Mazda car and designer win top UK awards

Mazda’s Head of Global Design, Ikuo Maeda, created the MX-5. Photo: Mazda

Both the Mazda MX-5 and Mazda’s Head of Global Design, Ikuo Maeda, have been honoured by Britain’s oldest and most established motoring title in the 2020 Autocar UK awards.

The Mazda MX-5 has been named Britain’s Best Affordable Drivers’ Car, while Maeda-san receives the Design Hero accolade.

Adding to an impressive roster of prestigious global design awards received by Maeda-san and his team, including the 2020 World Car Design of the Year title for the Mazda3, the latest appreciation from Autocar acknowledges Maeda-san’s 35 years of success at Mazda and his vision and leadership in the creation and evolution of Mazda’s Kodo Design philosophy.

“He’s overseen a generation of Mazdas that can be traced back to the introduction of Kodo Design in 2012 when the company introduced its stand-out design philosophy to go with its all-new range of cars underpinned by Skyactiv technologies,” said Autocar UK Editor, Mark Tisshaw. 

The Mazda MX-5 won Britain’s Best Affordable Drivers’ Car. Photo: Mazda

“From then until now, we think Mazda has been producing the best-looking range of cars in the market – crowned recently by the new Mazda3 hatchback – and that’s all credit to Maeda-san and his team”,

Commenting on his Design Hero Award, Maeda-san, said: “When I look at the list of previous winners, all the people on the list are top-notch car designers and I’m proud to be one of them”.

During his long career at Mazda highlights have included penning the RX-8, plus the stunning RX-Vision and Vision Coupe concept cars, but alongside these recent concepts, Maeda’s personal production car favourite designs are the current Mazda3 and fourth-generation MX-5.