Students from Hongik University in Seoul have won this year's Ferrari World Design Contest. The Korean design was chosen over a proposal by IED of Turin with the Royal College of Arts in London taking third place.
The Hongik University proposal, Eternita, was judged to best meet the brief to produce a Ferrari 'hypercar' of the future using the latest technologies. All the entries used some form of alternative propulsion - particularly hybrid systems - to cut emissions. Weight reduction was another common theme; with the goal of improving driving pleasure.
Prizes for the top three finalists were presented by Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo, CEO Amedeo Felisa, Flavio Manzoni of the Ferrari Styling Centre and Paolo Pininfarina of the Pininfarina Group.
After presenting the awards di Montezemolo commented: "Nurturing the creativity of young people is a fundamental strategy in every walk of life. The Ferrari World Design Contest represents a window that we want to keep open on the world and the creative energy of the next generation. I saw at first hand the many genuinely innovative ideas that these talented youngsters sent us and could feel the enormous passion and commitment that had gone into them. I am certain that some of these suggestions will come to light in the Ferraris of the future."
Two more prizes were awarded. The Autodesk Design Award, presented for the best use of Alas Computer Aided Design software, went to Hongik. For 'Most Unexpected Technical Solution' China's Jiangnan University took the prize with its Drake concept.
John Lambert - 20 Jul 2011