"This design stirs up dreams," said Olivier Boulay, corporate general manger of MMC's car product design office and chairman of the design competition screening committee. "Good designs need a certain something that sparks people's enthusiasm for their dreams."

Basmanov, 24, receives 1 million yen and a trophy for his efforts.

A pair of Korean freelance designers came in second with their streamlined design "mini studio Companion" which combines functionality with a touch of Zen. Five other prizes were awarded including an Internet Prize in which the general public voted online for the design of their choice.

MMC's annual International Design Competition is run by the company's Tokyo Design Studio in Japan-a global base for research in advanced design. This year's record 438 entries from 59 countries were submitted based on one of two themes: "Personalized car for sophisticates" and "New-concept minivan."

Boulay adds that MMC will continue to use the competition to "communicate with people form all over the world using the universal language of design." The competition also plays an important part in MMC's own process of designing innovative and functional cars. "We are able to gain a better idea of user needs which we can then reflect into our own designs."

Prize-Winning Designs			Jurors' Comments
GRAND PRIZE SHIKI ANDREY BASMANOV Age:24/Full-time Designer Russia			This design looks very promising in terms of developing "emotional" designs. (Fujimoto)/ This design pushed the envelope of traditional minivan concepts. (Katsuo)/ The model shatters almost all of the conventional minivans' images, but it perfectly functions as a car. (Fukasawa)/ This design stirred up my dreams. (Boulay)
FIRST PRIZE mini studio "Companion" Golden Car-SNU(group name) KIM JIN-SUNG & CHA SUNG-WON Freelance Designer Korea			Viscerally, this is a very impressive design. It's cool. (Fujimoto)/ This is really "Japanese Modern" because of the well-organized, streamlined design with a wide variety of functions. (Fukasawa)/ This contains a lot of functions, and also some elements that are similar to Zen concepts. (Boulay)
Extra PRIZE Mitsubishi Katana PAVLE TRPINAC Age:23/Student Serbia and Montenegro			The way in which the car is assembled is very innovative. (Fujimoto)/ The styling is typical, but the concept of developing cars not by assembling panels is an innovative idea. It's interesting that its body-shell employs totally different materials being put together. (Fukasawa)/ This is associated with military images and elements. (Boulay)/ This must look cool when you see it running. (Hori)/ The concept of "hybrid" is fascinating. (Kouya)
Extra PRIZE MARIA YAN HONGZHENG Age:24/Student China			The concepts of this design are very unique. (Fujimoto)/ The car's lines are sensual. Thought about from the modern Japan viewpoint, it's very interesting. (Boulay)/ This design looks good for families that want to enjoy driving. (Ishino)/ Smooth curved lines in the exterior and interior are refreshing. I can see "Japanese Modern" in those sensitive lines. (Sekimono)
Extra PRIZE WAVE PROJECT ROBERTO DELFANTI Age:25/Freelance Designer Italy			Carved lines are wonderful. (Ishino)/ The unique styling and spacious long-slide front seats are impressive. (Hori)/ This is an emotive design. The styling designs including inchworm-like bodylines and a futuristic long front end are truly special. (Okuma)/ This design creates a nostalgic atmosphere as well. Excellent. (Sekimoto)
Extra PRIZE GEMINI JAM HRBEK Age:21/Freelance Designer Czech Republic			This design satisfies the competition themes: cool and emotional. (Fujimoto)/ Very emotional and highly-appreciated design. Driving it must be fun. (Katsuo)/ It seems to offer enjoyable viewing because of excellent visibility. It evokes coolness as well as friendliness. (Fukasawa)/ This design is powerful and so unique. (Boulay)
INTERNET PRIZE MITSUBISHI TR NICHOLAS WOMELDORFF Age:24/Student U.S.A.			I highly appreciated the well-organized and feasible concepts (though it is premised on fuel cells). (Katsuo)/ This looks like a lunar exploring vehicle; it provides similar pleasure to that which off-road cars give us. (Tominaga)