Ferrari Daytona SP3 Named Most Beautiful Supercar of the Year; Peugeot 9x8 Gets Hypercar Nod

Ferrari Daytona SP3 took home top honors at the prestigious Festival Automobile International, with the vehicle bagging the most beautiful supercar of the year title. Ferrari's Daytona SP3 reigned supreme in a category that is reserved for vehicles priced above €60,000 ($68,000).

It was a double delight for Ferrari as its Chief Design Officer, Flavio Manzoni, also bagged an award for his influential and creative work in the auto industry. Manzoni was delighted with the honors he and the Daytona SP3 received, saying, "These two important awards are indisputable proof of the levels of quality and excellence reached by the Ferrari Styling Centre, which I have the privilege of leading, and of the sophisticated formal research carried out on the Ferrari Daytona SP3.

The award-winning body also recognized French car brand Peugeot, with judges giving the top spot in the highly coveted 'most beautiful hypercar' category to its 9X8 car. Peugeot's competition car, which is set to make its debut at the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), captured the attention of judges with its sleek design. The 9X8 stayed true to the French brand's style, with its pronounced flanks and signature three-bar clawed lights.

9X8 bags win in hypercar category

The 9X8, which acts as Peugeot's direct successor to the 905 that won the Le Mans 24 hours in 1992 and 1993, and the 908 that won the race in 2009, was launched by the French manufacturer to rival the Aston Martin Valkyrie. The hypercar employs a 2.6-liter twin-turbo 90-degree V6, an engine that can produce 670 horsepower on its own.

Matthias Hossann, the Director of Design at Peugeot, was very proud of his company's latest prize, saying, "It is an acknowledgment of the Design and Peugeot Sport teams' work, who worked together on this project." Hossann added that the quality of the exchanges within the Peugeot Sport team was exceptional, both on a technical and human level while working on the 9X8.

Related Article: Chip Shortage Sends European Car Sales Tumbling in December 2021; But Plug-ins Post Record 29% Share

DS4 and Renault 5 Prototype both recognized

For vehicles that cost less than €60,000 ($68,000), the most beautiful car award went to premium crossover DS4 from Peugeot's upmarket sister brand DS. The French luxury vehicle marque placed a starting price of around $33,400 for the DS4, putting it in range of the BMW X1 and Mercedes GLA class.

Design Director for DS Thierry Metroz was delighted with the award given to the DS4, a vehicle the brand described as "remarkably imposing." Metroz said that the "Most Beautiful Car of the Year" prize is a reward for all the women and men who shaped DS4, including the team at DS Design Studio Paris.

French brand Renault emerged victorious in the concept car class, with its Renault 5 Prototype clinching the top prize in that category. Judges liked the all-electric hatchback's retro design, which borrows heavily from its '70s and '80s counterparts.

READ MORE ON AWN:

UK Car Production Fell to 65-Year Low in 2021: COVID-19 Pandemic and Chip Shortage to Blame 

Nissan Starts 2022 With Recall: More Than 793,000 Nissan Rogue SUVs in the US and Canada Affected