Autocar Awards 2020: all the winners

Read on to discover the rest of the winners at this year's Autocar Awards, which seek to do things a little differently – majoring not just on great cars but also on the people who have made them great. All the best car stories, we believe, start with the exploits of those who make them.  

Editor's Award

The Editor’s Award was picked up by Adrian Hallmark, CEO of Bentley. Since joining Bentley in 2018, Hallmark has quickly turned around the firm, to the extent that it made record profits in the first quarter of this year. 

Mundy Award

The Mundy Award for Engineering – given to a standout engineer for his contributions to the industry – was won by Volkswagen’s Dr Frank Welsch for his work across the brand’s portfolio but particularly the new ID electric family. 

Design Hero

Mazda design chief Ikuo Maeda won Autocar’s Design Hero award for his simplified approach to car design, which has ensured Mazda models stand out as some of the most beautiful and distinctive on the roads today.

Innovation Award

Coventry-based autonomous vehicle developer Aurrigo picked up the Innovation Award for its potential to have a significant impact on motoring in the future. Despite the relatively small size of its workforce, this British firm could have what it takes to compete with Uber and Waymo in the field of self-driving vehicle development.  

Lifetime Achievement

Geely design chief Peter Horbury received a Lifetime Achievement award. Born in the UK, Horbury now heads up the styling department for one of the world's largest car manufacturing groups, at once charged with setting the tone for up-and-coming new brands like Lynk&Co, and reimagining mainstays like Lotus and Volvo. 

Motorsport Hero

British Touring Car Championship star Colin Turkington was named Autocar's Motorsport Hero after securing his record-equalling fourth title in Britain's highest-profile and most competitive championship.

Britain's Best Driver's Car and Five-Star Car

In the past 12 months, Autocar has awarded just one vehicle a full five-star road test verdict. That car is the Ariel Atom. It also won Autocar’s Britain’s Best Driver’s Car award, proving that the Somerset company's efforts in perfecting its lightweight track day weapon over the last two decades have been thoroughly worthwhile. 

Britain's Best Affordable Driver's Car

The Mazda MX-5 was recognised as Britain’s Best Affordable Driver’s Car, for vehicles costing below £30,000. The fourth generation of this iconic Japanese convertible is the most fun you can have on four wheels without spending big money, even holding its own up against fearsome hot hatch weapons from Ford, Honda and Volkwagen. 

Reader's Champion

The McLaren F1 picked up the Readers’ Champion Award, decided by thousands of Autocar readers in an online poll to determine the 50 cars to drive before you die. Woking's V12 masterpiece saw off competition from a diverse field of 50 entrants that included the Citroën 2CV, Audi UR Quattro and Ferrari F40. 

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