition of their head-turning ‘KODO – Soul of Motion’ exterior designs, including Red Dot awards for five of them.
KODO’s lines and shapes represent pent-up energy and the athletic “moving” nature of Mazda’s vehicles. The concept has its roots in the carmaker’s long-time sports car tradition, perhaps no better epitomised than by the MX-5. Now in its fourth generation, the world’s best-selling roadster has a uniquely dynamic KODO style. The Mazda CX-3 and Mazda2 have also been targets of praise in the small SUV and B segments, respectively.
The Red Dot jury assessed the entries based on a number of criteria ranging from design innovation to functionality, ergonomics and ecological compatibility. For the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2015, the international jury of designers, professors and journalists evaluated 4,928 submissions from 56 countries.
“This recognition from Red Dot is a testimony to KODO’s flexibility and the artistic freedom it gives. Every single new-generation model has now been honored for its KODO exterior. Having just recently launch the All-New Mazda2, we highly anticipate the introduction of the All-New Mazda MX-5 and First-Ever Mazda CX-3 to the South African market,” David Hughes, MSA’s Managing Director.
Mazda and other winners have earned the right to bear the “red dot” symbol; an international seal of design excellence, will receive their awards on 29 June at the Aalto Theatre in Essen.
The products themselves, selected in 31 categories including vehicles, will be on display in the Red Dot Design Museum Essen from 30 June 2015 to 30 July 2016 and online at www.red-dot.de.
