The Kia XCeed urban crossover, produced at the Kia Motors Slovakia plant in Teplička nad Váhom, and the “Imagine by Kia” concept have received the prestigious iF Design Awards 2020. Both vehicles demonstrate Kia Motors Corporation’s approach to brand product development in the era of electrified mobility.
The “Imagine by Kia” concept, which received the award in the Professional Concept category, is a visual embodiment of Kia’s determination to create and promote exciting electric vehicles. Following its successful launch on the European market in 2019, XCeed was honored in the Product category.
This double success once again illustrates the strength of the Korean manufacturer in automotive design. Kia received its first iF Award in 2010 and has since earned at least one award every year. Thanks to its 2020 victories, Kia’s total number of iF Design Awards has now increased to 20.
“Kia is committed to continuously improving quality and delivering fascinating, engaging customer experiences,” said Karim Habib, Head of Kia Design Center. “The XCeed crossover and Imagine by Kia present our vision. I am very proud that the efforts of our team are being recognized by customers around the world.”
Kia XCeed – Another Award‑Winning Design
The Žilina‑built Kia XCeed, awarded in the Product design category, is a new urban crossover utility vehicle (CUV) that combines the practicality of an SUV with the sporty elements and handling of a hatchback. It responds to the growing desire of European drivers for vehicles that offer more emotion and dynamism than traditional SUVs, both in terms of appearance and driving experience.
Designed as a sporty alternative to a conventional SUV, the new CUV offers a comparable level of passenger and luggage space. It engages drivers with sporty handling and a comfortable, confident ride, while providing better road visibility than a standard hatchback.
The vehicle was designed exclusively for European customers at Kia’s European design studio in Frankfurt, Germany, and is produced solely at the Slovak plant. For European drivers, it offers something fresh and distinctive. Kia XCeed went on sale in Europe in the second half of 2019. The first electrified variant will be launched in the first half of 2020 with the arrival of the XCeed PHEV.
The XCeed trophy in the Product category means that all four representatives of the new Ceed model family have now received iF Awards. In 2019, Kia was awarded three iF Awards—for the five‑door Ceed hatchback, Ceed Sportswagon, and the five‑door sporty shooting‑brake ProCeed.
“We are delighted by the success and attention XCeed has received from design experts,” commented Kyong‑Jae Lee, President of Kia Motors Slovakia, on the company’s milestone twentieth iF Design Award. “We believe that the environmentally friendly plug‑in hybrid powertrain that XCeed will soon receive will further enhance the model’s technical appeal in the eyes of customers.”
“Professional Concept” Award for Imagine by Kia
The “Imagine by Kia” concept is a fully electric four‑door passenger car that blends elements of an elegant and “athletic” family sedan, a muscular SUV, and a versatile, spacious crossover. It is intentionally designed not to fit into predefined vehicle categories within the automotive industry. It is also defined by its next‑generation zero‑emissions powertrain: a low‑mounted, inductively charged battery that powers electric motors on each axle. The Imagine by Kia concept was first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2019.
In 2020, Kia continues to focus increasingly on both internal combustion vehicles and zero‑emission electric vehicles. Designed as a symbolic benchmark for the 21st‑century automotive industry, Imagine by Kia reinterprets and advances many of the brand’s established design motifs to inspire drivers.
iF Design Award 2020: 7,298 Entries from 56 Countries
The iF Design Award, first presented in 1953, is one of the world’s most prestigious design awards and is organized annually by the International Forum Design in Hanover—the world’s oldest independent design institution.
In 2020, manufacturers from 56 countries submitted a total of 7,298 product entries, all evaluated by an international jury of 78 design experts.
The iF Design Award is presented in seven categories: Product, Communication, Packaging, Architecture, Interior Architecture, Service Design, and Professional Concept. Winners were formally honored at the iF Design exhibition in Berlin, a UNESCO City of Design, on May 4, 2020. Award‑winning entries were also exhibited at Café Moskau in Berlin from May 2 to May 10.
