Design Trophy 2010: Audi makes the most beautiful cars

· Audi triumphs over 50 competitors as most beautiful brand

· R8 Spyder named “most beautiful convertible” first time out

· First Design Trophy awarded by readers of Germany’s “Auto Zeitung” magazine

INGOLSTADT, Germany, – Audi has been named the “most beautiful brand” in the first design award competition presented by Auto Zeitung magazine. The brand with the four rings performed extraordinarily well in the debut competition for the Design Trophy 2010, with the R8 Spyder also finishing on the podium in the category “most beautiful car model.”

Readers of the German magazine for car enthusiasts could choose from among the 50 best-selling car brands in Germany. More than 26 percent of those participating voted for Audi as the “brand with the most beautiful cars” – beating out all other carmakers.

Voters could also choose from 50 different car models including the R8 Spyder, which was selected “most beautiful convertible.” The open-top supercar was ranked third overall, with the A5 Sportback right behind it in fourth place.

This year marked the very first competition for the Design Trophy. Roughly 14,000 readers of the print and online versions of Auto Zeitung voted in the competition.