Michelin launches 2012 Challenge Design competition

What began back in 2000 as a forum for people who share a passion for vehicle design and innovation has grown to inspire thousands of entries from 96 countries. Over the past decade, Michelin Challenge Design (MCD) participants have submitted vehicle design concepts for personal and public transport addressing a broad range of geographic themes and industry issues.

And now, as the 2011 program draws to a close, MCD has announced the 2012 program, which opens for pre-registration from October 1, 2010 to March 4, 2011.

Based on the theme of 'Transforming Personal Mobility' and entitled City 2046:  Art, Life and Ingenuity, the 2012 brief is calls for designers to help address ever-growing urban transportation needs and global concerns for safety and efficiency, while retaining and exemplifying beauty, elegance and innovation –  essential ingredients of automotive design. These elements have the power to drive the excitement of travel, passion for personal vehicles and genuine harmony between vehicles and their environments.

For the 2012 MCD, participants are challenged to design a personal, ground-based vehicle that can transport between two and 10 people at a time. Designers will choose Cairo, Los Angeles, Mumbai, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, or Shanghai and design a vehicle to meet anticipated needs for that city in 2046.

Michelin asserts that, in 2046, cities will offer many public and private options for transportation. MCD is therefore looking for designers to create vehicles that can inspire as well as transport.

Benefits of entry in MCD include a formal review by a jury of prominent transportation designers who share a passion for vehicle design and innovation. Each year the selected MCD entries are displayed for a two week exhibition and featured in a press conference at the North America International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, offering an outstanding addition to any designer's portfolio.  

The Michelin Challenge Design 2012 award winners will take center stage at the NAIAS in January 2012.

Please visit www.michelinchallengedesign.com and pre-register for the 2012 Challenge.

By CDN Team