Chevrolet Avalanche, Ford Thunderbird Win '2002 Interior of the Year' Awards
DETROIT, May 14 -- The Chevrolet Avalanche and the Ford Thunderbird won top honors for having the "2002 Interior of the Year" for trucks and cars, respectively. The news was announced today at the annual Auto Interiors Show at Detroit's Cobo Conference Center.
The awards are presented annually by Auto Interiors magazine during the three-day Show, which opened Tuesday and runs through Thursday. Winners were picked from six finalists selected from more than 30 domestic and import cars and trucks, all of which are all-new 2002 model year vehicles or major redesigns for this model year. Judging was conducted at a series of auto shows and during test drives.
"The objective of the judging was to identify the car and truck whose interiors stand out for their beauty, functionality and innovation," said Carmen Pang, editor of Auto Interiors. "The final selection was very difficult since each of the six finalists had something unique that differentiated them from some very tough competition," she said.
"The judges were impressed by the sheer beauty of several entries, others scored points for their well-thought-out and functional interiors, and others got our attention simply because they are different and refreshing," Pang added. "In the final analysis, the Avalanche and the Thunderbird won because the judges felt they best exemplified the qualities expected of a world-class interior."
Judging was based on the following criteria:
- Appearance - styling, color, material, fit and finish;
- Functionality - comfort, convenience and safety;
- Innovation - surprise and delight factors; and
- Overall impression of the vehicle in motion and at rest.
In addition to the Avalanche, finalists for the Truck Interior of the Year Award were the Lincoln Blackwood and the Honda CR-V. Car finalists in addition to the Thunderbird were the BMW 7-Series and the Mini Cooper. "The winners and finalists will all be profiled in an upcoming issue of Auto Interiors magazine," Pang said.
Suppliers for the award-winning vehicles also were recognized during the awards ceremonies. For the Avalanche, they were:
- Airbag Modules - Autoliv, Delphi, TRW
- Door Trim Panel - Delphi
- Floor Console - Meridian
- Floor System - Collins & Aikman
- Headliner - Findlay
- HVAC Control Unit - Delphi
- HVAC System - Delphi
- Instrument Cluster - Delphi
- Instrument Panel - Delphi
- Seat Adjuster - Dura
- Seat Assembly - Lear
- Seat Belt - Takata-Petri
- Steering Wheel - Delphi
- Suppliers for the Thunderbird:
- Airbag Modules - Takata-Petri, TRW
- Door Latch - Kiekert
- Door Trim Panel - Lear
- Floor Console - Lear
- Floor System - Lear
- HVAC Control Unit - Visteon
- HVAC System - Visteon
- Instrument Cluster - Visteon
- Instrument Panel - Visteon
- Keyless Entry Control Unit - Visteon
- Keyless Entry Transmitter - Alps
- Seat Assembly - Lear
- Seat Belt - Takata-Petri
About the Auto Interiors Show
The 2002 Auto Interiors Show, the most influential annual exposition and conference focused on automotive interior design and technology, attracts more than 6,000 automotive interior designers and engineers. It is presented by Auto Interiors magazine and produced by VNU Expositions. This year's show will feature more than 250 interior-focused demonstrations and solutions from the world's leading Tier One, Tier Two, and Tier Three automotive suppliers. More than 200 companies will be exhibiting products and services in the fields of electronics, digital technology, materials, finished products and components parts, equipment and services.
In addition to the Auto Interiors Show, six other related events will run concurrently:
- Automotive Textiles, Plastics and Coatings Association workshops, May 14
- Industrial Designers Society of America Conference, May 14
- Eye-for-Auto Telematics 2002 Conference, May 15-16
- Automotive Sealant Council Conference, May 16
- Adhesive and Sealant Council Seminar, May 16
- INDA Non-Woven Fabric Association's Seminar, May 16
Exhibitor and attendee registration information can be found at www.autointeriorshow.com or by calling 1-800-933-8735 or 770-569-1540, ext. 560.
About Auto Interiors magazine
Launched in January 1994, Auto Interiors is a monthly publication serving the automotive interiors industry. The magazine is dedicated to delivering information on the current and future design, innovation and technology trends in the global automotive interiors business, as well as providing solutions for industry executives seeking better ways to design, engineer, manufacture and deliver products to their customers around the world. Content covers emerging technologies, including such important allied fields as electronics, new materials and processes, innovative products, government regulations and their impact on the comfort, convenience and safety of the automobile's occupants.