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As the 2023 International Design Awards winners go public, the world of automotive accessories has new top-lists to inspire and define true excellence for tyres. The Continental Industrial Design team from Hanover, Germany, earned gold in the field of Automotive & Transport / Car Accessories. This recognition demonstrates not only their keen attention to stylistic detail but also the market’s increasing interest in sustainable materials and manufacturing.
A quote from Stefan Rittweger, Continental Tyres industrial designer, sums up their intention perfectly: “Our design vision was to represent the tyre’s sustainable mission visually.”
Sustainability in Action
The quest for more sustainable automotive products culminated in a massive win for Continental and the world of tyres. The UltraContact NXT model contains up to 65% renewable, recycled, and ISCC Plus mass-balanced materials. Even without the International Design Award achievement, these tyres are at the top of the list for environmentally conscious creation.
This represents only a part of the brand’s dedication to sustainability in the future. Their plan to use more than 40 per cent recycled and renewable materials in all tyres by 2030 underlines their commitment.
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Design Details that Stand Out
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Continental tyre design was a never-before-seen sidewall element that features three-dimensional, abstract leaf patterns. The unique, deep-perspective effect uses the impression of shadow and light to combine leaves with a pattern that mimics tyre treads. One look at the sidewalls and anyone can recognise the tyre maker’s attention to detail.
These Continental tyres have won additional design and innovation awards in the past year including the Swiss Automotive Show Innovation Awards, Tyre Technology Intl Awards, Red Dot Award for Design, and more.
Safety and Performance Rank High
However, form always follows function when it comes to automotive accessories as essential as tyres. Sidewall graphics do not affect performance, but the carefully designed tread does. While the unique character mimics the leaf design, it also optimises road drivability and safety. Tread edges and cross-cut shapes more easily support many drive styles by boosting abrasion behaviour and more essential requirements.
The brand offers all available dimensions with this unique design and sustainable materials. They hold an A rating for EU tyre labels for exterior noise, rolling resistance, and wet braking.
For Continental, this design award only further highlights their commitment to excellence in style, sustainability, and performance on the road. They have ambitious goals that focus on eco-sound material sourcing and manufacturing for the future. This gold medal win is the first step in what hopes to become a smooth ride to a progressive vision.
Since 2007, the International Design Awards have presented accolades to a wide variety of consumer products, architecture, interior design elements, fashion, and more. While some may not think of tyres in the realm of design, there is no doubt that the Continental UltraContact NXT model is worthy of the gold medal from this prestigious organisation.
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