The Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2001: Underway in the U.S.A

GM HydroGen1 fuel cell vehicle participates in the competition at the Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2001 for environmentally compatible vehicles, Friday at the California Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Photo by: Michael

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 26 -- The Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2001 got underway at the Automobile Club of Southern California today with a competition for vehicle design. Many of the participants also took advantage of the beautiful setting at the Club to hold news conferences and introduce their competing vehicles, but for the Challenge, the focus was on design.

``Design is an important part of the vehicle's personality and charm,'' said Dick Ruzzin, chairman of the design committee. ``But creative design can be an enhancement to vehicle performance and vice-versa. Aerodynamics, lighter weight materials, even tire/wheel systems can add to the function as well as beauty of a vehicle's design.''

Judges voted for their best choice and up to five other competitors in each of the nine categories. The design solution with the most points in each category, as defined by the judges collectively, is the category winner. The winners of the nine categories, which were co-sponsored by Johnson Controls, Inc., are as follows:

    Interior Design (Sub-compact/Compact): 2001 Audi A2

    Interior Design (Mid-Size/Full Size): Audi A8 3

    Interior Design (Lt. Truck/Van/SUV): 2002 Honda CRV

    Exterior Design (Sub-compact/Compact): 2001 Audi A2

    Exterior Design (Mid-Size/Full Size): Audi A8 3

    Exterior Design (Lt. Truck/Van/SUV): 2002 Honda CRV

    Design Integration/Use of New Technology (Sub-compact/Compact): 2002 Honda
    Insight

    Design Integration/Use of New Technology (Mid-Size/Full Size): Audi A8 3

    Design Integration/Use of New Technology (Lt. Truck/Van/SUV): 2000 GM-Opel
    Zafira (Tie)

                                                                  Toyota FCHV

The judging board was made up of designers who work as suppliers to the major manufacturers or are respected design educators. The Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2001 Design Awards Judges Panel included: Dan Ellis, Dave Hackett, Paul Ianuario, Carl Olsen, Chuck Pelly, Bill Porter, Bill Robinson, Sonja Schiefer, Orval Selders, Gerhard Steinle, Dave Stollery and Geoff Wardle. Unfortunately, famed vehicle designer Sergio Pininfarina, who was the honorary chairman of the design committee, was unable to attend the event.

For full details on the design competition and to see the winners, log on to www.challengebibendum.com or take a moment now to ...

    Ask Bibendum about the design competition

    Q.  What are the categories for the awards?

A. Vehicles were first divided into three classifications (Sub-compact/compact, Mid-size/full size, and Lt. Truck/Van/SUV). In each size category, the vehicles were judged on:

1) interior design

2) exterior design

3) interior/exterior design integration and use of new technology

Therefore, there are three awards in each size classification, for a total of nine design awards.

Q. Why are concept and production cars in the same category?

A. After consultation with design experts, it was decided that there was no objective reason to judge the design of a concept any differently than the design of a production vehicle. Quality, functionality, integration and innovation of design are the same in both.

Q. What do the winners receive?

A. Winners receive a Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2001 trophy, a sculpture designed especially for the occasion.

Michelin manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy duty trucks, motorcycles and the space shuttle.