Jaguar Design Director Ian Callum named Industry Innovator of the Year

• Jaguar Design Director Ian Callum named Industry Innovator of the Year at Motorcity Automotive Industry Night (MAIN) Event
• Jaguar products praised for distinct design language, use of advanced technology and outstanding vehicle dynamics

Jaguar Design Director Ian Callum has this week been named ‘Industry Innovator of the Year’ at the 2014 Motorcity Automotive Industry Night (MAIN) Event Awards.  Jaguar was recognised by the MAIN Event Executive Committee as the ultimate definition of automotive luxury and praised for its distinct design language, use of advanced technology and outstanding vehicle dynamics.  The ceremony took place at Orchestra Hall, Detroit, in front of an audience of over 700 automotive executives, designers and international media.

Presenting the trophy to Ian, Keith Nagara, Executive Committee Chairman said: “Jaguars are beautiful vehicles that all generations aspire to own.  They epitomise the ultimate in automotive luxury, desirability and craftsmanship.  Ian Callum has led the design revolution at Jaguar that has helped transform the brand, most recently demonstrated by the launch of the stunning F-TYPE Coupé.  This is a brand that is going from strength to strength.”

Ian Callum said: “It is an honour to receive this award.  It is with the benefit of having such a great team around me that we have been able to deliver the cars and designs that define Jaguar today.”

Ian Callum has been at the forefront of the transformation of Jaguar's design aesthetic since joining the brand in 1999. Born in Dumfries, Scotland, he studied Industrial Design at the Glasgow School of Art.  Upon graduating, Callum opted to specialise in vehicle design, enrolling at the Royal College of Art (RCA) on the Automobile Design course, and has since received five honorary doctorates from universities around the world. Callum is responsible for Jaguar design language created over the past decade, which includes the current Jaguar XK, XF, XJ and the recently launched F-TYPE sports car.

Staged in Detroit on the eve of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS),the annual celebration of automotive excellence allocates four awards across design and industry.  Each year two industry executives whose achievements have made a substantial global impact, leading their institutions to set new standards of industry innovation, are recognised at the awards. Celebrating not only established excellence, the next generation of automotive talent is selected by the MAIN Executive Committee from current design students at Lawrence Technological University.

Rolls Royce wins Top Gear Magazine award - with a rather splendid name

Rolls-Royce Wraith was honoured this evening at the BBC TopGear Magazine 2013 Car of the Year Awards, winning the category ‘Rather Splendid Motor Car of the Year’.

Following a comprehensive road-test by Associate Editor Tom Ford, Motoring Editor Ollie Marriage took on the role of delivery driver, traversing 951 miles from his home to the car’s International Media Launch in Vienna in one day, arriving in time for dinner.

In delivering the award, TopGear Magazine had this to say about the fastest, most powerful Rolls-Royce in history: “It’s massive and magnificent: a staggering, bewitching, gorgeous object to spend time with. In short, an experience.”

“Since launch, I have been delighted to see Wraith win plaudits from some of the most respected writers in our industry. In taking the car from the UK to Vienna in just one day, TopGear embraced the car’s intended use; crossing continents effortlessly at pace. This award today is an endorsement of Wraith’s status as the ultimate gentlemen’s gran turismo,” said Richard Carter, Director of Communications, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

This is not the first time Rolls-Royce has been honoured this year. Walpole awarded the marque its 2013 Award for Excellence in the British Luxury Brand category whilst the 2013 Centenary Alpine Trial won ‘Best Rally of the Year’ at the International Historic Motoring Awards.

Range Rover wins yet another award.

The All-New Range Rover has been bestowed with this year’s Northern Group of Motoring Writers’ Car of the Year Award following a vote among leading journalists.

It’s the first time in the nine year-old competition that Land Rover has come out in top place cementing the revolutionary aluminium-bodied fourth generation Range Rover as the most refined and technically advanced SUV ever.

Land Rover was presented with the traditional winner’s prize, a genuine North country miner’s lamp, after NGMW secretary, Alan Domville, described the luxury off-roader as “having no equal”.  He said: “Despite having first entered the market place 43 years ago, its success across the world has made it an outstanding showcase for British engineering and design skills.”

Nick Rogers, Range Rover’s Vehicle Line Director said: “Land Rover is absolutely delighted to have won this coveted award for the all-new Range Rover. The team has worked tirelessly to produce the most capable and most luxurious Land Rover ever and the award is a testament to their passion for innovation and perfection.”

Subaru Forester Sports/Utility wins award from Motor Trend Magazine

Subaru’s best-selling model, the Forester compact SUV, has won the coveted 2014 Sport / Utility of the Year award from the USA’s influential Motor Trend magazine.

The Forester’s latest accolade makes Subaru the first and only brand to have won three Sport / Utility of the Year awards from Motor Trend, which is read by over 1.1 million people every month.  The previous-generation Forester picked up the award in 2009, and the Subaru Outback was also crowned winner in 2010.

The Subaru Forester beat 21 other SUVs to take first place during Motor Trend’s exhaustive testing process, with models graded according to six criteria: Design Advancement, Engineering Excellence, Intended Function, Efficiency, Safety and Value.  The new Forester scored highly in all categories.

Motor Trendeditor-in-chief Ed Loh commented: “Smart design, thoughtful engineering, and a compelling performance on-road and off were the keys to the Forester’s win.  Our editors were particularly impressed by the powerful yet efficient turbocharged engines, the intelligent and sporty CVT transmission, and the excellent visibility and interior package.  Practical, affordable, efficient and fun-to-drive – the Forester truly ticked every box.”

The new Forester went on sale in the UK in May 2013, and builds upon the model’s reputation as a modern, rugged SUV with improved performance, safety and efficiency and a more spacious and better appointed cabin.

Since the UK launch, sales of the new model have been strong, with particularly high demand for the XT Turbo model which is bucking the market trend for diesel SUV sales, equipped as it is with a 240ps 2.0-litre turbocharged direct injection petrol engine delivering smooth and strong pulling power both on and off-road.

F-Type takes another awrd to add to its ever growing collection.

The Jaguar F-TYPE has been voted the winner of the Autonis design award by the respected German motoring magazine,Auto Motor und Sport, following a poll of its readers.

The F-TYPE, which has been available in Germany since May of this year, was judged in the convertible segment - one of eight categories - taking top-spot with an outstanding 32 percent of almost 18,000 reader votes.

Jaguar Director of Design, Ian Callum, and Peter Modelhart, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover Germany, accepted the prize at an awards ceremony at Hohenheim Castle yesterday evening.

Speaking from the ceremony, Ian Callum said: "Creating the F-TYPE has given both my team and I great satisfaction. Working on a sports car that holds true to Jaguar's design values - beauty of line and purity of form - has been a great privilege, and I'm honored the readers of Auto Motor und Sport have recognized our work with this award."