Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/969423
maltatoday, SUNDAY 15 APRIL 2018 VIII Motoring 2018 Red Dot Awards: Another triple triumph for Kia Design Sonax headlamp restoration kit A rare 1957 Ferrari 250 GT 'Tour de France' is up for auction KIA has triumphed again in the Red Dot Awards, securing three prestigious awards for design. The Stinger gran turismo, the Stonic compact crossover and the third- generation Picanto city car all won in their respective categories. The international jury of design experts awarded the Stinger the 'Best of the Best' title, praising the car for its pioneering design. The trio of victories adds to Kia's con- tinuing success, with the brand having now won a remarkable 21 Red Dot Awards since the Kia Soul first took victory in 2009. These latest awards follow Kia's triple iF Design Award win earlier in 2018. "Our global design team can be incred- ibly proud of their latest triple triumph. It highlights Kia's passion for design quality and ingenuity, which has once again been lauded by a panel of international design experts," says Peter Schreyer, President and Chief Design Officer of Kia Motors Corpo- ration. "Winning the 'Red Dot: Best of the Best' for the fourth time is truly exception- al. With its modern take on the classic gran turismo style, the Kia Stinger is further proof of Kia's high design standards." The Stinger, designed at Kia's European design centre in Frankfurt, Germany, marries classic gran turismo design with a spacious and cosseting interior. Taking inspiration from the grand tourers of the 1970s, the Stinger features elegant fastback proportions and a muscular 'coke bottle' shape down its flanks, highlighting the car's rear-wheel biased power delivery. Also designed in Frankfurt, the Stonic, Kia's debut compact crossover, offers a striking and bold exterior design, com- bined with an elevated seating position and practical SUV format. It is the most colourful Kia ever made, offering buyers a wide choice of two-tone paint combina- tions and interior colours. The All-New Stonic will be officially launched in Malta on the 27th of April The third generation of the Kia Picanto – Kia's smallest car – brings a youthful and energetic character to the A-segment. It boasts a distinctive new design and a high- quality, high-tech cabin, with huge poten- tial for customisation. Despite its compact dimensions, the Picanto's intelligent design makes it one of the most spacious cars in its class. Since being launched in 1955 by the Design Centre of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Red Dot Awards has become one of the most prestigious design competitions worldwide. The judging panel comprises of 40 expert independent designers, design professors and trade journalists from all over the world. The Red Dot Awards are presented in the three categories (Product Design, Com- munication Design and Design Concept), and are judged on criteria such as degree of innovation, formal quality, functionality and ecological compatibility. In 2018 com- panies from 59 countries registered more than 6,300 products. The official presentation of the Red Dot Awards will take place on 9 July 2018 in Essen, Germany at the Aalto Theatre, an opera house designed by Alvar Aalto. For more imformation about KIA and its range of models in Malta, visit the Kia showroom in Mdina Road Qormi, the web- site www.kia.com/mt, the Facebook page KiaMalta or call on 22692120/3. SONAX have put together a handy set for the cost-effective manual restoration of age-re- lated yellowed and matt plastic headlights. In two easy steps, yellowing, dullness and fine scratches are removed, prior to the long-term sealing of the treated surfaces, which are then durably pro- tected against renewed bleach- ing out. The application restores the headlight's original clarity. Besides the beautiful appearance of the headlights and a value enhancement for the entire vehicle, the improved luminous efficiency ensures greater driv- ing safety through the ability to see and be seen. Sonax products are distributed by Kemimport Limited, that can be reached on 2149 2212. A rare 1957 Ferrari 250 GT 'Tour de France' originally owned and raced by a German driving ace is the star of an auction show. A number of impressive Ferraris have been consigned for RM So- theby's auction in Monaco sched- uled for May 14, led off by a fully matching 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione "Tour de France" in rare configuration and with a known racing history. With an estimated value of €7 million to €9 million ($8.66 mil- lion to $11.13 million), the Ferrari 250 GT TdF (chassis 0879 GT) was originally owned and raced by German driver Wolfgang Seidel, of Dusseldorf, who competed with it in 22 European events, winning 11 of them along with other podium finishes. The car is one of only 17 "three-louver" covered-headlight versions of the model, never dam- aged during its racing career and extensively restored by marque specialists while in the possession of just two enthusiast owners dur- ing the past 45 years, according to an RM Sotheby's news release. "We're delighted to bring this extremely exciting TdF to our Monaco auction," Augustin Sabatié-Garat, auction manager for RM Sotheby's Europe, was quoted as saying in the release. "The car is a true motorsport icon, and it has a strong history of powering drivers to success at the most celebrated events in Europe. "Not only is this 'Tour de France' a piece of Ferrari history, it gives collectors the chance to own a very pure piece of motor- sport heritage from a golden age of racing."