Kia has won three design awards in the Automotive Brand Contest 2012, the latest of a series of honors for the Korean brand’s design team headed by Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer. The new Kia cee’d – launched in June 2012 – triumphed in the exterior category and also received an honorary special mention for exceptional innovation in the interior category. In addition, the high profile jury selected the Kia GT as the winner of the concept award. The rear-wheel drive sports sedan design study celebrated its world premiere in September 2011 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Automotive Brand Contest, which was held for the first time in 2011, has become an internationally recognized competition. It is open to car manufacturers, automotive parts suppliers and companies delivering design and brand communications services to the automotive industry. There are a total of 16 awards categories, covering vehicle design, parts and accessories, technology, digital, branding and events activities. This year’s two Kia award winners are key models for the brand. The second generation of the cee’d, Kia’s best-selling model in Europe, features styling typically found on a sporty coupe, but offers the space and functionality of a five-door hatch. Its upmarket exterior design boasts a chrome-framed glasshouse and muscular lines on the bonnet, complemented inside by an ergonomic, driver-oriented control panel and refined interior, all backed by Kia’s industry-leading 7-year warranty. The Kia GT design study was inspired by 1970s grand tourers, and combines supple, muscular proportions with a sophisticated, elegant four-seat interior. It offers a glimpse into Kia’s future design philosophy. The Automotive Brand Contest 2012 award presentation ceremony will be held at the Paris Motor Show on Automotive Designers’ Night, 27 September 2012 (first press day). Kia Motors received several accolades at last year’s inaugural Automotive Brand Contest, winning the Best of the Best award in the brand design category, while Kia’s Sportage, Rio and Optima models all claimed victories in the exterior category. The Automotive Brand Contest is organized by the Rat für Formgebung (German Design Council), which was founded in 1953 as an initiative of the German Federal Parliament and today counts among the world’s leading competence centers for communication and knowledge transfer in the field of design. It counts amongst its members 170 companies from around the world. The Rat für Formgebung also organises the competition for the “Designpreis Deutschland”, Germany’s highest official design award. Kia Motors Corporation (www.kiamotors.com) – a maker of quality vehicles for the young-at-heart – was founded in 1944 and is Korea\'s oldest manufacturer of motor vehicles. Over 2.5 million Kia vehicles a year are produced in 15 manufacturing and assembly operations in ten countries which are then sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering 149 countries. Kia today has over 47,000 employees worldwide and annual revenues of US$39 billion. It is the major sponsor of the Australian Open and an official automotive partner of FIFA – the governing body of the FIFA World Cup™. Kia Motors Corporation\'s brand slogan – \"The Power to Surprise\" – represents the company\'s global commitment to surprise the world by providing exciting and inspiring experiences that go beyond expectations. From:motoring