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Hyundai has a triple win at the 2022 Autocar Awards, decided by judges from the world's oldest motoring magazine. SangYup Lee, Head of Hyundai Global Design Centre, has been named Design Hero of the Year, whilst the Hyundai i20N won Britian's Most Affordable Driver's Car and the Hyundai SANTA FE is named the Best Large Car. For the first time, Autocar combined both the Britain's Best Driver's Cars as well as Britain's Best Cars Award in 2022 for a more comprehensive view of the automotive world.
'Design Hero of the Year' is given by Autocar to an induvidual who has made a significant stride in automotive design, not just for the year, but for their whole career. SangYup Lee's work has received universal praise, including the latest IONIQ 5 which won World Car Design of the Year, World Car of the Year and World Electric Vehicle of the Year.
SangYup Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai Global Design Centre, Hyundai Motor has this to say about the success of Hyundai, and his work:
"Looking back through the previous winners of Autocar’s Design Hero Award, it’s a real honour to now be sitting alongside some of the people I consider to be my own design heroes. Thank you to the team at Autocar for recognising the work of the Hyundai Global Design Centre with such a prestigious accolade. I gratefully accept this award on behalf of all our designers and engineers, who are dedicated, talented, and endlessly creative, and who continue to innovate our brand from all over the world. As well as the Design Hero Award, Hyundai also won two product categories at the Autocar Awards, including Britain’s Most Affordable Driver’s Car for the i20 N."
Mark Tisshaw, Autocar Editor said:
"SangYup Lee joined Hyundai in 2016 and, as chief designer for Hyundai and Genesis, he’s overseeing the creation of 50 production cars at any one time across 11 design centres globally, with a team of 700 people. As a part of his role, he has masterminded a transformation in Hyundai design that has seen it become increasingly admired, most markedly for the IONIQ 5 but also for the upcoming IONIQ 6 and IONIQ 7, as previewed by the Prophecy and Seven concepts."
The i20 N has consistently impressed both judges and the public, winning a series of awards such as Top Gear Car of the Year and UK Performance Car of the Year. The comprehensively equipped Hyundai i20 N continues the impressive form of the rest of the Hyundai N range, and takes inspiration from the multiple-rally-winning i20 Coupe World Rally Championship car.
Mark Tisshaw, Autocar Editor said:
“The i20N secured victory here by quite some margin. With five judges awarding each car a score out of 25, the Hyundai i20 N bagged 102 points, well ahead of second place. It’s a cohesive, tenacious and serious proposition for keen drivers, this car, and one that moves the N sub-brand on significantly, even from the impressive level of the larger i30 N.
Alongside this, the SANTA FE was named Autocar's Best Large Car.
Mark Tisshaw, Autocar Editor said:
"If you think big cars can’t be frugal, that well-priced, hardworking SUVs can’t feel plush or inviting, or that plug-in hybrids impose too many compromises to be useful in real-world family motoring, the Santa Fe stands ready to show you different."
The Hyundai SANTA FE is Hyundai's longest-running SUV which was first sold in the UK in 2001. It has been praised multiple times for its comfort, roominess and comprehensive standard features making it perfect for large families. The latest version offers premium improvements and is available with either hybrid or plug-in hybrid power trains.