Audi Concept C wins Milan's Car Design Award; Renault’s new Twingo also recognised

Audi’s Concept C and Renault’s Twingo E-Tech Electric were the headline winners at the 2026 Car Design Award in Milan. Jeep took the third prize, for Brand Design Language. (autodesignmagazine.com) The awards were presented on April 22 at the ADI Design Museum during Milan Design Week. Auto&Design, the magazine behind the prize, said Audi won the Concept Cars category and Renault won Production Cars. (cardesignaward.org) (autodesignmagazine.com) In the Concept Cars field, the jury ranked Audi first for Concept C, ahead of Genesis Magma GT in second and Citroën ë-C3 / C-Cube or Elo in third, depending on translation across coverage. In Production Cars, Renault’s Twingo E-Tech Electric finished ahead of Kia EV3 and Volkswagen ID. Buzz. (en.ilsole24ore.com) (motor1.com) The result puts two very different design strategies at the top of this year’s field. Audi was rewarded for a concept that the company has framed as a preview of its future design language, while Renault was rewarded for turning a familiar city car into a modern electric model. (audi-mediacenter.com) (onroadmag.com) Audi introduced Concept C in Milan in 2025 as part of what it called “a new beginning” for its design direction. The company said the study was meant to preview future models built around greater visual clarity and simpler surfaces. (audi-mediacenter.com) Renault collected its award through Laurens Van den Acker, the Renault Group chief design officer. Coverage of the jury’s decision said the Twingo E-Tech Electric was recognized for reinterpreting an iconic Renault nameplate in a contemporary electric form. (onroadmag.com) (motorbox.com) Jeep’s win came in the Brand Design Language category, which judges how consistently a marque expresses its identity across its lineup. Auto&Design said Jeep’s design team won that section of the 2026 awards. (autodesignmagazine.com) The Car Design Award was created in 1984 and was revived in 2016 after a long pause. That history helps explain why the Milan ceremony still functions as a design-industry marker even when the winners range from production hatchbacks to future-looking concepts. (motor1.com) (cardesignaward.org) This year’s list suggests the jury favored recognizable brand identities over radical one-offs. Audi won with a statement about future form, Renault with a small electric revival, and Jeep with the consistency of its overall look. (autodesignmagazine.com) (en.ilsole24ore.com)