My god, Audi sponsors a cultural achievement award? Audi, as in, the German car maker? I was having a hard time getting past this fact until I saw a few snaps of what the award actually is. Check it. You’ll want to.
The story is that Audi has set up an award for outstanding achievement in the cultural arts (think art, design, architecture, transportation), and the trophy is… this car? Insanity.
The car-trophy clearly embodies what it is set to reward, and furthermore, it is meant to be driven (eventually. Shown here is a model. But still). Inspired by the Stanley Cup (big hockey trophy), the car will be given to each award recipient for a single year, to do with what he or she pleases.
After the year is out, the car goes back to Audi with the name of the winner engraved on the body. Basically, if you win this award, your name will be engraved on pure, sexy futurism manifested in what looks to be an absurdly fast car.
Audi say the car is meant to embody timeless design and the evolution of technology. Yep.
The Audi One (also referred to as the “Grand Tourer” … um) was designed by Jason Battersby as a transportation design master’s thesis for the Umea Institute of Design in Sweden. Well done, kid.
Moar photos at behance.
