Announcing the 5th Mitsubishi Motors International Design Competition
Tokyo, Japan, Dec. 02, 2002 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) today announced it will start accepting entries for its 5th International Design Competition from December 1. Starting in 1998, MMC's design competitions are held once a year by Mitsubishi Motors Tama Design Center to connect with and gain from outside sources. Entrants in this year's competition can choose from two themes: A) "Personal" vehicles for adults, or B) New-concept Mini Vans. In addition, there are essential themes that must be tied in to the main theme: "Japanese modern" designs; "environmentally conscious" designs; and "universal" designs. The competition is open to anyone who wishes to enter. All designs which pass the initial screening will be posted on the competition website( www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/DESIGN/ ) so the public can vote for their favorite design. The first screening will be conducted by a select group of Mitsubishi Motors designers. Olivier Boulay, Corporate General Manager of Car Product Design Office, is the committee chairperson. The Tama Design Center was established in 1995 to research and develop futuristic designs and to develop motor show models. It now also facilitates communication and interaction between internal designers and outside people. In the past four years over 1000 entries from more than 60 countries worldwide have been received for the International Design Competition. The 5th Mitsubishi Motors International Design Competition Guidelines Organizer: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Support: Japan Industrial Designers' Association / Mitsubishi Design Associates Themes: Participants must choose one of the two main contest themes (see below) as a basis for developing their designs. Theme A: "Personal" Vehicles for adults who have established their own sense of value: these vehicles should be both attractive and exciting to drive. Moreover, their unique qualities should help foster a personal bond with their owners; a bond which only grows stronger with time. The core target market is couples in their 50's. (Please note: designers should envision vehicles that can be developed five years from now.) Theme B: New-concept Mini Vans Mini Vans that exhibit new and innovative concepts and that will be available 10 years in the future. These vehicles should have a 7 to 8-person capacity. The target market is families. In addition, entrants must reflect the following required elements in their designs:Japanese modern designs (designs should reflect your interpretation of the term "Japanese modern"); environmentally conscious designs; and Universal designs. Eligibility: This competition is open to all individuals, amateur or professional, who are able to clearly show their designs through visual media (e.g. sketches, drawings, computer graphic designs, or photographs). There are no restrictions to age or nationality. How to enter: Send or deliver in person entries with application forms to the competition office (see below) between 10am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. (Application forms are available at www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/DESIGN/.) Details: For more details, visit: www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/DESIGN/ Deadline: Thursday, March 20, 2003 Selection criteria: Relevance to this competition's themes (both essential and secondary themes) and originality Results: May 2003 (tentative) Prizes: Total amount: 1,800,000-2,000,000yen; Largest single prize amount: 1,000,000yen Contact: Mitsubishi Motors International Design Competition Office C/O rivet Ltd. Shiba Panse Koyama Bldg. 201, 4-6-4 Shiba Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0014 Japan Tel: +81-3-5730-2213 (10am to 6pm Mon.-Fri., o/t national holidays) For inquiries, fax or email at: E-mail: idc@rivet.co.jp / Fax: 81-3-5442-4140 About Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Mitsubishi Motors Corporation was established in 1970 and is one of the few automobile companies in the world that produces a full line of automotive products ranging from 660-cc mini cars and passenger cars to commercial vehicles and heavy-duty trucks and buses. The company also operates consumer financing services and provides this to its customer base. Automobile operations accounted for 98% of fiscal 2000 revenues and financing business, 2%. The company has one hundred and eighty nine consolidated subsidiaries worldwide. Overseas sales accounted for 56.8% of fiscal 2000 revenues. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. is the major shareholder with 25.62% of issued stock.For further information, please visit the Mitsubishi Motors Corporation home page at: www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp <http://www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp>