“i” minicar from Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has been awarded the “Good Design Grand Prize 2006” (the prize of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry) in the Good Design Award run by the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization. The “i” is the first minicar model to win the Good DesignGrand Prize, which is given to the most outstanding entry among all categories in the year. The minicar, “i” was developed as an innovative premium small car that successfully overcomes the tradeoffs traditionally associated with the category: design versus comfortable interior space; comfortable interior space versus impact safety. Mitsubishi Motors has conquered these challenges by developing a new and leading edge rear-midship layout that mounts the engine forward of the rear axle line.
This permits three new “innovations” within the category’s dimensional constraints: futuristic and uptown styling; agile handling and a comfortable ride; and excellent multidirectional impact safety. This highly original exterior and interior design, which is delivered by the ingenious platform, brought the grand prize in the award.
