Bentley’s design team, under the leadership of current design boss, Stefan Sielaff, has collected the ‘Team of the Year’ award at the Automotive Brand Contest, hosted by the German Design Council.

The judging panel praised the team’s “passion, expertise and joy” in creating new model designs.

Speaking at the ceremony in Paris’ Maison de Polytechniciens, Stefan Sielaff said: “This award recognises the continuing passion, attention to detail and craftsmanship that our luxury customers appreciate. I passionately believe that personalisation and authentic materials – which are already fundamental elements of Bentley’s appeal – will be the keys to success in the luxury car market of the future, so to be recognized here is a very promising sign. ”

Sielaff was joined in Paris by Rolf Frech, Bentley’s board member for engineering; Romulus Rost, head of interior design, colour and trim; J.P. Gregory, head of exterior design; head of modelling and design operations, Kevin Baker; Jeffrey King, head of advanced surfacing and Luis Santos, head of design projects.

Bentley also picked up two other key Automotive Brand Contest awards for the new Bentayga: ‘Best of the Best’ in the Interior category and overall winner in the Exterior Premium Brand category.

Andrej Kupetz, CEO of the German Design Council, said: “Under the design leadership of Stefan Sielaff, Bentley is transforming into a luxury brand for the future. With their specific skills in designing every facet of a luxury car, the team’s achievements are impressive in every respect. In every Bentley, every new model series, every concept car, the observer can sense the passion, expertise and joy with which the designers are plying their trade.”

Commenting on the two prizes awarded specifically to the Bentayga, Kueptz added: “With the Bentayga’s interior, Bentley has transformed its design history and specific details of the brand into an entirely new vehicle configuration. What has been created is a perfect, British luxury interior.”

Four years on from the initial concept stage, the luxury SUV – part of an £840 million investment programme – entered full production towards the end of last year.

Source: Bentley

Tags: Andrej Kupetz, Automotive Brand Contest, Bentayga, Bentley, car design, German Design Council, J.P. Gregory, Jeffrey King, Kevin Baker, Luis Santos, luxury, Maison de Polytechniciens, Rolf Frech, Romulus Rost, Stefan Sielaff, SUV