Kia's five-door Picanto and Rio earned two Red Dot awards for 2012, bringing the Korean carmaker's total number of winning entries in the prestigious design competition to six since 2009.
More than 4,500 products by 1,800 manufacturers from 58 countries vied for the Red Dot recognition, and the Picanto and Rio were both named as winners in Red Dot's internationally acclaimed Product Design Category.
All the entries were scrutinized and tested in detail by an international jury of highly-respected design experts. The winners were selected on the basis of their level of innovation, functionality, ergonomics, durability, ecological compatibility and intuitive handling. In the end, only products that featured the highest standards of design became eligible for the coveted Red Dot award.
"We are very proud of the Red Dot awards for the Picanto and the Rio," said Peter Schreyer, Kia chief design officer. "They are a great tribute to our entire global design team, because all three Kia design centers were involved in the development of both vehicles--and the results are absolutely harmonious models with a strong presence. I am particularly happy about this thoroughly creative and successful collaboration between our teams in Korea, Europe and America."
The first Kia vehicle to receive the Red Dot award was the Soul crossover in 2009. The Venga compact MPV followed in 2010, while both the Sportage compact SUV and the Optima sedan claimed the top spots in 2011. The Optima was also named the 'Best of the Best' in 2011, the Red Dot competition's highest accolade for groundbreaking design, which only the best products in each category are eligible for.
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