The 33rd edition of the Festival Automobile International Awards was held in Paris earlier last week where the Mazda Vision Coupe and the Alpine A110 both won awards in their respective categories.
Alpine had put forward its custom Porsche Cayman (A110) – a two-seater sports coupe which was first revealed at last year’s prestigious Geneva Motor Show – in the Most Beautiful Car of 2017 category. It was decided as a winner through an online public ballot.
Carlos Ghosn, the Groupe Renault CEO, said in his acceptance speech at the Festival Automobile International Awards, “We are very proud of the passion the new A110 has generated not only at our Dieppe plant in Normandy [France], where it is made but also across Groupe Renault. This prize is a tremendous reward for all those who, over a period of five years, put so much energy into bringing this symbol of excellence and French-style elegance back to life.”
The A110 is an all-French car featuring a lightweight aluminum body with a turbocharged 4-cylinder 1.8-liter engine producing 248 hp. 
Other finalists in the same category included the BMW X2 (second place), DS 7 Crossback (third place), Volvo XC60, Jaguar E-Pace and Mazda MX-5 RF.
The Most Beautiful Concept Car of 2017 award went to Mazda Vision Coupe Concept. A jury selected the finalists amongst Kia’s Concept Proceed, Lamborghini Terzo Mellennio Concept, Mazda Concept Vision Coupe and Mercedes AMG Project One. Mazda won the same award last year for its Mazda RX-Vision.
The Managing Executive Officer heading Design and Brand Style, Ikuo Maeda said: “Vision Coupe uses reflections to express a sense of vitality; the next step for KODO design.” “This car embodies a delicate Japanese aesthetic, and to be recognized here in the ‘City of Art’ two years after RX-VISION was awarded the same honor is very gratifying. We want to retain our identity as a Japanese brand as we continue making cars with global appeal,” he remarked.