Finalists announced in Fiat UK's 'Smiles per Hour' design competition

Fiat UK has picked five finalists in the ‘Smiles per Hour Design Competition', a design contest we first told you about back in July. The aim of the competition was to find a budding designer in Britain who would develop a clever and amusing new way to travel.

Following an initial judging process, the selection for best designs comprised of Simon Tarrant's 'Street Rower'; Nick Rawcliffe's 'Snowbone'; Natalie Daghestani's 'Hylo female commuter shoe'; Steven Spong's ‘Longbow'; and Harley Zblewski's 'Suitcase Car' -  a design we first saw at Coventry University's annual Degree Show in June.

The competitors, each vying for the £50,000 top prize to develop their prototypes, have already taken part in a special presentation and mentoring session at Fiat's London-based flagship store and will go on through to the final selection of a winner on 25 September.

Now they must prove their innovations have got what it takes to impress the judges as well as members of the public, who will be allowed to vote for their favorite designs until 20 September. The public vote will count towards the overall score awarded to each of the innovations on finals' night.

The prototypes will remain on display at at Fiat's London store until 9 October.

By Eric Gallina