'Car & Truck Interior of the Year' Awards to be Named May 16
28 February 2000
Automotive & Transportation Interiors' 'Car & Truck Interior of the Year' Awards to be Named May 16 ATLANTA, Feb. 25 -- Automotive & Transportation Interiors
magazine will present its inaugural Car & Truck Interior of the Year Awards
during the 2000 Automotive & Transportation Interiors Expo, May 16-18 at Cobo
Center in Detroit. The award will recognize outstanding achievement in
vehicle interior design, engineering and manufacturing.
The magazine will announce six finalists for the awards in its April
issue, with the winning entries to be announced at its annual benefit
scholarship awards banquet held on Tuesday, May 16 at the Atheneum Suite Hotel
in Detroit. During the banquet ceremony, the publication will also present
its annual scholarship awards, design and technology awards and its Lifetime
Achievement Award.
According to Richard Lebovitz, Automotive & Transportation Interiors
co-publisher and editor, "Both production passenger cars and light trucks,
including imports introduced in North America for the 2000 model year will be
eligible. The vehicles must be all-new or represent a significant redesign to
be considered."
After screening the new introductions, the Automotive & Transportation
Interiors editorial staff will narrow the choices to three passenger cars and
three light trucks (minivans, pickups, sport utilities) based on the vehicle's
interior appearance, functionality and innovation.
"Appearance will take into consideration both interior styling and fit-
and-finish," Lebovitz says. "Functionality will include comfort, convenience
and safety features as well as ergonomics."
"Innovation," predicts Lebovitz, "will be the most challenging criterion
for automakers to meet. It will range from "surprise and delight" features to
the original use of materials. Taken as a whole, all three criteria represent
qualities that make one vehicle stand out from another and excite the auto-
buying public," he says. "Ultimately, that's what the business of automotive
interiors is all about."
More information on the banquet can be obtained by contacting Aimee Doyne,
meeting manager, 800-241-9034 or 770-569-1540, Ext. 379, or e-mail
adoyne@bci-atl.com. For information on the awards, contact Richard Lebovitz,
co-publisher/editor, 800-241-9034 or 770-569-1540, Ext. 273, or e-mail
rlebovitz@autointeriors.com.
Visit http://www.autointeriorexpo.com or phone 888-204-4845 for information on
this year's Automotive and Transportation Interiors Conference and Expo.
