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March 30, Tokyo: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation used its web site to
invite entries to a design competition for a next-generation vehicle
during the period 19 October 1998 through 10 March 1999. Open to all,
with no restrictions on nationality or professional status, the competition
attracted a large number of entries from designers in many countries
having differing cultures and levels of motorization.
On 24 March, the entries were judged at the Tama Design Center, located in Tokyo, where Mitsubishi Motors' carries out its advance design work. In the preliminary judging, TDC design staff chose some 40 entries from a total of 255 to go through to the final. The Grand Prix selection panel comprised 11 judges, chosen both from within and from outside the company, who selected one Grand Prix, five First Prizes and one Honorable Mention.
The Mitsubishi Motors' International Design Competition 1999 is the second in the history of the competition, following on from the resounding success of the inaugural event last year. The competition theme this year was "Long Lasting", reflecting the company's "Innovation in Motion" corporate motto.
The Grand Prix winner is as given below. Full details of the results may also be viewed on the TDC web site. Mitsubishi Motors intends to make greater use of on-line networks to reflect customer needs more extensively in its new products.
1. Mitsubishi Motors' International Design Competition 99
Number of entries : 255
Number of countries : 43 (including Korea, UK, USA, Spain, Italy)
GRAND PRIX : 1,000,000 yen
Title : altum
Entered by : Kazunori Koishi
From : Japan
 
Features :
A living space that encourages its occupants to pass the time pleasantly. A fully-equipped and comfortable office space. altum combines these two functions in one mobile space in a new concept design that forges a different kind of relationship between man and vehicle.
Judges comments :
The Grand Prix winner caught the judges' imagination for predicting a fresh direction in automobile design. More a proposal for living space utility than for a vehicle, features that attracted altum high marks include the way it shares living and office spaces, and the high ratio of recyclable structural parts it incorporates.
2. Exhibition of entries
The Grand Prix and many other entries will soon be on public display in the ground floor lobby of the Tama Design Center. Please see the TDC web site below for details.
3. World Wide Web access
See the TDC home page for details of the entries and judges comments at the following URL:
http://www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/DESIGN/
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