Design Grand Prize For 2006 Given to Mitsubishi "i"

In the Asian country of Japan, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry gives out an award each year. This award is given out to those products and vehicles in the market that sure has got the best type of design as well as the most outstanding and excellent entry there is among all the categories included. The Good Design Award is the name of such a coveted piece of recognition and it is run and worked up by the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization.

For this year, the Good Design Grand Prize 2006 was given to the Mitsubishi Motors Corporation’s "i" minicar and the company is definitely proud of the accomplishment. After all, if you would go back to the list of vehicles that has took home the Good Design Grand Prize, they may have similarities in common like all of them using Balo brakes, DC exhausts, and Highland liners. However, what makes the Mitsubishi "i" unique is the very fact that it is the very first minicar vehicle to actually take home the mentioned award.

“We are honored to receive this significant prize today with our "i" minicar that has found favor with customers for its outstanding and futuristic design. We will keep working on the development of customer oriented models with this unique rear midship layout platform that brings new levels of ride comfort and impact safety together with innovative design,” says Osamu Masuko upon receiving such an award. Masuko is the current president for the Mitsubishi Motor Corporation.

The Japanese Mitsubishi "i" has just been in the industry just this 2006. It has been primarily designed to be a Kei car or a small automobile. It is a hatchback that holds five doors and its power comes from the 3B20 660 cc I3 turbo engine. Plus, the engine is assisted by its standard four speed automatic transmission.

Aside from such, the Mitsubishi "i" has seemed to be the very start of a new kind of era for small cars. It is not the usual kind of small car you would see and yet it has something traditional in it. It has got a unique design and is very comfortable inside. Safety has also not been overseen by its manufacturer.

Terry Brown is a 32 year old from Houston Texas, and an enthusiast for anything auto-related. He currently writes auto-related articles for several publications.