WE’VE ALWAYS ARGUED that good design is in the eye of the beholder (and consequently limit our comments on car design because it is the buyers who will make the final call) but when a respected body such as Good Design Australia compliments a car’s design, we have to take note.
The Hyundai i30 Fastback N has been awarded a 2020 Good Design Award in the Automotive and Transport product category.
The prestigious Australian International Good Design Awards, which recognise the pinnacle of design and innovation in Australia, were announced during the 2020 Good Design Week (7-11September).
The i30 Fastback N’s 2020 accolade marks back-to-back triumphs for Hyundai Motor Company, following the Kona Electric’s outright 2019 Automotive and Transport category win.
“We are thrilled to secure a prestigious Good Design Award for the second consecutive year, in recognition of i30 Fastback N’s stylish, aerodynamic design, quality and performance” Hyundai Motor Company Australia Chief Executive Officer, Jun Heo said.
“The award complements Kona Electric’s overall category win in 2019, for its contribution to environmentally sustainable motoring.
“These awards highlight the appeal of Hyundai products to a wide range of customers, from the high-performance sports-coupe enthusiast to zero-emissions SUV buyers,” he said.
Jurors, from a panel of more than 55, heaped praise on the i30 Fastback N – the acclaimed second offering from the Hyundai N Performance Division – commenting that it features European fastback design cues that are “most often seen on higher priced premium models.”
“The low roof, sloping glass line and longer rear overhang balance overall proportions giving the car a classic sporty four-door coupe appeal,” the judges said.
“The haunches over the wheel arches add to the aggressive look and the prominent, yet well integrated duck tail reinforces the messaging that this is a performance car.”
“The styling elements on the rear match the front, providing a refined, balanced and sophisticated look to the vehicle. It’s not overly aggressive, so it will appeal to a broader audience.”
“The bodystyle’s drag reduction versus the hatch is a notable design achievement.”
As well as praising the i30 Fastback N’s eye-catching, aerodynamic form, panellists commented on its extraordinary value in terms of quality, features and finish.
“The designers and engineers have worked hard to balance the interior cost and have spent the money on the areas that will give users a strong sense of value,” said the jury, noting the use of “soft-feel, tactile materials in the touch zones”.
The panel also praised the i30 Fastback N’s high performance for the price, remarking that the i30 N hatchback – which shares its mechanicals with the Fastback – is “itself significant for being Hyundai’s first high performance hatch, matching and in some cases exceeding the abilities of pricier European rivals.”
“Its performance credentials are excellent for this category and price point,” the judges summarised.
“Receiving a Good Design Award is a significant achievement given the very high calibre and record number of entries received in 2020,” said Dr. Brandon Gien, CEO of Good Design Australia.
The 2020 Good Design Awards jury evaluated each design from a record 835 submissions against a strict set of criteria. To earn recognition, Good Design Award entries had to demonstrate outstanding design and innovation under the banners of Good Design, Design Innovation and Design Impact.
Good Design Australia and the Good Design Awards
The Good Design Awards are conducted by Good Design Australia, an international organisation established in 1958, which is committed to promoting the importance of design to business, industry, government and the public in creating a better, safer and more prosperous world.
The annual Good Design Awards for the best new products and services in the Australian market recognise excellence in architectural design, engineering, fashion, digital and communication design, design strategy and social impact design, as well as emerging talent in the young designers category.